New barrier coating halves water usage – creator

NanoPack’s Bairicade XT is available worldwide and uses 50% less water in the coating process due to its ultra-thin design.

The coating, which is an upgrade to the manufacturer’s current NanoSeal NSC model, reduces drying time which increases press speeds on printing processes.

Drying time reduced​

US-based NanoPack said the design has allowed them to go “thinner and to put down about half of the total amount wet.”

The coating, 0.25 microns thick, is created by evenly dispersing clay platelets in a resin which stack up like a tightly constructed brick wall to block oxygen transmission and extend product shelf life.

The water-based product includes the ability for coating and printing in-line on high-speed flexographic and gravure printing processes, said NanoPack.

The film can be used in the packaging of snacks, nuts, seeds, seasonings, candy, coffee and tea.

NanoPack said it could: “replace highly chlorinated coatings such as polyvinylidene chloride (Saran), and thicker, more expensive materials such as ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH).”

Product upgrade​

NanoPack president and CEO Howard Kravitz told FoodProductionDaily.com the new technology is an upgrade of their current product.

“The XT has taken us to a higher level.”

The coating provides a barrier to most organic volatiles, providing protection for flavour and aroma, shielding the inks and adhesives in those laminations and allows end-users to design their own barrier targets by varying coating thickness, said the firm.

Kravitz added: “Because of the reduction in water use it is easier to dry production lines and presses faster.

“With the ability to run on flexographic presses and shorter oven drying speeds it is considered economical.”