Henkel launches food safe adhesive system for demanding flexible packaging applications

Henkel said extended shelf life is one of the dominating trends in the food industry of today as it offers more value and convenience for retail and consumers while generating sustainable benefits by reducing food loss. Packaging is at the center of achieving extended shelf life, such as through the retort process, which requires a certain product and temperature resistance of the food packaging material.

The new food safe modular aliphatic adhesive system offers optimal performance for retort processing and demanding flexible packaging applications. With just one system for inner and outer layer, the combination of LA 2760/LA 5891-21 provides direct FDA 177.1390 compliance, while the Loctite Liofol LA 2760/LA 7371 combination allows curing at room temperature.

Loctite Liofol LA 2760/LA 5891-21 and LA 2760/LA 7371 are suitable for retort applications up to 60 minutes and a temperature up to 134 degrees C. Unlike existing options on the market, neither tin catalyst nor Bisphenol-A epoxy resins are used in their manufacture, Henkel said. And since the adhesives are based on aliphatic isocyanate starting materials they do not require testing for primary aromatic amines.

Further, with just one system for inner and outer layer and running with a high percentage of solid content of up to 40 percent, both combinations reduce the consumption of ethyl acetate while granting best wetting properties and high filling good resistance.

‘The new Loctite Liofol adhesive system offers just that adding sustainable benefits, reduced complexity and outstanding overall performance,’ said Regina Müller, marketing manager at Henkel. ‘In combination with the hardener LA 5891-21, Loctite Liofol LA 2760 grants direct FDA 177.1390 compliance. If you focus on curing at room temperature the combination LA 2760/LA 7371 is your perfect choice.’

Stefan Tomke, technical manager at Henkel, added: ‘The new modular aliphatic adhesive system is dedicated for high performance applications covering low migration and fast curing products. It offers high reliability and sustainability for food and non-food packaging and delivers best results for film/film structures including SiOx- or AlOx-coated barrier films and, film/foil structures.’