Sun Chemical has opened a new coatings lab to serve the graphic arts and packaging markets at its Carlstadt research and development (R&D) facility in New Jersey, US.
The new 11,000ft² laboratory features equipment for studying migration, adhesion, permeability, and other performance-related coating phenomena.
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Researchers will be able to use scanning electron microscopes (SEM), atomic force microscopy, infrared (IR) surface mapping, sophisticated surface energy measurement, and other techniques to advance understanding of key coating performance attributes.
They will also be able to develop improved water, solvent and energy-curable primers, inks and coatings using new gas transmission rate analysers, glass bottle testing instruments and coating spraying equipment.
By 2017, a lab laminator will be installed to help study the interaction between ink, substrate, primers, overprint varnishes and laminating adhesives.
Sun Chemical chief technology officer Russell Schwartz said: “This enhanced capability will help us expand our product range offerings into an evolving packaging market that includes laminating adhesives, glass decoration, and printed electronics.
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By GlobalData“The integration of coatings technology with ink, polymer, and functional materials development within the same technical organisation and facility transcends product lines and geographical barriers.
“It will also help expand Sun Chemical’s Advanced Materials portfolio into industrial coatings applications.”
The company currently operates four laboratories in the UK and Japan.
Sun Chemical has already developed the SunInspire sensory coatings line, which provides special packaging effects to products.
The company has also launched the SunBar printable oxygen barrier coatings to help improve a product’s shelf life and lightweighting.
Last month, Sun Chemical Performance Pigments announced the expansion of its portfolio of high-chroma dispersions for energy-curable inkjet inks, in order to add particle sizes smaller than 150nm.
