| HS Code | 867405 |
| Density G Cm³ | 0.918 |
| Melt Flow Rate 190 C 2 16kg G 10min | 2.0 |
| Melting Point C | 122 |
| Vicat Softening Temperature C | 105 |
| Tensile Strength At Yield Mpa | 12 |
| Elongation At Yield | 14 |
| Flexural Modulus Mpa | 380 |
| Shore Hardness D | 55 |
| Brittleness Temperature C | -70 |
| Environmental Stress Crack Resistance F50 Hours | >1000 |
As an accredited SABIC LLDPE 218NF factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | SABIC LLDPE 218NF is supplied in 25 kg polyethylene-lined bags, palletized and stretch-wrapped for safe handling and storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | SABIC LLDPE 218NF is loaded into a 20-foot FCL, typically 25 metric tons, in 25-kg bags on pallets, shrink-wrapped. |
| Shipping | SABIC LLDPE 218NF is a non-hazardous linear low-density polyethylene resin, shipped as pellets in moisture-protective bags or FIBCs. It is containerized or transported in bulk trucks, kept clean and dry, and protected from heat. Not regulated under IMDG, ADR, or IATA. Handle carefully to avoid bag damage. |
| Storage | Store SABIC LLDPE 218NF in a clean, dry, well-ventilated area, preferably indoors and protected from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep bags sealed to prevent moisture, dust, or contamination. Avoid stacking excessively high. No special temperature control is required, but storage below 50°C is recommended. Keep away from strong oxidizers. |
| Shelf Life | SABIC LLDPE 218NF has an indefinite shelf life when stored in original, unopened packaging under dry, cool conditions. |
High-speed vertical form-fill-seal operation exposes the sealant layer as the limiting element because seal initiation temperature and hot tack determine whether a cycle speed above 25 m/min can be sustained. SABIC LLDPE 218NF is dosed at 70–85 wt% in the sealant layer of a three-layer coextruded blown film, with 15–30 wt% of a lower-density metallocene LLDPE or LDPE to lower the seal initiation temperature below 100°C; the sealant layer is 8–15 µm inside a total film of 40–80 µm. The downstream process is a three-layer coextrusion blown film line with chilled air ring and internal bubble cooling, die gap 1.6–2.0 mm, blow-up ratio 2.0:1–2.5:1, and melt temperature 180–200°C. Compliance for frozen food contact rests on FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 and Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, with overall migration testing per EN 1186-1. Hot tack is measured under ASTM F1921 and seal strength under ASTM F88/F88M. The use of 218NF in this layer is constrained by its moderately high haze and seal initiation threshold compared with metallocene-only sealants; processors therefore do not specify it for high-clarity frozen packaging where reverse-printed film appearance is critical. Terminal finished articles are IQF vegetable pouches, frozen seafood bags, and side-gusseted pouches.
At blow-up ratios above 3.5:1, dart impact measured by ISO 7765-1 becomes highly sensitive to the level of high-density polyethylene blended with SABIC LLDPE 218NF. Heavy-duty shipping sack structures use 60–80 wt% 218NF, 10–20 wt% HDPE with density 0.956 g/cm³, and 5–15 wt% autoclave LDPE to control bubble symmetry and to raise bending stiffness for sack opening at the filling spout. The downstream process is a high-stalk monolayer or three-layer blown film line with 30:1 L/D extruders, die gap 2.0–2.5 mm, blow-up ratio 3.5:1–4.0:1, melt temperature 190–210°C, and film thickness 80–180 µm according to fill weight. Internal bubble cooling is specified to reduce blocking at the nip where the high-blow-ratio bubble collapses. Compliance is driven by ISO 7965-2 drop impact testing of filled sacks and packaging minimisation under Directive 94/62/EC; incoming resin lot release uses density and melt flow rate under ISO 1183-1:2019 and ISO 1133-1:2022. A drop threshold of 1.2 m at 25 kg is commonly applied in industrial specifications, and failures are typically traced to HDPE addition above 20 wt% or to melt gels above 200 µm. Terminal finished articles are shipping sacks for pelletised resin, construction chemical bags, and mineral aggregate packaging.
