July 16, 2024

By Daniele Vinci, Business Development Manager, CASE EMEA

As the packaging industry continues to evolve, manufacturers are looking for high-performing materials that can help them meet their sustainability goals and potentially reduce emissions. An example of this continued focus on sustainability can be seen in the industry’s transition to flexible packaging.

Flexible packaging typically consumes fewer resources than traditional packaging as it uses less materials and has a lighter weight – making it an excellent solution to reduce emissions compared to other packaging solutions such as rigid materials like glass jars or metal tins. However, the industry needs solutions that can provide critical performance characteristics while balancing sustainability considerations.

With this in mind, Trinseo designed LIGOS™ A 9200 to enhance efficiency and performance while balancing the sustainability needs of flexible packaging manufacturers.

Creating Efficient and High Performing Packaging

LIGOS™ A 9200 is engineered to meet the specific performance needs during the dry lamination of flexible structures, including those that come into contact with food. This innovative acrylic waterborne adhesive is a robust and versatile polymer suitable for laminating paper to a wide range of substrates, including treated polyolefins, polyvinylidene chloride-coated substrates, metalized films, polyamide, polyester films, and even paper-to-paper and film-to-film structures. Thanks to the versatile design of LIGOS™ A 9200, manufacturers can improve their overall working environment and processes as they can easily switch between substrates without special handling requirements.

Additionally, the polymer design of LIGOS™ A 9200 ensures high initial shear strength and bond strength, in turn creating a more durable application. Unlike mono-component or two-component polyurethane adhesives, which generally provide low green tack values, LIGOS™ A 9200 exhibits high bond strength immediately after lamination and continues to demonstrate excellent bond strength over longer periods of time. Moreover, the polymer can be combined with a water-dispersible crosslinker to enhance the mechanical and thermal resistance of flexible packaging.

The design of LIGOS™ A 9200 can also help boost application efficiency. The polymer’s high initial shear strength enables fast slitting in post-lamination processes, increasing operational efficiency for film converters.

Unlike traditional waterborne acrylic adhesives, LIGOS™ A 9200 boasts a high solid content of 62% with a manageable viscosity below 300 millipascal seconds (mPas). The higher solid content of this polymer facilitates high lamination speeds and efficient drying, making it easier for converters to switch from solvent-borne to waterborne systems with minimal adjustments.

Supporting Your Sustainability Needs

A significant advantage of LIGOS™ A 9200 is its sustainability features. Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS) – an independent research and service institute of the German paper industry – evaluated LIGOS™ A 9200 using the CEPI Recyclability Laboratory Test Method, Version 2, and found that the polymer is suitable for Standard Mill recycling.

As a harmonized European laboratory test method, the CEPI Recyclability Laboratory test enables the assessment of the recyclability of paper and board products. Further, it confirms the sustainability claims of our latest all acrylic emulsion. In fact, PTS certified LIGOS™ A 9200 for excellent repulpability, as testing confirmed that more than 99% of the fibers within the structure are recovered when using the polymer.*

LIGOS™ A 9200 is an excellent addition to Trinseo’s innovative, problem-solving portfolio of packaging solutions. The polymer is uniquely positioned to enhance the efficiency of packaging applications with faster run and drying times while allowing manufacturers to choose from various substrates. Moreover, the latex binder can support the packaging industry in introducing more sustainable materials thanks to the new polymer’s excellent recyclability.

*Geißler, M., & Wortmann, V. (2024). (rep.). Test report acc. to Cepi recyclability laboratory test method, Version 2 (October 2022) and Assessment acc. to 4Evergreen recyclability evaluation protocol, Beta release (pp. 1–24). Heidenau, Germany: Papiertechnische Stiftung.