Maziar Khakpour, a specialist in polymer
additives, told a technical panel hosted by Iran’s Masterbatch and Compound
Producers Association that such films — typically less than 200 microns thick —
gain crucial functional properties through additives.
He said four main categories of additives are
applied: anti-blocking agents to prevent adhesion in packaging films, slip
agents to improve handling, anti-static additives to reduce dust attraction,
and anti-fog additives used in agriculture and refrigeration.
“For example, without anti-fog additives,
condensation on greenhouse films can increase humidity and damage crops. Proper
additives allow better control of moisture levels,” Khakpour said. He noted
requirements such as food-contact safety, thermal stability and odor resistance
are critical when selecting formulations.
Most of these specialty additives are still
imported, Khakpour added, though some Iranian companies have begun developing
anti-blocking agents locally. “The market may be small, but with sufficient
investment and effort, domestic production could become feasible in the
future,” he said.
Plastic films derived from polyethylene and
polypropylene form a key segment of Iran’s downstream petrochemical industry,
widely used in food packaging, agriculture and consumer goods.