Surface preparation of the lamination sealant web begins with corona treatment to 38–42 mN/m surface energy under ASTM D2578 before polyurethane adhesive coating at 2.0–3.0 g/m² dry weight. In adhesive lamination structures for dry food pouches, SABIC LLDPE 218NF is used at 80–100 wt% in a blown sealant web of 40–70 µm thickness, with up to 20 wt% LDPE to improve lay-flat and web handling. The sealant web is produced on a conventional monolayer blown film line with die gap 1.8–2.2 mm, blow-up ratio 2.0:1–2.5:1, melt temperature 180–200°C, and then laminated to biaxially oriented PET or BOPP at line speeds of 150–300 m/min and lamination nip temperatures of 80–90°C. Food contact compliance is assessed under Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 177.1520, with layer-specific overall migration tested under EN 1186-1. 218NF is not assigned to the extrusion coating melt curtain because its neck-in and drawdown behaviour are inferior to high-pressure LDPE; this operational boundary restricts the grade to the sealant web function. The terminal finished articles are dry food pouches, stand-up pouches, and snack packaging laminates.
For multi-season greenhouse covering, SABIC LLDPE 218NF is placed at 70–85 wt%, an EVA with vinyl acetate content 9–14 wt% at 10–20 wt%, and a UV stabiliser masterbatch at 5–10 wt% to satisfy multi-season exposure requirements. The film is converted on a three-layer blown film line with die gap 1.8–2.2 mm, blow-up ratio 2.0:1–2.5:1, melt temperature 180–200°C, and finished thickness 150–200 µm for wide-span greenhouse covers. Dispersion quality of the hindered amine light stabiliser system is measured by optical microscopy on microtomed sections; agglomerates above 50 µm reduce long-term tensile retention and accelerate cracking at the greenhouse arch. Compliance is assessed under EN 13206:2017 for thermoplastic covering films used in agriculture and horticulture, with tensile properties measured under ISO 527-3 and impact resistance under ISO 7765-1. The operational boundary includes acidic condensate from crop transpiration, which attacks poorly stabilised films; drainage geometry and anti-drip additives are therefore set at the greenhouse design stage. Terminal articles are greenhouse cover film and low tunnel film for horticulture.
Internal bubble cooling start-up requires the frost line to be lowered no more than 2–3 die diameters below the stabilising cage because early film blocking at the collapsing frame creates creases that become leak points in filled liners. Heavy-duty liner formulations specify SABIC LLDPE 218NF at 70–90 wt%, with the balance being autoclave LDPE or clean post-industrial LLDPE recyclate at up to 30 wt%. The production process is a stationary or rotating die blown film line with internal bubble cooling, die gap 2.0–2.5 mm, blow-up ratio 2.5:1–3.0:1, melt temperature 190–215°C, and total film thickness of 60–150 µm depending on container capacity. Mechanical acceptance testing follows ISO 527-3 for tensile properties, ISO 6383-2 for Elmendorf tear, and ISO 7765-1 for dart impact; regulatory compliance for general industrial non-food contact is managed under REACH (EC) No 1907/2006, with shipper-specific compatibility protocols applied where chemical cargo contact is possible. The terminal products are drum liners, FIBC inner liners, and chemical packaging liners, where the dominant production failure mode is seam puncture rather than tensile yield.
On cast film lines running tackified stretch wrap, die lip deposit is the principal productivity constraint because the low-molecular-weight fraction of the tackifier migrates to the die lip during prolonged runs. Cast pallet wrap formulations place SABIC LLDPE 218NF at 70–85 wt%, a metallocene LLDPE with density 0.912 g/cm³ at 10–20 wt%, and polyisobutylene tackifier masterbatch at 2–5 wt%. The downstream process is a cast film line with flat die width 800–1,200 mm, die gap 0.5–0.8 mm, chill roll temperature 15–25°C, line speed 300–600 m/min, and finished film thickness 12–25 µm. Although the 2.0 g/10 min melt flow rate of 218NF supports drawdown, gels above 150 µm produce die streaks and uneven cling distribution; melt filtration at 100–150 µm is therefore specified before the flat die. Performance is quantified under ASTM D5459 for machine direction stretch retention and ASTM D5458 for cling force; regulatory compliance for industrial non-food use is limited to REACH (EC) No 1907/2006. The terminal finished articles are hand stretch film and machine pallet wrap used for pallet unitisation.
