China's new green packaging material research and development

Green packaging materials have become the focus of environmental protection in the world today. After entering the 21st century, all countries in the world have invested a lot of human and financial resources in research and development. In North America, degradable plastics grow at a rate of 17% a year, and in Europe it grows at an annual rate of 59%.

It has been more than 10 years since China engaged in biodegradable plastics production technology research.

In 2001, Chen Guoqiang and his collaborators of Tsinghua University successfully developed and synthesized biodegradable polyesters under the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Among them, institutions such as Tsinghua University and Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have cooperated with enterprises in production, and the core technology is not worse than foreign companies. According to the statistics of the China Plastics Association degradable plastics professional committee, in 2002 more than 100 enterprises and institutions engaged in R&D and production of degradable plastics in China, and Ningbo Zhongtian Biomaterials Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Haizheng Biomaterials Co., Ltd. and Wuhan Gorgeous Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. and so on.

Shi Jihu, an associate professor of law at Hunan University of Technology, told this correspondent that it is not that people do not want to spend, but that they cannot afford to consume. Is it true that green packaging materials, as recognized by the industry, are a kind of “unusual” aristocratic products? With the concern of the industry, the journal now compiles a set of domestic green packaging materials R & D manufacturers of the latest progress and production use cases, in order to readers.

Waterproofing agent for fully degrading tableware and packaging products

First, research and development

Packaging materials have always faced a dilemma: waterproof packaging, such as plastic film, will be difficult to decompose after being discarded and will cause environmental pollution; degradable packaging, such as ordinary paper, cannot be waterproof, and the scope of use is limited. How can we achieve full biodegradability and achieve moisture protection and waterproofness, and can be widely used in the automatic packaging machine of existing production companies in the process of production packaging? Jieyang City, Guangdong Yingwu Chemical Co., Ltd. has invented a new type of environmentally friendly packaging materials - multi-functional waterproof agent.

The tests conducted by the Guangzhou Microbiological Testing Center and the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the material can be fully degraded by microorganisms, and it is non-toxic to the human body and has no pollution to the environment. After many years of research and repeated trials by the company, they used cellulose as a base material, dissolved cellulose in an alcoholic solvent in an etherified manner, and then applied the above-mentioned synthetic water repellent agent on various types of paper. Can achieve moisture-proof, waterproof and automatic heat sealing effect, because cellulose can be corrupted with bacteria in the trash, so as to achieve complete degradation effect. This technology also obtained a utility model patent (named "environmental composite paper") authorized by the State Intellectual Property Office on February 16, 2005.

According to reports, the use of multi-functional waterproof agent production of environmentally friendly packaging products, paper in the processing process does not require the addition of special equipment, the process of processing, the paper will not produce any wrinkles, drying speed, the adhesive layer can be made according to the requirements of thickness The adjustment of the paper produced can be waterproof, moisture-proof, heat sealable, cold paintable, etc.

Second, application prospects

The multifunctional waterproofing agent can also be used as a viscose. It can be sealed tighter than an ordinary adhesive and can also be waterproof. It also has a long storage time and does not produce a "burst burst" phenomenon. Can be widely used in food, tea, medicine, beverage granules and other packaging.

The environmentally-friendly compound packaging paper has been applied to the medical articles packaging papers of Guangdong Aocheng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., “Acaphenol Pharmacy”, “Pediatric Fever Relief” and Guangdong Jieyang Shanhao Medical Devices Co., Ltd.

In addition to environmental protection, the use of such packaging materials can also save energy, because the use of plastic film requires a lot of oil resources, the aluminum film needs to extract a lot of ore, and then smelting, electrolytic purification, the resources consumed in the production process is more serious. According to the current market comparable prices, the use of environmentally friendly paper packaging costs much lower than aluminum-plastic composite packaging. The advent of this new type of paper packaging material will play a significant role in environmental protection, and it will also have a better effect on the health and safety of tea, food, medicine, beverage granules and other major categories of product packaging.

Water-soluble plastic film

First, research and development

With the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China National Packaging Corporation, Hunan University of Technology and Guangdong Zhaoqing Fangxing Packaging Materials Co., Ltd. have jointly researched and developed water-soluble films and production equipment that has passed provincial and ministerial level appraisal and is currently in production.

The main raw material of water-soluble packaging film is polyvinyl alcohol with low degree of alcoholysis, using polyvinyl alcohol film-forming, water-soluble and degradable, add various additives, such as surfactants, plasticizers, anti-sticking agents, etc. . Water-soluble film products are green packaging materials and have been recognized by the national environmental protection agencies in Europe, America, Japan and other countries.

The water-soluble film is packed in PE plastic to keep its specific moisture content constant. When the water-soluble film is removed from the PE package, its own moisture content changes with the ambient humidity, and its performance also changes. Water-soluble film is an anti-static film, unlike other plastic films, with good anti-static properties. In the process of using water-soluble film packaging products, it will not cause the decrease of its plasticity and electrostatic dust-carrying performance due to static electricity. Water-soluble films have strong permeability to moisture and ammonia, but have good barrier properties to oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide gas. These features make it possible to maintain the ingredients and original odor of the packaged product intact. Water-soluble packaging film also has a good heat seal, suitable for resistance heat sealing and high frequency heat sealing, heat sealing strength and temperature and humidity, pressure, time and other conditions, generally greater than 200g/cm. Mechanical properties of water-soluble packaging film: elastic modulus 2500-400kg/cm2, tensile strength 400-200kg/cm2, tearing force 200-50kg/cm, elongation 150%-220%. The water-soluble film can be clearly printed by ordinary printing methods, and the printability is good. Has good oil resistance (vegetable oil, animal oil, mineral oil), fat, organic solvents and carbohydrates, but strong alkalis, strong acids, chlorine radicals and other chemical reactions with PVA, such as borax, boric acid, certain Dyes, etc. These substances are recommended not to be packaged in water-soluble film. The water solubility of the water-soluble film is related to its thickness and temperature. Take a 25 μm thick film as an example, the dissolution time at 20°C is ≤300S, the dissolution time at 30°C is ≤50S, and the dissolution time at 40°C is ≤30S.

