How SILIKE SILIMER Series Enables Sustainable and High-Efficiency Film Extrusion Without Fluorinated PPAs
The European packaging industry is entering a new era of regulatory transformation.
With the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2025/40, commonly known as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the European Union has established stricter requirements for packaging safety, sustainability, and circularity.
A key focus of PPWR is Article 5 – Restriction of Substances of Concern, which aims to minimize the environmental impact and potential health risks associated with hazardous substances in packaging materials.
Among these substances, PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) have become a major concern, particularly in food contact packaging applications.
Starting from 12 August 2026, food contact packaging containing PFAS above specified threshold limits will no longer be allowed to enter the EU market.
For packaging manufacturers, converters, and material suppliers, this regulatory change creates an urgent need to: Review existing raw materials and additives; improve supply chain transparency
Establish reliable compliance documentation; transition toward PFAS-free material solutions.
Under PPWR Article 5(5), food contact packaging materials must meet specific PFAS threshold requirements.
The regulation introduces three important testing criteria:
| Test Parameter | Limit Value | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Individual PFAS | 25 ppb | Targeted analysis; polymeric PFAS excluded |
| Sum of PFAS | 250 ppb | Includes relevant PFAS compounds and degradation products |
| Total Fluorine | 50 ppm | Includes polymeric fluorine-containing substances |
Among these requirements, the Total Fluorine limit of 50 ppm is particularly important for the plastics industry because it may impact materials containing fluorinated polymer components.
This creates new challenges for manufacturers producing flexible food packaging films, barrier packaging films, multilayer co-extrusion films, PE and PP film structures.
Food packaging films require excellent processing performance to achieve high production efficiency, stable extrusion, smooth surface appearance, and consistent mechanical properties.
For decades, fluorinated polymer processing aids (PPAs) have been widely used in film extrusion because they provide excellent processing benefits.
Traditional fluorinated PPAs help manufacturers reduce melt fracture(Sharkskin), improve surface smoothness, minimize die build-up, increase extrusion stability, and expand processing windows.
However, under increasing PFAS regulatory pressure, manufacturers are now facing a critical question: How can food packaging film producers maintain extrusion performance while eliminating fluorinated processing aids?
Replacing traditional fluorinated PPAs is not simply a material substitution issue.
Film manufacturers must maintain production efficiency while avoiding common extrusion problems.
During high-speed extrusion, polymer melt can experience excessive shear stress at the die exit.
This may cause: Rough film surfaces, loss of gloss, poor appearance, reduced product quality
These problems are particularly common in: LLDPE blown films, mPE films, high-speed flexible packaging production.
Die build-up is another major challenge in polymer extrusion.
Accumulated deposits inside extrusion dies can result in frequent cleaning requirements, production interruptions, increased waste, and lower productivity.
For continuous film production, reducing die contamination is critical.
Modern packaging films often involve high-speed extrusion, multiple polymer layers, recycled material incorporation, and complex barrier structures.
Without proper processing assistance, manufacturers may experience increased extrusion pressure, melt instability, and poor film quality consistency.
Therefore, the industry needs a new generation of processing additives that provide:
PFAS-free compliance + excellent extrusion performance.
As global regulations evolve, polymer processors are moving toward: Fluorine-free additives, PFAS-free processing solutions, Sustainable polymer technologies.
The ideal alternative must deliver: Regulatory Confidence Free from intentionally added PFAS; support compliance with evolving packaging regulations.
Processing Performance: Reduce melt fracture & sharkskin; improve surface quality; minimize die build-up; maintain production efficiency.
Application Flexibility: Suitable for PE films, PP films and multilayer packaging structures…
To help polymer processors transition away from fluorinated PPAs, Chengdu SILIKE Technology Co., Ltd. developed the SILIMER Series, a new generation of fluorine-free polymer processing additives designed for modern extrusion applications.
The SILIMER Series provides:
• 100% PFAS-free polymer processing additives
• Fluorine-free masterbatch solutions
• Pure fluorine-free PPA alternatives
• Solutions for PE, PP, and multilayer film extrusion
Unlike traditional fluorinated PPAs, SILIMER technology enables manufacturers to improve extrusion performance without relying on fluorochemicals.
During extrusion, SILIMER helps reduce friction between polymer melt and processing equipment surfaces.
This improves melt flow behavior, surface smoothness, and film appearance, as well as processing stability.
For blown film and cast film applications, SILIKE SILIMER Fluorine-free polymer processing additive solutions help manufacturers achieve higher-quality surfaces while maintaining efficient production.
SILIMER fluorine-free PPA alternatives technology helps reduce polymer adhesion and accumulation inside extrusion dies.
