- Email: [email protected]
DSM's laser marking additive gains food contact approvals
HEALTH AND SAFETY
ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES Dyneon to eliminate APFO processing aid from all products
U
S fluoroelastomer manufacturer 3M Dyneon is to eliminate the use of ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO) as a processing aid in its fluorinated plastics and elastomer production processes by the end of 2008.
DSM’s laser marking additive gains food contact approvals
D
utch company DSM reports that its patented Micabs® additive technology for dark laser marking of thermoplastics can now be used in plastic caps and closures in both Europe and the USA as it is fully compliant with the relevant requirements of the US Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the EU Framework Directive 1935/2004.
APFO, which is derived from perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA), has not been established as toxic and is only found at very low levels in finished fluoropolymers, but it is known to be a highly persistent chemical that remains in the human body for around four years. It has been used as a processing aid in the fluoropolymer industry for some 40 years. Dyneon has developed a new processing aid of undisclosed structure that provides an elimination rate from the human body that is an order of magnitude faster than that of APFO, according to the company’s manufacturing technologies director Günther Kampf. The new product is a drop-in replacement for APFO and will be introduced into all of 3M Dyneon’s production capacity by the end of 2008, Kampf says. Acute testing of the new processing aid has already been completed, and chronic testing will be completed during 2008. Dyneon says it plans to license its new technology to other fluoropolymer manufacturers. The development is part of Dyneon’s on-going programme to reduce APFO manufacturing emissions and residual product content, established in 1995 as part of the US EPA Global Voluntary PFOA Stewardship commitment.
Factors such as product liability, environmental awareness and product traceability have resulted in growing interest in laser marking among food and beverage producers, DSM says. The Micabs technology is suitable for use in ‘under the cap’ promotional marking of one-piece liner-less beverage closures. However, it can also be employed to produce anticounterfeiting and tracking and tracing markings, the company says. Due to the high definition that can be obtained with Micabs, 2D-data matrices or barcodes can be used to uniquely code a product. Such marks can be located for example in the complex recesses found in dispensing closures, which are very difficult to reach with conventional printing technology, DSM explains. Recently, laser marking speeds have increased due to developments in both laser and additive technology. Fully automated ‘marking-on-the-fly’ systems can now be incorporated into bottling or cap production lines, allowing high-speed marking of text and logos with production speeds of up to 90 000 caps/hour, says Valerie Reid, new business development manager at DSM Micabs. The Micabs laser marking additive, which is supplied in granulate form, is suitable for use in PP and HDPE closures, with typical addition levels of 1–5 wt% resulting in a high-definition, durable and ink-free mark on light or coloured backgrounds.
Contact: Dyneon LLC, Oakdale, MN, USA. Tel: +1 651 733 5353, Web: solutions.3m.com
Contact: DSM, Heerlen, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 45 578 8111, Web: www.dsm.com
January 2008
Additives for Polymers
11
ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES Dyneon to eliminate APFO processing aid from all products
U
S fluoroelastomer manufacturer 3M Dyneon is to eliminate the use of ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO) as a processing aid in its fluorinated plastics and elastomer production processes by the end of 2008.
DSM’s laser marking additive gains food contact approvals
D
utch company DSM reports that its patented Micabs® additive technology for dark laser marking of thermoplastics can now be used in plastic caps and closures in both Europe and the USA as it is fully compliant with the relevant requirements of the US Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the EU Framework Directive 1935/2004.
APFO, which is derived from perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA), has not been established as toxic and is only found at very low levels in finished fluoropolymers, but it is known to be a highly persistent chemical that remains in the human body for around four years. It has been used as a processing aid in the fluoropolymer industry for some 40 years. Dyneon has developed a new processing aid of undisclosed structure that provides an elimination rate from the human body that is an order of magnitude faster than that of APFO, according to the company’s manufacturing technologies director Günther Kampf. The new product is a drop-in replacement for APFO and will be introduced into all of 3M Dyneon’s production capacity by the end of 2008, Kampf says. Acute testing of the new processing aid has already been completed, and chronic testing will be completed during 2008. Dyneon says it plans to license its new technology to other fluoropolymer manufacturers. The development is part of Dyneon’s on-going programme to reduce APFO manufacturing emissions and residual product content, established in 1995 as part of the US EPA Global Voluntary PFOA Stewardship commitment.
Factors such as product liability, environmental awareness and product traceability have resulted in growing interest in laser marking among food and beverage producers, DSM says. The Micabs technology is suitable for use in ‘under the cap’ promotional marking of one-piece liner-less beverage closures. However, it can also be employed to produce anticounterfeiting and tracking and tracing markings, the company says. Due to the high definition that can be obtained with Micabs, 2D-data matrices or barcodes can be used to uniquely code a product. Such marks can be located for example in the complex recesses found in dispensing closures, which are very difficult to reach with conventional printing technology, DSM explains. Recently, laser marking speeds have increased due to developments in both laser and additive technology. Fully automated ‘marking-on-the-fly’ systems can now be incorporated into bottling or cap production lines, allowing high-speed marking of text and logos with production speeds of up to 90 000 caps/hour, says Valerie Reid, new business development manager at DSM Micabs. The Micabs laser marking additive, which is supplied in granulate form, is suitable for use in PP and HDPE closures, with typical addition levels of 1–5 wt% resulting in a high-definition, durable and ink-free mark on light or coloured backgrounds.
Contact: Dyneon LLC, Oakdale, MN, USA. Tel: +1 651 733 5353, Web: solutions.3m.com
Contact: DSM, Heerlen, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 45 578 8111, Web: www.dsm.com
January 2008
Additives for Polymers
11