Bisphenol A Free Resin Options for Inks and Overprint Varnishes

Jo Ann Arceneaux, Allnex USA, Inc.

Abstract:The August 2016 Nestle Guidance Note on Packaging Inks states that “Bisphenol A (BPA) and materials manufactured from or incorporating BPA in reacted form as part of the chemical structure must not be used.” Many energy curable inks and overprint varnishes (OPVs) contain bisphenol A epoxy acrylates, polyester acrylates that may be based on bisphenol A, or ethoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate. In order to meet the Nestle requirements for food packaging, alternatives to these bisphenol A based materials are needed. These alternative materials must not only meet food packaging requirements, they must also maintain the performance properties of the ink or OPV, and provide economics in use. This paper will review the bisphenol A free resin options that are available to the ink or OPV formulator.