Smart packaging offers many advantages over conventional packaging. These include:
- improve safety and quality control
- supply chain optimization
- reduced waste and expenses
- access to consumer data
- ability to monitor perishable food items during transportation and storage
- extended shelf life
- track medication usage and alert patients/healthcare providers to prevent mistakes
- curtail theft and loss
- upgrade inventory management
- enhance compliance, authentication, efficiency
- increased sustainability
- grow brand loyalty
These components encompass:
- sensors
- RFID tags
- microprocessors
- indicators
- actuators
Different Master Bond grades have been produced to meet specific adhesive application requirements. This has enabled end users in the following industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical, healthcare, consumer goods, transportation and storage to offer better products and services to their customers.
Master Bond compounds offer several key properties to ensure top performance capabilities. They are:
- robust adhesion
- compatibility with different packaging materials - plastics, metal, glass
- withstand exposure to moisture, thermal cycling
- fast cure speed
- electrical conductivity
- thermal conductivity
- high dielectric strength
- low outgassing
- easy dispensing
- low, medium, and high viscosity
Some examples of Master Bond adhesive that can be used for smart packaging consist of distinct epoxy, silicone, cyanoacrylate and UV curable formulations. For instance, epoxy adhesives are desirable for attaching sensors to packages or as a moisture barrier. Their versatile compositions hold up against vibration, stress, produce different cure speeds and can be obtained in conductive/nonconductive compositions. In contrast silicone systems possess flexibility, high temperature resistance, strong bonds for attaching RFID tags to packages, and ensure tags, sensors stay in place to maintain effective supply chain management. Single component fast curing cyanoacrylate adhesives help make sure smart labels proficiently monitor integrity, location of product by providing accurate data throughout conveyance. Several benefits of UV/LED or dual (UV/LED + heat) curing adhesive for smart packaging range from low viscosity, fast cures without mixing with conventional light equipment, attaching electronic components, sensors to packaging materials, data collection for monitoring products condition, and for optical coatings.