When the post-industrial recyclate fraction exceeds 20 wt%, feed surge becomes the dominant processing fault because fluff bulk density alters the gravimetric dosing profile. Consumer refuse sack formulations use SABIC LLDPE 218NF at 50–70 wt%, clean post-industrial LLDPE/LDPE recyclate at 20–35 wt%, and LDPE at 5–15 wt%. The process is a vented grooved-barrel blown film line with 30:1 L/D, melt filtration through 100–150 µm screen packs, die gap 1.8–2.2 mm, blow-up ratio 2.5:1–3.5:1, melt temperature 180–205°C, and film thickness 50–100 µm for sacks up to 120 L capacity. Compliance with EN 13592:2017 governs household refuse sack dimensions, tear resistance, and identification marking, while ISO 7765-1 dart impact and ISO 6383-2 tear tests are used for incoming batch release. Recyclate lot variability above 30 wt% can reduce dart impact below specification unless the recyclate is restricted to clean film scrap with melt flow rate between 0.5 g/10 min and 3.0 g/10 min. Terminal products are consumer refuse sacks, including drawstring and tie-handle formats used in municipal waste collection.
Where silage bale wrap is specified for self-adhesion under winding tension, the blend stiffness and puncture resistance must be maintained without raising the oxygen permeability above the level expected for a 25–35 µm polyolefin film. Industrial formulations for monolayer silage bale wrap commonly place SABIC LLDPE 218NF at 65–80 wt%, an autoclave LDPE with density 0.923 g/cm³ at 10–20 wt%, and a metallocene LLDPE at 10–15 wt% to stabilise the bubble during high-stalk extrusion. The resin has a nominal density of 0.918 g/cm³ and melt flow rate of 2.0 g/10 min under ISO 1183-1:2019 and ISO 1133-1:2022, respectively. Processing on a 30:1 L/D grooved-barrel blown film extruder is set at melt temperature 185–210°C, die gap 1.8–2.2 mm, blow-up ratio 2.5:1–3.0:1, and frost line height 8–10 die diameters. Cling is provided by polyisobutylene or EVA-based tackifier masterbatch at 1–3 wt%; addition above 3 wt% causes roll blocking in storage. Compliance is governed by EN 13207:2018 for thermoplastic silage films, with tensile properties measured under ISO 527-3 and trouser tear under ISO 6383-2. Production-line failure is most often traced to gel particles above 200 µm diameter, which initiate puncture at bale wrapping tension; 100–150 µm screen pack filtration ahead of the die is therefore retained. Terminal articles are round bale silage wrap and silage sheets for anaerobic forage preservation.
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SABIC LLDPE 218NF is supplied as a pelletized linear low-density polyethylene resin intended primarily for blown film extrusion. Grade-specific published values list a melt mass-flow rate of 2.0 g/10 min determined under ISO 1133-1:2022 at 190 °C with a 2.16 kg load, and a density of 918 kg/m³ determined under ISO 1183-1. The grade belongs to the producer’s 218 series and occupies an intermediate flow position between lower-flow LLDPE grades such as 118N and higher-flow grades such as 318N. That intermediate flow position influences extruder amperage, melt pressure sensitivity, bubble stability, and draw-down behaviour in monolayer and coextruded film lines. The “NF” suffix typically designates a natural, film-oriented formulation, but the exact additive package—slip, antiblock, or polymer processing aid—must be confirmed from the producer’s lot certificate because additive loadings vary by production site and regional specification.
The following comparison uses representative published nominal values for the producer’s 118N and 318N grades; lot-specific certificates control for a given shipment.
| Grade | Melt mass-flow rate | Density | Position in the producer’s LLDPE range |
|---|---|---|---|
| SABIC LLDPE 118N | 1.0 g/10 min under ISO 1133-1 | 0.918 g/cm³ | Low flow; higher melt strength for large heavy-duty sacks |
| SABIC LLDPE 218NF | 2.0 g/10 min under ISO 1133-1 | 0.918 g/cm³ | Intermediate flow for general-purpose blown film |
| SABIC LLDPE 318N | 3.0 g/10 min under ISO 1133-1 | 0.918 g/cm³ | Higher flow; downgauging and high-throughput film |
On a monolayer blown-film line equipped with a single-screw extruder of 25:1 to 30:1 L/D and a barrier screw, the material is typically started in a die temperature window of 180 °C to 200 °C and a melt temperature of 190 °C to 220 °C. Die gap is normally held between 1.2 mm and 2.0 mm; tighter gaps raise shear rate and magnify sharkskin melt fracture at the die lip, while wider gaps reduce shear history and may lower melt uniformity at high output. Bubble configuration is established at a blow-up ratio of 2.0:1 to 3.0:1, with frost-line height maintained between three and five die diameters. Raising blow-up ratio within that range increases transverse-direction tear energy but lowers bubble stability and drawdown capacity; published data for this specific configuration is limited, so those interactions are inferred from the broader linear-low-density film class rather than from grade-specific design-of-experiments. The addition of 10% to 20% by mass of a low-melt-index LDPE improves bubble stability and suppresses draw resonance, but it can reduce dart-impact energy and tensile yield when measured under ASTM D1709-22 and ISO 527-3.
