Nano-dispersed Biopolymer to replace wax emulsions in packaging

Tag : Wax Additives
Abstract:
TopChim releases TopScreen DS13, an environmental friendly,patented, nano-dispersed biopolymer to substitute wax emulsions insuper hydrophobic paper and cardboard packaging. Nano-dispersed Biopolymer to replace wax emulsions in packaging ANTWERP, Belgium | Posted on June 11th, 2008
The packaging industry is seeking easy recyclable and environmentalfriendly packaging solutions made of renewable resources. TopChim,a Belgian R&D-focused chemical company specializing in papercoatings and paper coating additives, has developed an innovativebiopolymer as a competitive, ecological substitute for waxemulsions used in the coating production of hydrophobic paper andboard packaging. This 2-year research program has resulted in a newcoating technology for paper and cardboard that counters thedisadvantages of using wax emulsions while maintaining theexcellent water barrier performances.

"Paper and cardboard treated with wax emulsions is not veryrepulpable or recyclable." says Henk Van den Abbeele, founder andR&D Director of TopChim. "This disadvantage was the major drivingforce behind our R&D effort and resulted in the most importantadvantage of using TopScreen DS13. Paper and cardboard coated withTopScreen DS13 is as easily repulpable as non-treated paper orcardboard. By its very nature this biopolymer has no negativeimpact on the recyclability or biodegradability of the packaging".

The new biopolymer is of vegetable origin, while most used waxemulsions are produced from petrochemicals. This biopolymer showsother important advantages for the surface treatment of paper andcardboard compared to the use of wax emulsions. TopScreen DS13requires no stabilizers even with a high solid content, whileviscosity remains low (65% solids at +/- 300 cps with Brookfield23