Two BASF experts unpack Joncryl emulsions for direct food contact.

A: Regina Escandón Millet: Certainly! Joncryl DFC is a series of water-based rheology-controlled acrylic polymer emulsions and resin solutions. They can be used to formulate inks and overprinting varnishes or functional coatings. They are mainly applied on paper, and paperboard, but they could also be applied to different substrates.

A: RM: We have several products in the Joncryl DFC line, each with different characteristics for different formulations, but they all provide broad FDA compliance and grease and water resistance. They can be used in formulations to add high gloss or heat and steam wash resistance. Among the DFC line, we have  Joncryl DFC 3030, which is a soft-film forming emulsion that provides flexibility,  Joncryl DFC 3025, a medium molecular weight resin solution,  Joncryl DFC 3040, a hard film-forming emulsion that provides rub and block resistance,  Joncryl DFC 3050, a non-film forming emulsion that provides fast dry and block resistance.

A:RM: We know that food packaging safety is very important for consumers and brand owners, according to market studies functional and high barrier coatings for paper and boards for foodservice will grow to CAGR of  4.9% by 2026. We’re seeing more paper-based alternatives to plastics in packaging. Some changes not only include optimizing the shape and reducing the total waste of the material, but also a change in materials to make them more functional and sustainable. As raw materials products, the JONCRYL DFC can be used by formulators and converters to formulate a coating and apply it on paper in their own production line, and delivered to a brand owner or consumers.

A: Bethany Woods: Each region of the world has their own regulations in place to ensure the safety of food packaging. Because our customers sell in multiple regions, we’ve developed the Joncryl DFC portfolio to be compliant in the North American, European, Mercosur and Chinese markets, as well as for components of the new Japanese regulations.

A: RM: This can be an alternative when looking at direct food paper and paperboard packaging, knowing that it complies with the appropriate regulations and can have direct food contact. Also, the benefit of water or grease resistance. And these products have low VOC emissions.

A: BW: Compliance and safety start with product development. When we developed the Joncryl DFC line we had to conduct extensive testing and analysis on all components of the emulsion. Although each global region has its own set of guidelines, at the end of the day, they all want us to guarantee that we have suitable purity and can ensure consumer safety.  Suitable purity includes conducting risk assessments of all residuals and impurities regardless of how small the presence is.  In addition to those risk assessments and testing, we also make sure we're monitoring and controlling our raw materials as they come in.

A: BW: In addition to the Joncryl DFC line, we also offer a variety of food contact compliant waxes, defoamers, wetting agents, and other additives that are optimized for demanding food packaging applications. Customers are encouraged to connect with a BASF Sales Account Manager who can help provide supportive guidance in ensuring compliance, and they can also recommend a full formulation for them to use with all the required additives needed to maintain compliance.

Dive into the  Joncryl DFC portfolio.