Abstract

Post-printed water-based (WB) coatings, commonly known as aqueous coatings, have gained popularity for paper-based label manufacturing because of their environmentally friendly characteristics. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is one of the common additives added to the WB coatings to achieve heat resistance and rub resistance properties for the final product. PTFE is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, and is a category of Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS). As of January 2024, the sale of food packaging containing PFAS is prohibited in the state of Minnesota, with expectations that this regulation will extend to other states because of the proven harm of PFAS to both humans and animals. PTFE-free WB coatings are emerging as an alternative; thus prompting the need to assess their performance. This research investigates whether PTFE-free WB coating can match the performance of PTFE WB coating for food packaging. The discussion focuses on comparing the impact of these coatings on mechanical properties and label performance of paper labels to inform potential future adopters of PFTE-free aqueous coatings for paper-based label application of mechanical properties and label performance factors as compared to aqueous coatings containing PFTE. The result shows that PTFE-free coating could be an acceptable alternative coating. The tested PTFE-free coating equals or exceeds the PTFE coatings for rub, humidity, grease, heat, and pressure resistance abilities and present similar water resistance characteristics.

Publication Date

8-26-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Print and Graphic Media Science (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Packaging and Graphic Media Science

College

College of Engineering Technology

Advisor

Bilge Altay

Advisor/Committee Member

Bruce Leigh Myers

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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