Melt temperature constraints arise from two opposing failure modes. At the lower boundary, a melt temperature below approximately 180 °C raises melt viscosity sufficiently to produce sharkskin melt fracture at the die lip, particularly on die gaps tighter than 1.0 mm. At the upper boundary, sustained melt temperatures above 240 °C to 250 °C increase the probability of gel particles and crosslinked oxidation residues, which appear as fisheyes in thin film and interrupt winding on high-speed lines. Head pressure in a 45 mm extruder typically increases with screw speed; when pressure exceeds the control band of the screen pack and breaker plate, backflow over the barrier flight lowers specific output and increases melt residence time. In such runs, reducing screen-pack mesh opening from 80 to 60 mesh may lower head pressure but sacrifices filtration efficiency and can allow hard-particle defects to pass downstream. Barrel temperature profiling should place the peak temperature in the compression zone, not at the die, to avoid unnecessary thermal degradation. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; the boundary values are class-typical and should be interpreted with on-line rheometer data from a capillary die.
Heat-seal initiation, hot-tack, and cold-seal compatibility govern use in form-fill-seal packaging. In this density class, seal initiation typically falls between 100 °C and 115 °C, while hot-tack strength is measured under ASTM F1921-22 and heat-seal strength under ASTM F88/F88M-21. Seal-bar temperatures above 150 °C can cause edge thinning, molecular orientation relaxation, and bond to the jaw, especially on high-speed vertical machines with short dwell times. The intermediate 2.0 g/10 min melt flow rate provides a compromise between low-flow grades that require higher sealing temperatures and high-flow grades that may lack bubble stability; grade-specific seal curves should be obtained from the supplier before setting packaging-machine jaw profiles. In lamination and extrusion coating, the resin may be blended with LDPE or tie-layer compatibilizers to control neck-in and draw resonance. Draw resonance in this viscosity class occurs more readily when draw ratio exceeds approximately 10:1 and line speed surges; published data for this specific configuration is limited, so a coextrusion trial is required to identify the onset amplitude on a given die. The use of a polymer processing aid can reduce die-lip build-up but may interact with corona treatment and ink adhesion, especially when surface energy after treatment is specified under ASTM D2578-23.
In three-layer coextruded film, substitution of a butene-based LLDPE of equivalent density with 218NF requires comparison of melt-flow ratio, rheological polydispersity, and die pressure distribution. Where the incumbent resin has a lower melt flow rate, 218NF may reduce head pressure and layer uniformity, but it can also lower melt strength and destabilize the bubble at high blow-up ratios. Conversely, when the incumbent has a higher melt flow rate, 218NF improves bubble stability and dart-impact integrity at equivalent thickness but may raise the extruder motor load. Interlayer compatibility with EVOH or polyamide tie layers is governed by melt viscosity matching at the interface; a viscosity ratio between adjacent layers outside the range of approximately 0.5:1 to 2.0:1 can cause layer encapsulation and poor barrier-layer continuity. Melt-flow ratio measured under ISO 1133-1 is not sufficient for interfacial prediction; a dynamic shear rheology curve from ISO 6721-10 or equivalent is required. The lower melt strength of a 2.0 g/10 min LLDPE relative to a 1.0 g/10 min LLDPE must also be compensated by adjusting blow-up ratio, frost-line height, and die gap; otherwise, edge weave and gauge variation increase on wide web lines.
