Anthony Locicero, Associate Editor10.24.17
Laminating adhesives are a "perfect fit" for UV LED, Phoseon Technologies' Global Director of Business Development Jennifer Heathcote told the audience inside the DoubleTree's Independence Ballroom during the UV&EB Packaging Conference's first presentation.
"It's just starting to gain some traction in the industry," said Heathcote, who, along with Ashland's Technical Service & Product Development Chemist Jake Staples, delivered a 30-minute session entitled "UV LED Low Migration Laminating Adhesives for Flexible Packaging."
Previously, Heathcote noted, the discussion was focused on the benefits, market penetration and adoption of the technology.
The benefits of UV LED laminating adhesives, she said, include an immediate cure and a long pot life. Rolls can be slit immediately; UV LED stations can "easily" be retrofitted to existing presses; and adhesives can be applied with flexographic or gravure cylinders, Heathcote said.
"Now we're trying to put more data behind the applications," she said.
Migration testing was conducted on a Mark Andy P5 press – with Mark Andy Gen 2 ProLED (Phoseon FP601) technology – at the Flint Group's demo facility in Rogers, Minn., according to Staples.
Also used:
The company looks at food types, conditions of use (e.g. temperature and tie) – which are defined by the FDA – and performs a risk assessment (e.g. determine the substances of concern).
Common packaging constructions include solvent-free, solvent-based and water-based. There are four food types – aqueous and acidic; alcoholic; fatty; and dry – and the first three have recommended simulants.
For aqueous and acidic (e.g. fruits, vegetables and condiments), as well as alcoholic, foods: 10 percent ethanol, 90 percent water.
Fatty foods – cheese, butter, meats, seafood, etc.: 95 percent ethanol, 5 percent water (or oil simulant). Fatty foods represent the majority of the solvent-free laminating adhesive market.
Dry foods – uncooked pasta, cereals, rice, etc. – do not have specifications.
Staples referred to a slide with the conditions of use from A to J. The first: high temperature, heat sterilized or retorted (121˚C or 250˚F).
"If you pass that condition," he said, "you're considered passing everything below – which includes boiling water; room temperature; and refrigerated storage, among others.
A functional barrier - which prevents the migration of the non-food contact material into the food – needs to be in place to determine what an acceptable level is.
"Everything from absolute zero, to 50 parts per billion to below level of risk...," Staples said, adding that, with little guidance from the FDA or EU, it's the manufacturer's responsibility. "If something were to go wrong, while it is the manufactures responsibility, it does go up the food chain," he added.
Ashland's Regulatory Affairs Manager Joseph Spinnato, PhD, reviewed the extraction solutions from the migration testing of a fatty food simulation (95% ethanol, 10 mL/in2) with a hot fill above 150˚F; two hours at 66˚C; and 10 days at 40˚C condition of use, and a 2 mil LLDPE barrier film.
The results of the trial showed, per Ashland, that:
Ashland conducted a prior migration test with the same fatty food simulant as above with a room fill temperature and 10-day storage at 40˚C with a 3 mil LLDPE barrier film and found no components.
"The next step is to repeat testing with a thicker barrier film, lower temperature condition of use and an aqueous food simulant," Staples said.
Added Heathcote: "As an industry, we're still trying to figure out testing."
Narrow web (30 inches or less) is "gaining traction" while mid web press trials are beginning, according to Heathcote.
According to Smithers Pira, the global printing industry is expected to reach $980 billion in 2018. Flexible packaging is growing at around 5 percent annually; labels at 2 percent yearly, Heathcote said.
"It's just starting to gain some traction in the industry," said Heathcote, who, along with Ashland's Technical Service & Product Development Chemist Jake Staples, delivered a 30-minute session entitled "UV LED Low Migration Laminating Adhesives for Flexible Packaging."
Previously, Heathcote noted, the discussion was focused on the benefits, market penetration and adoption of the technology.
The benefits of UV LED laminating adhesives, she said, include an immediate cure and a long pot life. Rolls can be slit immediately; UV LED stations can "easily" be retrofitted to existing presses; and adhesives can be applied with flexographic or gravure cylinders, Heathcote said.
"Now we're trying to put more data behind the applications," she said.
Migration testing was conducted on a Mark Andy P5 press – with Mark Andy Gen 2 ProLED (Phoseon FP601) technology – at the Flint Group's demo facility in Rogers, Minn., according to Staples.
Also used:
- 360LPI/5.42 BCM adhesive anilox;
- 700 LPI/2.0 BCM ink anilox;
- Ashland PureRad 53972 adhesive;
- Ashland PureRad 53904A adhesive;
- MP 2mil PE base;
- MP 75g PP laminate
The company looks at food types, conditions of use (e.g. temperature and tie) – which are defined by the FDA – and performs a risk assessment (e.g. determine the substances of concern).
Common packaging constructions include solvent-free, solvent-based and water-based. There are four food types – aqueous and acidic; alcoholic; fatty; and dry – and the first three have recommended simulants.
For aqueous and acidic (e.g. fruits, vegetables and condiments), as well as alcoholic, foods: 10 percent ethanol, 90 percent water.
Fatty foods – cheese, butter, meats, seafood, etc.: 95 percent ethanol, 5 percent water (or oil simulant). Fatty foods represent the majority of the solvent-free laminating adhesive market.
Dry foods – uncooked pasta, cereals, rice, etc. – do not have specifications.
Staples referred to a slide with the conditions of use from A to J. The first: high temperature, heat sterilized or retorted (121˚C or 250˚F).
"If you pass that condition," he said, "you're considered passing everything below – which includes boiling water; room temperature; and refrigerated storage, among others.
A functional barrier - which prevents the migration of the non-food contact material into the food – needs to be in place to determine what an acceptable level is.
"Everything from absolute zero, to 50 parts per billion to below level of risk...," Staples said, adding that, with little guidance from the FDA or EU, it's the manufacturer's responsibility. "If something were to go wrong, while it is the manufactures responsibility, it does go up the food chain," he added.
Ashland's Regulatory Affairs Manager Joseph Spinnato, PhD, reviewed the extraction solutions from the migration testing of a fatty food simulation (95% ethanol, 10 mL/in2) with a hot fill above 150˚F; two hours at 66˚C; and 10 days at 40˚C condition of use, and a 2 mil LLDPE barrier film.
The results of the trial showed, per Ashland, that:
- Both PureRad 53972 and PureRad 53904A gave good performances depending on the film construction;
- Neither adhesive performed well over all constructions;
- Both adhesives are non-yellowing;
- Good bonds were observed up to 500 fpm at 100 percent power (20 W/cm2)
Ashland conducted a prior migration test with the same fatty food simulant as above with a room fill temperature and 10-day storage at 40˚C with a 3 mil LLDPE barrier film and found no components.
"The next step is to repeat testing with a thicker barrier film, lower temperature condition of use and an aqueous food simulant," Staples said.
Added Heathcote: "As an industry, we're still trying to figure out testing."
Narrow web (30 inches or less) is "gaining traction" while mid web press trials are beginning, according to Heathcote.
According to Smithers Pira, the global printing industry is expected to reach $980 billion in 2018. Flexible packaging is growing at around 5 percent annually; labels at 2 percent yearly, Heathcote said.