Benefits include: Reduced die cleaning frequency, longer continuous production runs, lower production interruption, improved manufacturing efficiency
This is especially valuable for: High-output blown film lines, Long-term continuous production, Flexible packaging manufacturing.
Modern food packaging increasingly relies on multilayer structures to provide: Barrier properties, Mechanical strength, Functional performance.
Typical structures include PE/EVOH/PEPP-based multilayer films and flexible barrier packaging films.
SILIMER supports: Stable melt processing, improved layer consistency, reduced surface defects.
Applications: LLDPE food packaging films, HDPE films, flexible packaging films…
Processing advantages: Reduced sharkskin defects, improved bubble stability, enhanced film surface quality, stable high-speed production.
Applications: CPP films, stretch films, lamination films.
Processing advantages: Lower extrusion pressure, improved transparency, better surface appearance, stable processing performance.
Applications: Barrier food packaging, High-performance flexible packaging.
Processing advantages: PFAS-free processing pathway, improved melt stability, reduced extrusion defects, enhanced production reliability.
The implementation of PPWR represents a major shift in how packaging materials are designed, processed, and evaluated.
For food packaging film manufacturers, moving away from fluorinated PPAs is becoming an important step toward regulatory compliance, sustainable production, supply chain transparency, and long-term market competitiveness.
By adopting SILIKE SILIMER Series PFAS-free polymer processing aids, polymer processors can replace traditional fluorinated PPAs while maintaining excellent extrusion efficiency and film quality.
The future of food packaging extrusion is moving toward PFAS-free materials, sustainable processing, and high-performance manufacturing.
Chengdu SILIKE Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in silicone-based polymer additives, PFAS-free polymer processing aids, and advanced material solutions for global polymer processing industries.
The SILIMER Series provides innovative fluorine-free solutions for:
• Polyolefins and recycled polyolefin resins
• Blown, cast, and multilayer films
• Fiber and monofilament extrusion
• Cable and pipe extrusion
• Masterbatch
• Compounding
• Other high-performance polymer extrusion applications
In light of global PFAS restrictions, contact SILIKE to discuss your packaging film processing challenges and discover our high-performance, fluorine-free polymer processing aids (PPA) for plastic film production.
Phone: +86-28-83625089
Mobile / Whatsapp : + 86-15108280799
Email:sale@reytechmachine.com
Website:www.siliketech.com
External Resources
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/packaging-waste_en
„Thanks to the LUVIR technology, the solder resist process could be switched directly from the previously used mask exposure to direct exposure. As an outstanding digital solution on the market, this technology has been able to demonstrate fast process times and superior quality on our certified conventional ink in production. This allowed us to fully digitize the solder mask process at low cost – without process or ink adjustments. An excellent benefit to our production in Rot am See.“
Ralf Göhringer (Head of Production WE Rot am See)
I would definitely recommend the Limata machine and team for a future company purchase
Michael Greenaway
Compunetics Inc.
“The Limata ldi has been amazing!! Best thing we did was buy this machine”
Richard Brady
GM
Circuitlabs
“Since 2019, we have been running the Limata X1000 LDI system (including LUVIR for solder mask imaging) in daily production as an addition to our current process with film. The machine was capable of properly exposing Taiyo PSR-4000 BN (DI) solder mask types on normal to high-copper boards using a new and unique direct imaging process. The machine operating interface is very user friendly which allowed for a quick technical training curve. The pre-registration processing reduced several seconds of production time at every print. Limata support and service staff is incomparable. They supported our team every step of the way at basically any time of the day or night, with literally, an immediate response time, customizing the software interface to best fit our Operations and needs.
We have exposed more than 8,000 prints since end of October, on various solder mask colors and some resist film panels. Limata, has proven to be very capable and innovative. They are a strong contender in the industry.
We have very much enjoyed this project, and working with the team!
Thank you Limata for the continued support and being a part of our growth.”
Bill Sezate
Vice President, GM
Summit Interconnect
As a replacement to our current contact exposure process with film, the LIMATA X2000 system including LUVIR-Technology was capable of properly exposing non-LDI solder mask types using a direct imaging process. The machine offers cutting edge software with a very intuitive operating interface which allowed for quick technician training curve. The dual drawer system combined with pre-registration processing reduced several seconds of production time at every machine cycle. Limata support and service staff is world class. They added software patches to keep production running at shortest possible response times, customized the software interface to best fit our in-house Operations system, and even wrote a step-by-step machine processing manual. As a result of the project, we have exposed more than 16,000 times on various product types and solder mask brands/colors. Limata, in a very short timeframe as a company, has definitely shown they are truly innovative and will be challenging the industry of direct imaging for the top spot.
Kevin Beattie
Process Engineer
TTM Technologies
Forest Grove Division
