The Chemicals Business of UFlex Limited announced the securing of a patent (Patent No 354903) on "a process for the preparation of Epoxy Ester Resin" in accordance with the provisions of the Patents Act, 1970. 

This is the first patent for the Chemicals business ever in India and it will be considering applying for a global patent in due course of time. 

UFlex’s Chemicals Business is a leading manufacturer of inks, coatings and adhesives for flexible packaging, cartons, labels, and paperboard.

UFlex’s new patent will ensure technical advancement in providing a process for resin preparation wherein no wastewater treatment is required which is a significant move in the direction of sustainability. 

Furthermore, Epoxy Ester Resin prepared by this process will be used in radiation curing or energy curing and therefore curing will be faster, unlike the typical Epoxy Ester resin which is thermally cured and takes a longer time besides being uneconomical. With enhanced stability of coating and its chemical resistance attributes, a total of 16 claims have been taken under this patent. 

“We are extremely delighted with the continued strengthening of our R&D prowess. The issuance of this patent is another step in the development of a robust portfolio for our business," said Rajesh Bhasin, joint president, Chemicals Division, UFlex Limited. "This is part of our initiative to backward integrate, using our inherent strengths. Such initiatives help us to have greater control on product qoverlity and supply security. This unique achievement is all because of the progressive approach, years of hard work and commitment.”

Epoxy Ester resins are known for their use in coatings, paints and adhesives. 

Before this patent was registered, conventionally Epoxy Ester resin is produced in a two-stage process. 

The first stage is condensation which generates a lot of salt that is removed through several water washings, resulting in a high effluent generation. 

Typically, wastewater contains 50,000-95,000 ppm TDS and 50,000-60,000 ppm COD, which, therefore, requires large capital investment for wastewater treatment plants adding to the capital expenditure and operating expense of the process of Epoxy resin preparation. 

In the second stage of a conventional process, Epoxy resin is converted into Epoxy Ester resin with the esterification process which results in the formation of undesirable Epoxy Ester resin, which has a dark color and odor. 

However, UFlex’s newly invented and patented approach arrests the challenges posed in a conventional method as the Epoxy ester produced has no wastewater generation, no odor and neither a dark color which is good for fast curing coatings with efficient cost-effective processing.

Epoxy Resins are gaining supremacy over the conventional use of Vinyl Esters and polyesters in the Flexible Packaging industry as well as in Offset printing areas. Epoxy Resins deliver performance attributes in five key areas:

• Better adhesion by allowing to bond to the reinforcement or core; 
• Superior mechanical properties imparting higher strength and stiffness;
• Improved resistance to fatigue and microcracking issues;
• Reduced degradation from water ingress. Epoxy Resins have lesser shrink ability by up to 50% in comparison to Vinyl Esters and Polyesters;
• Increased resistance to osmosis which is way better than Vinyl Ester and Polyesters