Materials and technologies – September 2020

Smart cardboard packaging
Purdue University researchers have developed a simple printing process that renders any paper or cardboard packaging into easy-to-use human-machine interfaces. The technology is compatible with conventional large-scale printing processes and could easily be implemented to convert conventional cardboard packaging or paper into smart packaging. An article about the research is published in Nano Energy (abstract).

Recycled plastic as feedstock
WUR research (summary, 200 kB) has found that the material properties of PET bottles are influenced by the quality of rPET and the grade in which it is used in the bottles. The risks can be limited by opting for high-quality rPET, e.g. from a mono-collection system such as the deposit refund system. Three articles about the research, published in Packaging Technology and Science, can be found in an FPF news item. Other research (in Dutch, 9.65 MB) by WUR shows that recycled plastic film has an odour, regardless how you collect it.
LyondellBasell has announced the start-up of its MoReTec molecular recycling facility in Italy. The MoReTec technology aims to return post-consumer plastic waste to its molecular form for use as a feedstock for new plastic materials for food packaging for example.

Multilayered plastic film
TNO reports that PACK-CE project partners have carried out experiments on multilayered film with each layer made out of the same type of polymer. They found that it can be used for many purposes, however slightly more oxygen passes through.
On 26 August 2020, Femke de Gooijer held a speech entitled ‘Reducing curvature within multilayer film pouches by studying machine-material interaction’ as part of her master assignment at the University of Twente. Chairman of the assessment committee was professor Roland ten Klooster who holds the NVC Chair Packaging Design and Management.

Bioplastics
AIMPLAS reports on the results of the first year of the BIOnTop project, including a number of publications. The project aims to develop new, competitive, recyclable packaging designed to be mechanically recycled, compostable either industrially or at home, or suitable for anaerobic digestion.
FPF reports that, in an article (1.04 MB) published in Biotechnology Advances, researchers from Politecnico di Milano review currently available production methods for PHA bioplastics.

Digital printing
Packaging World has published an online supplement on digital printing for labels and packaging.

Nanomaterials in food packaging
In an article (1.7 MB) published in Nanomaterials, Università degli Studi di Milano researchers discuss current advances and challenges in manufacturing food packaging based on nanocellulose. Integral University researchers discuss the same subject in an article (1.06 MB) published in the Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials.

Prices for plastics
Dutch trade magazine Vraag en Aanbod publishes a weekly overview of the prices for plastics (in Dutch). The prices given are estimated averages between the gross prices published in the trade journals and the net prices.
 

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