Everflon™ Fluoropolymers exhibit the following properties which make them highly suitable for use in food contact materials and packaging:
◼ High temperature resistance and stability, allowing safe use of cooking equipment at high temperatures, without breaking down or releasing any hazardous substances to the oil or water. This is also important for fluid handling equipment in the food and drink industry, which are exposed to hot temperatures (e.g., during sterilisation with steam).
◼ Pressure stability ensures that, where Everflon™ fluoropolymer seals are used, they maintain tightness and do not deform or break.
◼ The chemical resistance of Everflon™ fluoropolymers also protects the equipment from corrosion, and the products from contamination. This is important as the cleaning detergents and descaling agents used can be corrosive.
◼ Oil and water repellence and anti-stick properties are important for all applications, and for food processing equipment in particular. They facilitate cleaning of the equipment (e.g., tubes, vessels, pumps) and reduce the risk of flavours from one product being carried over to another.
◼ The transparency and the mechanical properties of Everflon™ fluoropolymers are desirable properties for food packaging, such as films and coated cans and packaging paper.
◼ Use of Everflon™ fluoropolymers in coatings and lacquers provides the desirable slip properties and sufficient abrasion resistance, as well as cohesive strength and surface wettability, which allow the packaging to comply with the requirements of legislation.
◼ Resistance to radiation was also mentioned by end users, as sterilisation via radiation is a common modality.
◼ Everflon™ PTFE lubricant powders are ideal as additives because they can influence the behaviour of many hosting materials without reacting with them. Moreover, they ensure the benefit of reducing the coefficient of friction, increasing wear resistance, improving non-stick properties and enhancing anti-dripping properties.
This use category can be split in the following broad applications:
◼ Kitchen equipment, which includes industrial, professional and consumer equipment used in preparing and cooking food. Such kitchen articles can include:
- Cookware (e.g., pots, pans), bakeware (e.g., trays), knives, other kitchen utensils and small electric kitchen devices.
- Household coffee-machines or other appliances may contain hoses made of FEP, FPA, PTFE or ETFE, seals and gaskets (FKM) coming in contact with food.
- Plate heat exchanger gaskets, piping, tubing and membranes for drinking water/beverage applications, flow meters and pumps.
◼ Food packaging, such as cans, paper bags, etc. More specific applications include:
- Inner layer on paper-aluminium heat-sealed laminates or paper-mPET/silicone laminates. The end use of such products is by consumers.
- Co-extruded and laminated packaging films
- Metal can coating.
◼ Food processing and packaging equipment which come in contact with food, and materials used therein (e.g., printing inks for food packaging)). Include:
- Printing inks applied to food packaging via an industrial printing process may contain Everflon™ PTFE Micropowders
- Equipment used in handling of foodstuff, which come in contact with the foodstuff and must meet high requirements for food safety are coated with a fluoropolymer layer or use fluoropolymer seals to protect the food, from contamination. Such equipment may include seals, membranes, bellows, pumps, tubes, process valves, filling valves, closures and applicators, etc.
- Everflon™ Fluoropolymers (mainly Everflon™ PTFE Micropowders) are used as lubricants in the processing equipment
