Packaging
Ciba continues to foster innovation in 2008 with two R&D Awards
Friday 02. January 2009 - Ciba XYMARA CarboProtect greatly extends application scope for carbon-fiber-reinforced materials ; OnVu time-temperature indicators allow instant freshness check of perishable goods
Combining esthetics and functional performance of carbon-fiber-reinforced materials with Ciba XYMARA CarboProtect light stabilizer. Cibas additive is used to protect exterior components where the carbon fiber is exposed, such as the roof, roof bow, rocker molding and front splitter (© 2008 GM Corp. Used with permission)
Ciba has singled out two research and development projects for awards this year: Ciba XYMARA CarboProtect is a unique new light stabilizer that greatly extends application scope for carbon-fiber-reinforced materials (CFRMs); OnVu time-temperature indicators (TTIs), based on a novel technology, allow the freshness of perishable goods to be checked via a labeling system. The awards were presented by Ciba board member and Nobel Prize winner Professor Jean-Marie Lehn at a ceremony held in Basel on December 4, 2008.
“The two innovations selected for the awards will benefit both industry and the public,” said Martin Riediker, Chief Innovation Officer at Ciba and a member of the companys Executive Committee. “These new developments bear witness both to the remarkable creativeness of those involved and to the exceptional cooperation within the teams.”
Ciba XYMARA CarboProtect extends application scope for CFRMs
Ciba XYMARA CarboProtect allows the thickness of the essential protective coating of CFRMs to be reduced, cutting down their weight. This greatly extends their application scope, making them highly suitable for multiple uses in sectors such as transportation. Furthermore, the protective coating layer, which formerly had to be opaque, can now remain transparent, thereby exposing the weave pattern of the carbon fibers and opening up a wide array of new design options.
“CFRMs are distinguished by their very high strength and their low weight,” explained Martin Riediker. “This makes them extremely desirable for high-performance items such as cars, aircraft, boats, and wind turbines. However, as they are not inherently resistant to light, they require a protective coating layer. With its light-stabilizing action, XYMARA CarboProtect allows the thickness of this protective coating layer to be substantially reduced, thus further cutting down the weight of the materials. The lower the weight, the greater the saving of fuel and energy.”
Since XYMARA CarboProtect prevents light-induced degradation, the protective coating layer of CFRMs no longer has to be pigmented: it can remain transparent and the exposed weave used as a design highlight. “Items made of CFRMs, such as car components, high-end luggage, skis and snow boards, can feature unique weaves that identify them with a specific brand,” said Riediker. “Furthermore, CFRMs have an accommodating black base that lends itself to enhancement through tinting or effects such as a sparkling or satin finish. So the skys the limit as far as design is concerned.”
OnVu time-temperature indicators (TTIs) allow freshness check of perishable goods
OnVu time-temperature indicators (TTIs), which are supplied as labels – and potentially also as printing inks, show clearly whether a packaged product has been correctly stored and transported, i.e. whether it is safe to consume, by recording the effects on the product of temperature fluctuations over time. Every indicator is tailored to the shelf life and optimum storage conditions of the product it is designed to monitor.
OnVu TTIs have been developed for foodstuffs and drinks, especially meat and dairy products. OnVu is the first step of a development that will be expanded to include TTIs for further applications, such as pharmaceuticals and other smart packaging solutions.
“OnVu TTIs help to increase both consumer and retailer confidence in the freshness of perishable products because they provide reliable evidence of transport and storage conditions,” said Riediker. “Consumers can check these conditions before buying a product, while suppliers and retailers can optimize shelf life because they no longer need to discard products prematurely to cover for potential spoilage.”
Riediker emphasized: “Key to this project was out-of-the-box thinking and excellent cooperation between the partners involved – Ciba, which managed the project and contributed its extensive knowledge of pigments, Freshpoint, which provided detailed research into food safety and time-temperature characterization, and Bizerba, with its expertise in labeling and printing.”
OnVu TTI technology relies on the properties of pigments that change color over time and if temperatures fluctuate. The label or display consists of a reference color and an OnVu TTI. Once activated by a suitable light source, the TTI first becomes dark and then grows progressively lighter as time passes and also if the ambient temperature rises. Exposure to higher temperatures than those prescribed, therefore, accelerates the lightening process of the color. When the active color attains the same shade as the reference, the product has reached the end of its shelf life.