Coatings for the insides of tins

The re-evaluation of the hormone-active substance bisphenol A (BPA) by the European Food Safety Authority EFSA will lower the current migration limit. In France, food commodities produced with BPA have been already banned. BPA is the starting material of conventional can coatings with epoxy resins. At the same time, tinplates are currently being converted to chrome-free passivations. For both system changes, suitable paint alternatives are needed at short notice. This puts enormous pressure on packaging manufacturers and users.

The BPA non-intent internal can paints must be suitable for sterilization and long-term storage of aggressive foods. The research objective of this project is to work out the factors influencing the coating properties of polyester-BPA-NI systems. Companies should be given a guide to the challenges they face: the systematic development of new coatings, the prediction of coating suitability for stability, sterilization and long-term storage through validated measurement routines and ensuring food regulatory compliance.