Advances in EB-Curable Adhesives and Coatings for Flexible Packaging
EB curing was first used commercially over 40 years ago for the curing of polyethylene (PE) for wire and cable applications. The technology has also been utilized for the crosslinking of polyolefin films. Until recently, however, there has been little involvement in the adhesives industry except for some reported use in the area of pressure sensitive adhesives for tape. Today, however, EB curing is currently under evaluation and feasibility analysis by many converters for laminating-adhesive and coating applications. Investment is being made at both the pilot scale and on production lines.
The recent increased interest in the technology is in part a result of the recent availability of lower-voltage, lower-cost EB units2,3. With the lower investment requirement for capital equipment, converters are able to make a better economic justification for evaluating the potential benefits of EB. Such benefits include reduced finished-package cost, increased production efficiency, increased manufacturing flexibility and increased safety.