Second, application prospects

Water-soluble thin films have received extensive attention from developed countries in the world due to their environmental characteristics. For example, Japan, the United States, and France have mass-produced and marketed such products, such as WTP and CCIP in the United States, GREENSOL in France, and synthetic chemical companies in Japan. Their users are also well-known large companies such as Bayer (Bayer). Large companies such as Henkel, Shell, and Shell have started using water-soluble films to package their products.

In China, the water-soluble film market is emerging. According to statistics, China's annual need for packaging film accounts for 20% of plastic products, about 309,000 tons, even if according to the market share of 5%, the annual demand will reach 15,000 tons. The current market price: US products for the 13 to 170,000 yuan / t, Japanese products for 20 to 25 million / t, the domestic product sales price is only 40% of the United States, the average selling price of 60,000 yuan / t, so in The price is very competitive. Non-polluting, non-toxic water-soluble PVA plastic film, suitable for all kinds of product packaging. Such as embroidery, pesticide packaging, toilet cleaning spirit (blue bubble), hospital disposable water-soluble laundry bag, curved printing (water transfer), clothing packaging, food preservation packaging.

High water soluble film

First, research and development

Packaging film can be seen everywhere in daily life, and it is needed for the packaging of clothing, food, cosmetics, electrical appliances, etc. However, when these films fulfill their mission, they are often discarded, and their non-degradable properties cause environmental problems. Pollution has reached a startling level. A highly water-soluble film was recently successfully developed by Prof. Wen Jun Jiang from the School of Materials Engineering of Suzhou University.

The newly developed polymer packaging film has no difference in appearance and strength from the plastic packaging film seen in people's daily production, but when tearing a small piece of film into a normal cold water, the film will shrink rapidly in water. , disappeared after 50s. Professor Wen said that this kind of non-toxic, degradable and highly water-soluble packaging film developed by the University of Science and Technology of Suzhou University is a kind of environmentally friendly material with strong practicality. All of its raw materials can be solved in the country, so it is in the process of promotion. It has strong operability, low price, and broad market prospects.

Second, application prospects

The high water-soluble film is a small package for toxic substances that need to be used after being dissolved in water. For example, the use of solid pesticides is very suitable. Scientifically, conveniently, and accurately configuring solutions with certain concentrations can avoid direct contact with pesticides. A new kind of washing powder packaging material also uses this new type of film packaging. Washing powder can be thrown into the washing machine along with the bag. It will dissolve naturally during the washing process. It is very convenient, and the washing powder does not affect the clothing and does not affect the clothing. quality.

Biaxially oriented polylactic acid film (BOPLA)

Shanghai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. has developed biaxially oriented polylactic acid film (BOPLA) using corn as raw material. According to Chen Chaoquan, deputy chief engineer of the company, the raw material price of this kind of film is already close to that of conventional materials, and the density and raw materials are also very close. . In terms of performance, when there is no double pull, there is a great weakness. After biaxial stretching, each parameter is close to the same kind of conventional material. In addition to being degradable, its gloss, transparency and heat sealability are very good, and the fold is stable. , great strength, very suitable for candy packaging. In addition to PET, the performance of the film is not as good as that of PET, and other properties are close to or even better than PET (such as optical properties, heat sealability, etc.), and have fully met the performance requirements of general packaging films. In the context of the current rise in petroleum raw materials, the cost is almost the same as PET. At present, the company has passed the printing and coating tests and the performance is good.

Natural starch completely degrades packaging products

The raw materials for starch-based fully degraded tableware and packaging products developed by Harbin Green Ring Biodegradable Products Development Co., Ltd. are selected from natural starch (starch produced from crops such as corn, sweet potato, potato, and broad bean) and added with an appropriate amount of fully degradable additives. Molded and formed into tableware and food packaging products of different specifications and shapes. The technical performance indicators are in full compliance with GB18006.1-1999 national standards. Can be widely used in agriculture, forestry, clothing, medicine, food, household appliances, IT industry, and many other industries inside and outside the packaging.

Wood pulp film

Ordinary wood pulp plus acetic acid can turn into a thin, flawless, soft texture film.

The correct name for the environmental protection film is cellulose acetate film. Because it is made of wood pulp and non-toxic additives, it can be naturally decomposed without damaging the environment. Films with high ductility have many different applications. One of the most common “window films” in foreign markets is one. This film has anti-fog function, and even if packaged hot food, it will not fog.

According to Chen Meijuan, the manager of Mesa (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., who is the agent of the eco-friendly film, the basic process for the manufacture of the film is to put the wood pulp in a container, add acetic acid and filler, and mix it until it dissolves. Repressurize with acetic acid.

Many high-end cosmetics, wine and other packaging boxes on the market also use this kind of film as a blending material. In addition to adding beauty, its scratch resistance also provides protection for the packaging box. As the film is scratch resistant than ordinary PET, PP and other materials