Mechanical property verification for this density class follows ISO 527-3 for tensile strength and elongation, ISO 6383-2 for Elmendorf tear, ASTM D1709-22 for falling-dart impact, and ASTM D5748-19 for puncture resistance. Blow-up ratio is the dominant machine parameter governing anisotropy: increasing blow-up ratio from 2.0:1 to 3.0:1 shifts molecular orientation toward the transverse direction, raising transverse-direction tear resistance while lowering machine-direction tensile yield. Frost-line height changes cooling rate and crystalline morphology; a higher frost line lowers quenching rate and can increase haze while slightly increasing dart impact at constant gauge. No single combination of blow-up ratio and frost-line height is uniformly optimal; the acceptable window depends on the packaging machine's demand for machine-direction tear versus transverse-direction tear and on the required film flatness. Lot-to-lot variance in catalyst residue and additive dispersion can shift these balances by 5% to 15%, so incoming resin certificates under ISO 1133-1 and ISO 1183-1 should be trended against film tensile and dart data. Film thickness variation across the web is quantified with profile gauging under ISO 4593 and should be held within ±5% of target for stable converting.
The following starting envelope is class-typical, not a grade-specific guaranteed window.
| Parameter | Class-typical starting envelope | Measurement point |
|---|---|---|
| Melt temperature | 190 °C–220 °C | Melt thermocouple at adapter |
| Die temperature | 180 °C–200 °C | Die body thermocouple |
| Blow-up ratio | 2.0:1–3.0:1 | Bubble diameter divided by die diameter |
| Frost-line height | 3–5 die diameters | Vertical distance from die face |
| Die gap | 1.2 mm–2.0 mm | Annular die gap |
On production lines running polyethylene with slip and antiblock concentrates, 218NF should be matched to the concentrate viscosity at the dosing hopper. A mismatch in melt flow rate between base resin and additive masterbatch above 4:1 can create dispersion defects that appear as gel-like specks in the film. Antiblock loadings above 3000 ppm of synthetic silica reduce coefficient of friction under ISO 8295 but increase haze and lower gloss; the exact trade curve depends on particle size and refractive index. Because the resin is not hygroscopic, pre-drying is not normally required at relative humidity below 60%; however, surface condensation on cold pellets in humid coastal production sites can introduce moisture-related bubble pinholes. A hopper dryer at 60 °C for 2 h is adequate where condensation is observed, but higher temperatures can soften pellets and cause screw feed bridging. Purging between product transitions is best conducted with a low-melt-index LDPE or a commercial purging compound, not with high-melt-index LLDPE alone, because high-flow purge resin can hang up in dead zones behind the screw tip. Corona treatment should be performed inline; the surface free energy target depends on the ink and adhesive system but often lies between 38 dyn/cm and 42 dyn/cm under ASTM D2578-23.
Relative to metallocene-catalysed LLDPE of similar density, a conventional linear-low product in this class typically produces a broader molecular weight distribution, a higher seal initiation temperature, and lower clarity. Where the converter requires ultra-low seal initiation or superior dart impact at thin gauge, metallocene grades may be preferred. Conversely, the broader molecular weight distribution can provide a more forgiving extrusion window, lower head pressure at equivalent melt flow rate, and easier bubble stability on older blown film lines without internal bubble cooling. These differences are not grade-specific; a head-to-head trial on the target line remains necessary. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, and the producer’s technical data sheet should be consulted for the catalyst type and molecular weight distribution index.
Bulk handling and silo inventory control require moisture exclusion and fines control. Pellets of this density class can develop fines during long pneumatic conveying; fines accumulate in filters and reduce screw feeding consistency. Differential pressure across the receiving filter should be monitored, and dense-phase conveying is preferred over dilute-phase where fines generation is unacceptable for high-closure packaging film. Static discharge is controlled by grounding and humidification; no additional drying is needed at relative humidity below 60%.
Compliance for direct food contact is determined on the finished film rather than on the resin alone. In the United States, olefin polymers intended for food contact are assessed under 21 CFR 177.1520, with end-testing for overall migration and specific migration depending on the food simulant and temperature. In the European Union, the film must satisfy Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and its amendments, including the overall migration limit and specific migration limits for any additives used in the formulation. REACH registration for polyethylene is maintained at the producer level, but downstream users retain obligations for articles under REACH Article 33 where substances of very high concern exceed 0.1% w/w. The resin should not be used in medical implant or long-term parenteral applications without separate biocompatibility evaluation under ISO 10993-1. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; the supplier’s regulatory certificate for the exact grade and any regional additive package is the controlling document. Processing conditions that exceed the recommended temperature envelope do not automatically invalidate food-contact status, but they may increase oxidative degradation products, which must be evaluated in the finished film by the relevant migration tests.
