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Dispersion coating technology has environmental benefits

Paperboard and packaging manufacturers have a new option to reduce costs and improve the lifespan of paperboard packaging. New Zealand scientists have developed a new water-based dispersion coating te…

Paperboard and packaging manufacturers have a new option to reduce costs and improve the lifespan of paperboard packaging. New Zealand scientists have developed a new water-based dispersion coating technology that has environmental benefits, reduces water vapour transmission, increases packaging box recycling options, is lighter than conventional waxed boxes and improves their strength.

The breakthrough comes from Scion, a New Zealand government-owned research company, through a project led by Dr. Behudin Mesic.

Scion’s technology involves the application of a water-based dispersion coating to the surface of paperboard to form a non-porous film. This dispersion coating is based on a proprietary kaolin clay/talc/latex formulation. The formulation proved inexpensive compared with alternatives and met a number of environmental and commercial goals.

Packaging suppliers typically overweight their paperboard packaging by up to 40% to minimize product failure. Tests have shown that the new coating significantly improves corrugated board performance in high humidity, meaning that wood fibre content in boxes can be reduced significantly, making them lighter and easier to handle.

Industry trials conducted by Scion and a commercial partner showed that the barrier coating improved creep behaviour, resulting in a 50% increase in box life compared with an uncoated box.

Commercial-scale trials in New Zealand and Australia have tested the large-scale application of the dispersion coating technology to boxes and found the formulation had good runnability, printability and glueability properties. Scion, www.scionresearch.com