Milliken Introduces Ultra-Clear Polypropylene Clarification Technology

The new transparent agent offers better processing compatibility and is suitable for both virgin and recycled polypropylene materials.

Milliken & Co. recently launched a new generation of polypropylene (PP) clarifying technology, Millad ClearX 9000. This product achieves ultra-clear transparency with a lower concentration of additives, primarily targeting food packaging, home storage, and medical applications. It sets a new standard for transparent polypropylene applications in terms of value, aesthetics, and operational efficiency.

Based on the well-proven Millad platform, Millad ClearX 9000 provides manufacturers with an advanced solution that achieves ultra-clear polypropylene with greater efficiency and reduces the amount of clarifying agent required. This technology also reduces the extractable and migratory rates in polypropylene packaging and components, which is crucial for food contact and medical applications.

Compared to the previous generation products, the new clarifier improves processing compatibility and helps enhance production efficiency. According to the company, it eliminates the need to separate virgin and post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin streams, thereby achieving greater formulation flexibility.

"Millad ClearX 9000 is a breakthrough in the polypropylene industry, achieving ultra-clear transparency with less use of clarifying agents, providing greater flexibility for our customers," said Wim Van De Velde, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Milliken Plastics Additives, in a statement. "This launch reflects Milliken's ongoing commitment to advancing material science and helping our partners meet the ever-changing demands of the market."

FDA approval

Millad ClearX 9000 has received broad use condition approval (A-J) from the US FDA, opening the door for its use in various food contact applications. By enhancing the compatibility of additives, it helps resin producers and processors reduce downtime, minimize waste, and accelerate transition speeds—resulting in measurable improvements in manufacturing efficiency.

The company stated that this technology also improves compatibility with other Millad clarifying agents, allowing manufacturers the flexibility to optimize formulations of virgin and PCR polypropylene, supporting sustainability initiatives.

"Our team developed Millad ClearX 9000 to meet the growing demand for high transparency and high efficiency in polypropylene applications," said Bhavesh Gandhi, Global Product Line Manager for Milliken's Plastics Additives business. "By reducing the amount of additives and migration rates, we are helping customers create products that are not only visually appealing but also meet the highest standards for food and medical applications."

Milliken, through its Millad platform, pioneered the use of clarifiers to produce transparent polypropylene parts and packaging containing PCR components. The company's latest technology builds upon this tradition of innovation in the polypropylene industry.