RadTech

Energy and Sustainability addressed at Ultraviolet and Electron Beam Technology Conference

Bethesda, MD (May 13, 2008) With over 2,200 in attendance, the May 4-7 RadTech 2008 Conference in Chicago highlighted the energy and environmental benefits of utilizing "electron beam" (EB) and "ultraviolet energy" (UV) industrial technologies.

"UV and EB are fast emerging manufacturing methods that offer companies well established, cutting edge tools to save energy and drastically reduce environmental footprints," says Petra L'Abbe, of PPG and President of RadTech. "The terrific turnout for our event, despite growing economic concerns, is recognition of the fact that UV and EB are not only potential key technologies in company sustainability efforts, but can also help manufacturers make better products and increase their competitiveness."

UV and EB curing is a super fast, efficient, environmentally friendly technology that has just been recognized by the FDA for use in Direct Food Contact. This groundbreaking new application was featured at the event, along with sessions on Sustainable Packaging, Aerospace & Defense, Wood Finishing, Metal, and Plastics. Event technical sessions included: Green Chemistry, Renewable Resources, the Impact of REACH, Nanomaterials, Electronics Chemistry, Graphic Arts, Wood Coatings, and High Performance Coatings.

The RadTech Food Contact Notification Alliance is pleased to announce that Food Contact Notification (FCN) 772 received FDA clearance on March 8, 2008, covering a range of workhorse acrylates and an optional photoinitiator. Specifically, FCN 772 clears for direct food contact any mixture of one or more of tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (TMPEOTA), and epoxy diacrylate and optionally, Esacure One photoinitiator, cured by either ultraviolet (UV) or electron beam (EB) irradiation. Moreover, the applied formulations may include any combination with other reactants, polymers, additives, pigments, etc., already permitted for the intended use under 21 CFR.

The UV- or EB-cured formulations may be used as coatings (including inks) or as components of coatings (including inks) on polymeric substrates, paper and paperboard, metal substrates, or as a component in adhesives. The finished coating, ink or adhesive is permitted a migration level for each of the cleared monomers and for the photoinitiator up to 1 ppm. The total level of nonvolatile extractables derived from the finished coating may not exceed 1 ppm, after correction for the migration levels for each monomer and photoinitiator used. The UV and EB cured coatings, inks and adhesives may be used in direct contact with all Food Types under Conditions of Use A through H, as described in 21 CFR.

This is a breakthrough food contact approval for radiation curable formulations, because:

it is the first FDA clearance of a range of UV/EB curing materials in any combination for direct food contact;
formulations that combine the FCN materials with already FDA sanctioned components may be commercialized for food packaging without having to obtain additional FDA clearance; and
the FCN is expected to open new applications for UV and EB curing that previously might have been limited by lack of explicit food contact clearance.

Under FDA regulations, only Alliance members and their customers may claim clearance for materials and formulations selected from FCN 772. It is expected that the range of cleared acrylates will be expanded because Alliance members are permitted to incorporate the Alliance FCN master files by reference in new FCN filings, thereby limiting the level of additional information, time and cost required to clear their own proprietary UV/EB curing materials and formulations.

Members of the RadTech FCN Alliance are Alcan Packaging; Alcoa, Inc.; Amgraph Packaging, Inc.; Ashland Specialty Chemical Company; Bayer Polymers LLC; Bostik-Findley; Bryce Corporation; Coating and Adhesives Corporation; Cognis Corporation; Crown Cork & Seal; Cytec Industries; Dart Container; Dixie Packaging; Energy Sciences Inc.; Fujifilm Hunt Chemicals; Fusion UV Systems, Inc.; Gidue SpA; Graphic Packaging Inc.; H.B. Fuller Company; INX International Ink Co.; Lamberti, s.p.a.; Liofol; MeadWestvaco; Nordson Corporation; Petroferm Inc.; Pliant Corp.; PPG Industries, Inc.; Printpack Inc.; Rahn USA Corporation; Rock-Tenn Company; Rohm and Haas Company; Sartomer Company; Sealed Air; Siegwerk Group and Valspar Corporation.

RADTECH AND I-CAR® TEAM UP TO PROVIDE UV TECHNICAL TRAINING TO COLLISION INDUSTRY
Bethesda, MD – March 3 , 2008 – I-CAR®, the international not-for-profit training organization, and RadTech, the Association for UV and EB technology, are teaming up to develop a UV (Ultraviolet) Cure Online Training Program. UV is a fast emerging technology for the collision repair industry, offering increased efficiency, significantly reduced harmful VOC emissions, and lower material usage. UV provides a one component material that avoids mixing, and that safely cures in seconds on exposure to a UV lamp. The technology promises to increase throughput and affords the ability to meet or exceed current and future regulatory requirements.

The online program will be developed and delivered by I-CAR with the technical assistance of RadTech. When launched, the online program will be available worldwide through www.i-car.com/online and those who successfully complete the program will earn 0.25 I-CAR points. I-CAR Technical Director Jason Bartanen said, "We're excited to be working with RadTech on this first-if-its-kind training program. The I-CAR Online training system offers organizations like RadTech an economical outlet to share technical training information to a worldwide audience in a short amount of time.”

An overview of the The I-Car UV Training Tool, as well as UV Curing for the automotive Refinish Industries, will be presented at RadTech 2008.
For more information or to attend, visit www.radtech2008.com or contact RadTech at ben@radtech.org.

RadTech Releases Guide to UV Measurement
Developed by the RadTech UV Measurement Focus Group

The Guide is a CD that covers UV Technology, Radiometry and Measurement for Industrial UV Curing Applications. The CD, which has been over a year in the making, follows up on the UV Glossary released by the UV Measurement Focus Group in 2003. The CD w is intended to educate and provide information to both new and experienced users of UV technology. The CD navigates like a web page, making it easy to use. Links to illustrations, photos, definitions, quizzes, videos and technical papers are included on the CD.
Major topics and sections covered in the CD include:

UV Basics
Why Measure
What to Measure
When to Measure
How to Measure
UV Sources
Applications

For More Information on the CD Contents & to Order, Visit the UV Measurement CD Page!

European REACH Program Presentation, by Keller and Heckman,
RadTech Fall Member Meeting, 2004