Migration Potential Assessment for Energy Curing Inks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the migration potential of partially cured energy curing inks and varnishes on food packaging are laborious, time-consuming, and costly, and do not provide precise or reliable results, as they rely on estimating migration potential from curing degree rather than direct measurement.
Innovation Solution
A method involving extraction of low molecular weight compounds from the printed substrate into a solvent, followed by quantitative spectroscopic measurement and comparison with a calibration curve to determine the migration potential, allowing for precise and reliable assessment of the migration potential of energy curing inks and varnishes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional migration determination methods (EN 1186-13, EN 14338) are used, then migration potential can be assessed, but the process is laborious, time-consuming, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the relevant low molecular weight compounds (molecular weight ≤ 5000 g/mol) from the ink composition using solvent extraction, separating them from other components. This selective extraction allows direct measurement of migration-relevant substances without performing complete migration tests, significantly reducing time and cost while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/physical migration test process (contact with food simulant, storage at elevated temperature, extraction, and analysis) with a direct spectroscopic measurement method. By measuring the absorbance or fluorescence of extracted compounds directly in solution, the lengthy migration test is substituted with a rapid analytical measurement
2Productivity
If estimation based on curing degree is used, then migration potential can be indirectly assessed, but the results are not precise or reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary extraction of low molecular weight compounds before the actual measurement step. By extracting these compounds into a solvent and measuring them directly, the method obtains precise quantitative data about migration-relevant substances without needing to perform complete migration tests or rely on indirect curing degree estimations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a simplified model system by extracting only the migration-relevant low molecular weight compounds into a solvent. This extracted solution serves as a representative copy of the migration potential, allowing direct spectroscopic measurement that accurately reflects what would be measured in a complete migration test, but much more quickly and precisely
3Speed
If energy curing inks with low molecular weight compounds are used, then curing speed and optical appearance are improved, but migration potential increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from indirect estimation (curing degree) to direct quantification of low molecular weight compounds. By measuring absorbance or fluorescence at specific wavelengths characteristic of these compounds, the method directly assesses migration potential and can guide formulation adjustments to reduce harmful compounds while maintaining curing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention provides direct feedback about the concentration of migration-relevant low molecular weight compounds in the ink. This quantitative information allows formulators to adjust ink composition and curing parameters to minimize harmful compounds while maintaining the benefits of fast curing and good optical appearance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables easy, time-efficient, and cost-effective determination of the migration potential of printed substrates, avoiding falsification from other components and providing accurate results by correlating spectroscopic characteristics with migration test results.
Implementation Method 1
which have a high migration potential and are able to diffuse out of the cured ink or cured varnish
Implementation Method 2
placing the at least one sample in a solvent, in which at least one of the at least one extractable compound is soluble
Implementation Method 3
quantitatively measuring a spectroscopic characteristic of the solvent extract at at least one wavelength between 190 and 3,000 nm, at which at least one of the at least one extractable compound absorbs or emits radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for determining the migration potential of an at least partially cured energy curing ink and/or varnish printed on a substrate comprising: —providing a substrate, which is printed with the ink and/or varnish, which comprises at least one extractable compound, which absorbs or emits radiation at at least one wavelength between 190 and 3,000 nm, —cutting at least one sample from the printed substrate, placing and incubating the sample in a solvent, in which the extractable compound is soluble, and removing the sample from the solvent to obtain a solvent extract, —quantitatively measuring a spectroscopic characteristic of the solvent extract at at least one wavelength between 190 and 3,000 nm, at which the extractable compound absorbs or emits radiation, so as to obtain a measured numeric value of the spectroscopic characteristic, and —comparing the measured numeric value of the spectroscopic characteristic with a calibration curve.