An Adhesive Solution Compatible And Inert With Fragrances

Type of Solution sought

A material
A technological solution

Description of Desired Solution

A SpecialChem Client is seeking an adhesive solution that bonds plastic parts - mostly PE or PP - to glass within fragrance bottles. The solution should:

Keep its bonding and sealing properties when it is in prolonged contact with fragrances - generally made out of ethanol, essential oils, water and colorants - or their vapors.
Be inert to the fragrance, i.e. that does not alter the fragrance odor nor visual aspect
Not leach any toxic ingredient into the fragrance

Background

Our Client has developed a new kind of fragrance glass bottles whose interior can be decorated with complex shapes. The fragrance is extracted from the bottle by a pump system that also ensures the hermetic sealing of the system. The pump is made out of PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene). Our Client is looking for a new bonding solution that will simplify the assembly of the finished bottle by avoiding the use of a polymeric gasket.

The company supplies all the world’s top fragrance producers. The potential business for this adhesive solution reaches several millions of bottles per year.

Detailed Solution Description

The adhesive solution sought should:

Be compliant with the main HSE policies (no hazardous ingredients, ingredients compliant with REACH, no CMR…)
Be used in standard production conditions (no special equipment required except air ventilation or gas extraction)
Be applied with an automated industrial process able to produce at least 400 parts per hour
Have a short polymerization time: few seconds for a superficial polymerization allowing a retention force of 10 to 20 N and then few hours to reach 80% of polymerization.
Enable the fragrance bottle to pass the following internal tests:

The sealed bottle is exposed to the following Test Conditions (TC):
- 3 months at 45°C
- 1 month at 50°C and 95% humidity
- 5 days of climatic variations (between -12°C and 40°C)
- 1 days under UV lamp
- 3 months exposed behind a window (daylight + temperature)
After this treatment, the adhesive solution should ensure:
- Hermetic sealing at a relative pressure of -950 mbar
- A mechanical retention force of minimum 200 N.
- No loss of weight of the content (fragrance) after 3 months at 45°C
- No fragrance degradation (neither visual aspect nor odor)
- No toxic migration from the adhesive to the fragrance
- No adhesive smell around the bottle

Be cost effective
Nice to have: a transparent material would be a plus

Possible Routes To Investigate

An adhesive material
A two-material composite solution: an adhesive for the bonding and a protective material to avoid the contact between the adhesive and the fragrance
It is possible to treat the bottle surface or the plastic pump (PP or PE) part to increase the bonding strength

Solution that are not of interest

Mechanical assembly with a seal is not a route to consider. Such solutions already exist but are not of interest for our Client.

Other Comments / Important Considerations

Your proposal needs to include all the data relative to health and safety.

Type of Outcome expected

Our Client would like to test the solution as soon as possible. A proof of concept and all data backing the proposal would be appreciated before starting any test.

A Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 and above is expected:

TRL#	Technology Readiness Level	Description
1	Basic principles	Lowest level of technology readiness. Scientific research begins to be translated into applied research and development (R&D). Examples might include paper studies of a technology’s basic properties.
2	Technology concept	Basic principles are observed. Applications are speculative, and there may be no proof or detailed analysis to support the assumptions. Examples are limited to analytic studies.
3	Proof of concept	Active R&D is initiated. This includes analytical studies and laboratory studies to physically validate the analytical predictions of separate elements of the technology. Examples include components that are not yet integrated or representative.
4	Validation in laboratory environment	Basic technological components are integrated to establish that they will work together. Examples include integration of “ad hoc” hardware in the laboratory.
5	Validation in relevant environment	The basic technological components are integrated with reasonably realistic supporting elements so they can be tested in a simulated environment. Examples include laboratory integration of components.
6	Prototype demonstration in a relevant environment	Representative model or prototype system, which is well beyond that of TRL 5, is tested in a relevant environment. Represents a major step up in a technology’s demonstrated readiness. Examples include testing a prototype in a laboratory environment or in a simulated operational environment.
7	System prototype demonstration in an operational environment	Prototype near or at planned operational system. Represents a major step up from TRL 6 by requiring demonstration of an actual system prototype in an operational environment.
8	Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration	Technology has been proven to work in its final form and under expected conditions. In almost all cases, this TRL represents the end of true system development. Examples include developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) of the system in its intended system to determine if it meets design specifications.
9	Actual system proven through successful usage	Actual application of the technology in its final form and conditions. Technology is commercially available.

Company Demographics

Industry: Luxury Packaging
Annual Revenue: 500+ M$
Years in Business: 100+ years
Headquarters Area: Europe

Business considered

Buying

Seeking An Adhesive Solution To Bond Plastic To Glass In Fragrance Bottles