The Dow Chemical Company launches CANVERA can coating polymers
Next generation, award-winning technology from Dow Coating Materials could drive a revolution in can coatings, by facilitating health-conscious food and drink producers to turn away from epoxy coatings using bisphenol A (BPA) and other materials of concern.
Whilst cans offer great consumer convenience, coatings are needed to protect containers from corrosion, and the contents from contact with metal, helping preservation, flavour quality and consumer safety.
Yet with traditional epoxy coatings using BPA – a material that has raised health concerns – alternatives are in demand from progressive brand owners wanting to address evolving consumer demands.
Now, technological developments at Dow have facilitated a tried and tested option for flexible and rigid plastic food packaging to be applied to can coatings too: thermoplastic polyolefins, with a specially designed mix of functionalized and non-functionalized polyethylene or polypropylene in an aqueous dispersion.
Without materials such as styrene, epoxides and phenolic crosslinkers, breakthrough CANVERA Polyolefin Dispersions from Dow offer a water-borne, spray-applied replacement for epoxy coating systems, eliminating BPA use and delivering brand owners a new approach to safe, sustainable can coating that will appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Powered by patented BLUEWAVE Technology, which facilitates creation of ultra-thin, thermoplastic film coatings, CANVERA Polyolefin Dispersions can be spray-applied from water-borne formulations to the inside of cans, protecting contents from changes in colour, taste or appearance.
With cost effectiveness and seamless manufacturing productivity high on the agenda, producers also benefit from drop-in performance: the technology can be used on existing lines and applied directly to metal surfaces by the same equipment used for current epoxy coatings.
