ANTI FOG ADDITIVE
Enhancing Clarity
How does it work ?
Value Addition
In packaging, this phenomenon occurs when the temperature of the material’s surface falls below the dew-point temperature of the enclosed air and water vapor within the headspace of the packaging. The air near the material cools to a temperature at which it cannot retain the water vapor, and as a result the excess water condenses on to the material’s surface.
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In Food packaging applications, if the food stored in the plastic bag have a high moisture content, then the item stored in a cool environment leads to temperature drop initiating condensation on the surface of Plastic film leading to fog. Similarly the food stored in a molded / thermoformed container is hot and gives off steam, this creates condensation when the hot air comes in contact with the cooler inside surface of the packed container lid. This cannot only ruin the shelf life of the food product by preventing the consumer from seeing the contents, but it could also impact the quality of the food.
There are two methods used to minimize the formation of fog on sheets , molded items & thermoformed parts, they are a) Internal additives & b) external topical coatings. These treatments both work to minimize surface tension, resulting in a non-scattering film of water rather than single tiny droplets.
Internal anti-fog
Internal anti-fog additives are non-ionic surfactants, or compounds that lower the surface
tension between two liquids or a solid and a liquid. These additives can be added to the plastic sheet at the extrusion level in the form of concentrated masterbatches.
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A degree of incompatibility exists between the polymer and the additive, and as a result, the additive migrates to the surface. These additives work to decrease the surface tension of the water droplets, thus reducing the surface tension between the water and the surface of the plastic packaging. This allows the water to spread out creating a more uniform layer of water, thus improving the transparency of the water droplets and eliminating the fogging effect.
External anti-fog
External anti-fog coatings are applied to the surface of the plastic sheet or film. These
external coatings work similarly to the internal additives in that they are designed to help decrease the surface tension between the water droplets and the material’s surface,
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resulting in improved transparency. These coatings come in the form of a liquid that is coated to the surface of the sheet or film either by a dip coating and roller process or through a spray application.
Product | Description | Download TDS |
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Plast Antifog | Optimum balance of Sealability, Printability and Lamination characteristics, Suitable for both Hot fog and Cold Fog applications | Download TDS |