Technology Overview

Paper-based materials typically require a barrier coating to impart the necessary protective properties against liquids, oils, grease, and other substances. However, commercially available coatings are mainly polymeric or metallized, requiring more than 2 coats and have poor recyclability. This technology aims to increase the recyclability of paper materials with a single-coat, water-based barrier coating.

The coating improves the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) for paper substrates, allowing for the creation of flexible paper packaging with barrier properties that are comparable to multi-layer flexible plastic packaging such as vacuum metalized orientated polypropylene (VMOPP) films. The technology requires low temperatures to dry and reduces material costs by using a single coat to achieve the desired barrier properties.

The company is seeking collaborations with downstream manufacturers to co-develop this coating for use in paper-based packaging.

Technology Features, Specifications and Advantages

Conventional coating methods begin with the application of the protective layer against oxygen (water or solvent-based) that dries at high temperature (>95°C), followed by another layer (solvent-based) to protect against water vapour transmission. The technology eliminates the need for a second layer by providing the required dual functionalities in a single coat system with low drying temperatures (40 to 90oC).

Some features of the coating include :

• Water-based carrier - eliminates use of solvents
• Flexible
• Transparent
• UV resistant
• Durable – Good hardness and able to withstand scratches and abrasion during the packaging process
• Achieves OTR and WVTR that is comparable to VMOPP films
• Suitable for use in current solvent-based coating equipment with lower drying temperature of up to 60oC
• No modification required for existing coating equipment
• Provides mono-layer paper alternative to PVDC coated oriented polypropylene (OPP), VMOPP and multi-material paper lamination packaging

Potential Applications

• Fast moving consumer goods packaging
• Pharmaceutical packaging

Customer Benefit

• Lowers overall costs by switching from multi-layer materials to mono-layer structures
• Easily recycled
• Eliminates use of multi-layer plastic films such as OPP and VMOPP
• Improved production efficiency by reducing number of coats required