The Challenge

Raffia bag manufacturers seek smooth tape extrusion with low water-carry-over (WCO) to maintain product quality and processing reliability. Some polypropylene raffia grades include calcium stearate as an acid scavenger. However, calcium stearate reacts with chloride residues, producing calcium chloride which is a highly hygroscopic compound increasing water-carry-over to the surface of the tape which causes potential processing issues.

This issue has been a persistent challenge for manufacturers aiming to minimize moisture-related problems without sacrificing acid scavenging effectiveness.

The Solution

DHT™-4, a non-migratory acid scavenger, perfectly fits raffia processors that require low water-carry-over. The acid scavenging mechanism of DHT™-4 does not contribute to water-carry-over since no hygroscopic residues will migrate from the system. As a result, raffia grades incorporating DHT™-4 show notably lower water-carry-over compared to those using calcium stearate.

A raffia bag produced at Starlinger, a global leader renowned for its innovative and sustainable plastics processing machinery and solutions, demonstrates the practical benefits of DHT™-4. Starlinger machines are trusted worldwide for optimizing production efficiency and product quality in woven polypropylene packaging production. This collaboration underscores the industrial relevance and scalability of DHT™-4 in modern raffia manufacturing.

By avoiding the migration of water-attracting species outside the polymer matrix, DHT™-4 helps producers minimize moisture-related processing disruptions and improve product stability.

The Outcome

Raffia bag producers benefit from using DHT™-4 as a robust, non-migratory acid scavenger that supports low water-carry-over formulations while effectively neutralizing acid residues. This leads to more reliable and consistent processing, fewer moisture-related defects, and higher-quality flexible packaging solutions.

DHT™-4's performance in raffia applications reinforces Kisuma’s leadership in innovative additive technology for flexible packaging, delivering tangible value to producers and their customers.