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Crystal Ball Predictions of Flexible Packagingâ??s Future: Panel Discussion, 2009 Course on Packaging Solutions for Barrier Performance

Crystal Ball Predictions of Flexible Packaging’s Future: Panel Discussion, 2009 Course on Packaging Solutions for Barrier Performance

CONTAINERBOARD: RPA100 pushes the envelopeâ?? and the box, the carton, the video sleeve..., October 2001 SOLUTIONS! [01OCTSO38.pdf]

RPA 100 pushes the envelope — and the box, the carton, the video sleeve…, Solutions!, October 2001, Vol. 84(10)

PO Innovations in Extrusion Coating â??High Value Solutions in a Critical Processing Technology, 2005 European PLACE Conference

PO Innovations in Extrusion Coating –High Value Solutions in a Critical Processing Technology, 2005 European PLACE Conference

Kraft Foodsâ??/Oscar Mayerâ??s Barrier Property Requirements and Associated Flexible Packaging Challenges, 2009 Course on Packaging Solutions for Barrier Performance

Kraft Foods’/Oscar Mayer’s Barrier Property Requirements and Associated Flexible Packaging Challenges, 2009 Course on Packaging Solutions for Barrier Performance

Novel Sealant Solution for Primary Packaging, 24FlexPack Conference

Paper Waste - Part of the Solution, 1992 Finishing and Converting Conference Proceedings

Paper Waste - Part of the Solution, 1992 Finishing and Converting Conference Proceedings

New high gas barrier polymer for high productivity in solution coating, 13th TAPPI European PLACE Conference

New high gas barrier polymer for high productivity in solution coating, 13th TAPPI European PLACE Conference

Designing Screws and Dies for Extrusion Coating With Straightforward Solution Procedures, 2003 European PLACE Conference Proceedings

Designing Screws and Dies for Extrusion Coating With Straightforward Solution Procedures, 2003 European PLACE Conference Proceedings

Advanced Solution Process Technology for Cast Film Application: New Opportunities Using Novel Catalyst Technologies, 2001 Polymers Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

Advanced Solution Process Technology for Cast Film Application: New Opportunities Using Novel Catalyst Technologies, 2001 Polymers Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

Adhesion with purpose: The value of primers in sustainable flexible packaging, TAPPI Journal July 2025

ABSTRACT: Primers play a crucial role in flexible packaging by providing adhesion, enhancing performance, and improving the overall quality of packaging structures. As the packaging industry shifts towards more sustainable solutions, it brings new challenges for meeting adhesion requirements. Different types of sustainable materials, with their complicated physical and chemical properties, usually result in poor adhesion in extrusion coating or extrusion lamination, whether this is due to fast crystallization, secondary crystallization, low processing temperature, lack of functional groups, or a combination thereof. Water-based primers ensure that these innovations meet both functional and environmental standards for the packaging of tomorrow. Conventional water-based primers, including polyethyleneimine (PEI) and ethylene acrylic acid (EAA), offer significant advantages in sustainable packaging design by chemically modifying the surface of the substrate to enhance adhesion. In this study, we will discuss adhesion issues in three case studies involving sustainable packaging materials: (1) extrusion coating of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) on paper; (2) extrusion lamination of paper and metallized film with starch biopolymer; and (3) extrusion coating of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) on paper. These cases represent three adhesion challenges related to sustainable materials, namely fast crystallization rate, low processing temperature, and secondary crystallization. A three-step adhesion improvement procedure was employed to identify the proper primer in each case study. This procedure included a wetting-out test with primer, an adhesion test, and an extrusion test with priming. In our results, strong fiber tearing or destructive bonds were achieved in each case with the help of water-based primers. These results demonstrate the value of water-based primers in enabling the transition to more sustainable packaging structures without compromising performance.