Following growing customer demand, a novel series of solvent-free polyurethane adhesives for laminates to be used in packaging has been developed by ACTEGA Rhenania. During the past couple of years solvent-free polyurethane adhesives have gained a steadily increasing importance for laminate production in the packaging industry. Compared to classical solvent-borne polyurethane adhesives there is no need for solvents to be employed during processing and they are applied at lower coating weights. Consequently these materials involve economic and ecological advantages.
It thus became a primary task to develop adhesives with a dominant amount of biomass-based raw materials. This initiative is part of a number of sustainability programs to optimize products and processes by reducing the employed amount of petrochemical raw materials as well as the emission of carbon dioxide.
Today ACTEGA Rhenania offers a respective range of adhesives which are characterized by the following core properties:
- High content of polyols based on renewable raw materials which can be cured preferably by aliphatic polyisocyanates. Formed polyurethanes are based on an approx. 65 - 80% content of biomass.
- Involved raw materials, such as castor oil derivatives, have already been broadly used on a global scale for a variety of other applications. Formulations have been optimized towards a major amount of these renewable raw materials and product performance.
- All raw materials are listed in relevant food law regulations.
- Processability in common laminating machines and the overall performance comply with classical solvent-free polyurethane adhesives. Working temperatures are 40 - 70 °C depending on the specific formulation. Moreover it is possible to laminate inorganic surfaces, such as SiOx layers or aluminum foil.
About ACTEGA
ACTEGA Coatings & Sealants is a division of ALTANA group. ACTEGA develops and produces specialty coatings, sealants, printing inks, and adhesives for the rigid and flexible packaging and the graphic arts industry. These products deliver an attractive appearance to materials such as paper, paper board, plastic and metal. They also provide clearly defined chemical and physical properties to the materials' surface.
The continuous development of customer-oriented and sustainable products, processes and services is a particular responsibility for ACTEGA. A global organization is ready to meet these requirements.
Business Line Converting Specialties stands as specialist for sealing compounds used in metal and plastic packaging (cans, glass closures, bottle closures), protective coatings and hot seal lacquers as well as primers and adhesives which are mainly used in the food and the pharmaceutical industry.
Business Line Graphic Arts is a leading manufacturer of water-borne and UV-curable overprint varnishes, effect lacquers, adhesives and printing inks mainly for paper, board and polymeric surfaces.