New polymer grades for healthcare

In 2022, SIBUR's Tomsk facility launched eight grades of polymers for the healthcare and consumer sectors.

SIBUR is ready to provide manufacturers of medications with a special polyethylene grade to make containers for infusion solutions. Items made from the new grade can withstand sterilisation temperatures of up to 105 В°РЎ without losing their properties or geometry, which means that containers can be sterilised before they are filled with medications. For its quality and design properties, the grade was recognised with an award at the 100 Best Goods of Russia contest.

Another new solution by Tomskneftekhim is polyethylene for multi-layered and multicomponent CCP films, which are used in packaging and can substitute BOPP films. These films are widely used in the production of soft packaging for FMCG, labels, and adhesive tape. The Tomsk grade of polyethylene is 100% suitable as one of the packaging components. Initially, the grade was developed for a specific Russian manufacturer. Following successful tests and quality that can rival some of the world's best products, the new grade moved into commercial production and was made available to a larger range of customers.

The facility also developed and launched production of a new grade of polypropylene to make nonwoven fabric using melt blowing, one of the most innovative technologies available to date. The fabric is then employed to manufacture the inner layer of medical masks and other nonwoven medical products, such as disposable overalls and films.

Industries with strong near-term prospects for new grades include cable and construction, along with the traditional sectors of healthcare and packaging.