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Food-contact plastics guide
Additives for Polymers
July 1996
TECHNICAL Alternatives pigments
BRIEFS
to heavy-metal
The transition from heavy-metal-based inorganic pigments to more ‘environmentally friendly’ substitutes has progressed steadily over the last few years. Pigments based on heavy metals, mainly cadmium and lead, are estimated by suppliers and users to account for at most 20-25% of the plastics market. Strict government regulations, occupational health concerns, and costly waste disposal and recycling make some believe that a complete phase-out of heavy-metal pigments is imminent.
plastics filled with conductive particles or new-types of plastic with conjugated double bonds (intrinsically conductive plastics). This A short article discusses both types. introduction to the physical principles (percolation, wetting, particle shade, conjugated double bond, electron conduction) is followed by a discussion of state-of-the-art practical applications. (42 refs). Znt. Polymer Science & Technology, 1995, 22, (1 I), T/l-6 (Translated from: Gummi Fasern Kunststoffe, 1995, (9), 634).
PUBLICATIONS Food-contact
There are several reasons why users have been reluctant to let go of cadmium and lead pigments, which cover the full range of yellow, orange and red shades. One is that they can be used in nearly any kind of polymer. This is not the case with substitute organic pigments and dyes, nor with the nonheavy-metal inorganic pigments - chiefly mixed-metal oxides such as nickel and chrome titanates. All these alternatives have limitations in key areas such as heat stability, colour strength, opacity, lightfastness or dispersibility. Further more, reformulation away from heavy metals can be complicated. Cost, strength, and opacity are interconnected concerns. For example, the base price of an organic pigment may be ten times more than a lead pigment, but if it is eight or nine times stronger in colour, the additional cost is somewhat mitigated. Many organics have this strength advantage but are transparent. To add opacity, one can use TiO, iron oxides, or mixed-metal oxides (eg nickel or chrome titanates). This article gives a detailed guide to the commercial alternatives currently available as replacements for heavy-metal reds, oranges, and yellows. Plastics Technology,
Conductive Conductive
plastics guide
A second edition of Plastics in Contact with Food - A Guide has been published by the British Plastics Federation. The Guide aims to advise manufacturers and users of plastics packaging and other plastics articles, intended to come into contact with food, on legislation being developed and introduced by the EC as part of its programme of harmonization. The second edition takes into account recent changes made to European and UK legislation, in particular the creation of a permitted list of additives and amendments to the regulations on monomers and migration limits. It has also been improved in the light of experience gained from use of the successful first edition, with expanded sections on hygiene, labelling, a glossary of terms, useful addresses and model letters for documenting compliance along the supply chain. The Guide give practical advice on the necessary actions to insure compliance with UK Iegislation. As before, this guide has been written with the cooperation of the plastics industry, the food industry and the enforcement authorities.
1996, (May), 48-53
plastics
plastics are either conventional
“1996 Elsevier Science Ltd
The guide is available, priced &50.00 from: The British Plastics Federation, 6 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JE, UK. Tel: +44-l 71-457-5000. Fax: +44-l 71-4575045. 11
July 1996
TECHNICAL Alternatives pigments
BRIEFS
to heavy-metal
The transition from heavy-metal-based inorganic pigments to more ‘environmentally friendly’ substitutes has progressed steadily over the last few years. Pigments based on heavy metals, mainly cadmium and lead, are estimated by suppliers and users to account for at most 20-25% of the plastics market. Strict government regulations, occupational health concerns, and costly waste disposal and recycling make some believe that a complete phase-out of heavy-metal pigments is imminent.
plastics filled with conductive particles or new-types of plastic with conjugated double bonds (intrinsically conductive plastics). This A short article discusses both types. introduction to the physical principles (percolation, wetting, particle shade, conjugated double bond, electron conduction) is followed by a discussion of state-of-the-art practical applications. (42 refs). Znt. Polymer Science & Technology, 1995, 22, (1 I), T/l-6 (Translated from: Gummi Fasern Kunststoffe, 1995, (9), 634).
PUBLICATIONS Food-contact
There are several reasons why users have been reluctant to let go of cadmium and lead pigments, which cover the full range of yellow, orange and red shades. One is that they can be used in nearly any kind of polymer. This is not the case with substitute organic pigments and dyes, nor with the nonheavy-metal inorganic pigments - chiefly mixed-metal oxides such as nickel and chrome titanates. All these alternatives have limitations in key areas such as heat stability, colour strength, opacity, lightfastness or dispersibility. Further more, reformulation away from heavy metals can be complicated. Cost, strength, and opacity are interconnected concerns. For example, the base price of an organic pigment may be ten times more than a lead pigment, but if it is eight or nine times stronger in colour, the additional cost is somewhat mitigated. Many organics have this strength advantage but are transparent. To add opacity, one can use TiO, iron oxides, or mixed-metal oxides (eg nickel or chrome titanates). This article gives a detailed guide to the commercial alternatives currently available as replacements for heavy-metal reds, oranges, and yellows. Plastics Technology,
Conductive Conductive
plastics guide
A second edition of Plastics in Contact with Food - A Guide has been published by the British Plastics Federation. The Guide aims to advise manufacturers and users of plastics packaging and other plastics articles, intended to come into contact with food, on legislation being developed and introduced by the EC as part of its programme of harmonization. The second edition takes into account recent changes made to European and UK legislation, in particular the creation of a permitted list of additives and amendments to the regulations on monomers and migration limits. It has also been improved in the light of experience gained from use of the successful first edition, with expanded sections on hygiene, labelling, a glossary of terms, useful addresses and model letters for documenting compliance along the supply chain. The Guide give practical advice on the necessary actions to insure compliance with UK Iegislation. As before, this guide has been written with the cooperation of the plastics industry, the food industry and the enforcement authorities.
1996, (May), 48-53
plastics
plastics are either conventional
“1996 Elsevier Science Ltd
The guide is available, priced &50.00 from: The British Plastics Federation, 6 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JE, UK. Tel: +44-l 71-457-5000. Fax: +44-l 71-4575045. 11