New Sustainable, Retort-ready, Solvent-free Adhesive for Packaging
A new solvent-free, aliphatic adhesive system is available tailored for applications involving high thermal stresses – in particular retort packaging for pet food, for example. The new system from Henkel’s Loctite brand (Liofol LA 7837/LA 6265) combines the highest level of food safety with reliable processing and also helps to reduce CO2 emissions by lowering material consumption and eliminating the need for an energy-intensive drying step, which is required for products containing solvents, reports the company.
The new technology is developed to offer high-end performance for applications such as retort packaging – in a solvent-free format that surpasses solvent-based solutions in terms of sustainability and efficiency. Loctite Liofol LA 7837/LA 6265 is ideal for PET/Alu/CPP packaging as well as modern polyolefin structures.
With an ultra-low monomer content (< 0.1 percent), the complete absence of epoxy silane and a high temperature resistance of up to 134 °C, the adhesive system fulfills the strict requirements of global brands. Its low application weight enables higher production efficiency. In addition, the energy-intensive drying step is rendered obsolete due to the system being solvent-free. It can also be cured at room temperature, which helps to actively reduce material and energy consumption.
“With Loctite Liofol LA 7837/LA 6265, we are further expanding our high-performance adhesive portfolio for retort applications, offering a solvent-free solution that provides both outstanding performance and increased sustainability. Through this innovation, we are enabling our customers to fulfill current market requirements, reduce CO2 emissions and benefit from economic advantages due to higher production efficiency,” says Cagri Turkmen, Market Strategy Manager Flexible Packaging at Henkel.
The system is focused on safe processing even at high machine speeds and under varying conditions – a crucial advantage for internationally standardized packaging processes. Transitioning to a solvent-free system is hassle-free thanks to its high processing stability and compatibility with conventional laminating machines. Loctite Liofol LA 7837/LA 6265 is not only suitable for retort packaging in the pet food industry, but also for ready meals, microwave products, and pharmaceutical packaging.
Source: Henkel / Loctite