Whether you're a converter producing HDPE bottles at scale or a brand owner formulating the next household, industrial, or personal care product, chemical permeation is a challenge you can't afford to ignore. Avient's Cesa™ Solvent Barrier additive technology offers a proven, cost-effective solution that protects product integrity, extends shelf life, and helps meet regulatory requirements - without changing your existing blow molding process.
“We developed Cesa™ Solvent Barrier Technology to help solve a persistent challenge in HDPE packaging - protecting containers from solvent permeation without adding complexity to the manufacturing process,” said Claire Dingwell, Senior Research & Development Chemist, Functional Additives. “Our goal was to create a solution that delivers strong, reliable performance while remaining practical and cost-effective for customers.”
Why Solvent Barrier Matters
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the packaging material of choice for countless applications — from agrochemicals and automotive fluids to cleaning products and personal care. But unmodified HDPE is permeable to certain solvents. Over time, solvent permeation could lead to potential:
Product loss through evaporation or weight loss
Product loss through permeation through the bottle wall
Poor label adhesion
Regulatory non-compliance with USDOT testing CFR49 Hazardous Materials
Shelf-life shortening that impacts brand reputation
Safety risks from leaching or container stress cracking
Cesa Solvent Barrier additives are developed to address these challenges head-on.
How Cesa Solvent Barrier Works
Cesa™ Solvent Barrier additive is incorporated directly into the HDPE resin during the blow molding process. The blended barrier additive creates a tortuous path within the container wall that dramatically slows the transmission of solvents through the bottle wall. The result is a monolayer barrier bottle with up to 10x barrier improvement compared to untreated HDPE — with no additional layers, no fluorination step or logistics, and no secondary processing required.
Watch this short video to explore the benefits of Cesa Solvent Barrier technology.
Use this infographic for a quick visual comparison of how Cesa Solvent Barrier technology performs vs. untreated HDPE across a range of solvents.
Solvent Barrier Benefits for Converters
Drop-in compatibility with standard extrusion blow molding equipment
Let down ratios developed for easy, precise dosing
Broad compatibility with natural and pigmented HDPE grades
Consistent lot-to-lot performance with Avient's quality manufacturing standards
Reduces the need for costly fluorination or multi-layer processes
Solvent Barrier Benefits for Brand Owners
Supports brand reputation and consumer trust by reducing product loss through container permeation
Enables simpler supply chain vs. fluorinated bottles
Available across a range of barrier levels to match your specific product and technical needs
Applications
With more than 5 reagents tested, Cesa Solvent Barrier is well-suited for monolayer HDPE containers used in agrochemicals, automotive fluids, cleaning concentrates, personal care products, adhesives, coatings, and other solvent-containing formulations.
Have a specific application or compliance question? Contact an Avient specialist to discuss your barrier requirements and get a recommendation tailored to your bottle design and fill chemistry.
