Ep 01 - Epoxy Silane removed as a safe material in adhesives
INTRO
Catarina: Welcome to [podcast name], where H.B. Fuller experts address relevant topics for the packaging and converting industry.
HOST AND TOPIC INTRODUCTION
I’m (insert name), I am (insert work title) and today we’re talking about EpoxySilane in adhesive formulations.
Even though EpoxySilane is not a new topic to the industry, our customers still question us about how this component impacts the health and safety of their line workers and the consumers of the final product and most importantly: what they can do as an alternative.
GUEST INTRODUCTION
I have here with me Alexandra Ross, our regulatory expert, and Andreas Meyer, head of R&D for new Flexible Packaging adhesive developments. They will provide expertise and answers to some of the most frequent questions around this topic. Hello Alexandra, Andreas, thanks for joining us.
QUESTION 1
Catarina: I will start by the basics: Epoxy Silane: what is it and why is it used in adhesives?
Andreas: These materials are also known in the adhesive industry as “GLYMO” or “GLYEO”
In food packaging they are used as adhesion promoters to increase bond strength to inorganic substrates, such as aluminum foil or SiOx layers. They build a covalent bond towards the inorganic surface and maintain bond strength even under retort conditions (high temperatures and moisture).
QUESTION 2
Host: Comment/summary regarding last answer. And why is this an important topic now?
Alexandra Ross: In the food industry this silan was in the past widely used in those food contact materials, for which no specific European Regulation existed. As GLYMO was to that time not evaluated as CMR substance the 10 ppb rule was often applied.
Catarina - CMR?
Alexandra Ross: In 2017 EFSA has carried out a study on Glymo. With the conclusion that GLYMO has genotoxic potential, this approach was not any more possible. The Commission even announced a regulation to epoxi silanes for 2020, which was not approached yet.
However, the 15th amendment of the 10/2011 introduced a rule applicable also for any intermediate material, where genotoxicity could not been excluded. In this case the producer of the material needs to give details to the substance and its amount as long there is the possibility that the substance could migrate into the final food in a concentration above 0,15 ppb.
By PPB you are referencing to parts by billion correct?