Barrier Coatings Friendly to Environment Now Available

Published: May 30, 2003, By PRESS RELEASE

LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY—After 20 months of targeted planning by a newly established team, BASF reports it's offering environmentally compatible barrier coatings for paper packaging; according to the manufacturer, the coatings are fully recyclable.

States BASF: "The polymer dispersions protect packaged goods against water, moisture, oil, and grease. BASF's new concept means the paper industry can manufacture environmentally friendly paper packaging in competitive production processes. Manufacturers benefit from cost savings, since the polymer dispersions can be integrated into existing production processes." The first packaging paper coated with BASF barrier dispersions became available commercially early this year by the paper and board producer Stora Enso, adds the co.

BASF says a successful pilot project and plant trials, in close cooperation with the Stora Enso's flexible packaging business unit (part of the specialty paper organization of Stora Enso), preceded the commercialization of the product. Keith Damarell, business development manager at Stora Enso, points out the benefits of the process. "We can coat the polymer dispersions directly onto the paper or board as BASF's barrier dispersions can be used in our existing plants."

In addition, says BASF, its barrier dispersions reportedly can help avoid the need for additional process stages in the manufacturing of packaging paper. "Above all, barrier coating, which can be carried out at higher production speeds than the manufacturing of composite packaging, results in fully recyclable packaging products," reports the mfr.

Since July 2001, several new business development teams have been set up in BASF's operating divisions, reports the mfr., which says the teams are being tasked with promoting new ideas with strong innovative potential and, together with operating units and their customers, to bring them to market. "Barrier dispersions are a good example of how using this process can quickly turn an idea into a viable business," adds Dr. Martin Brudermüller, head of BASF's functional polymers division.

Learn more about this BASF project and its other highly diversified activities for the paper industry at basf.de.