Glycerol-derived water-based adhesive for PHA bioplastic films
A water-based polyacrylated glycerol (PAG) adhesive designed for use with PHA and other bioplastic films. Leverages glycerol-ketal acrylate chemistry to bond PHA substrates to metal and ink layers, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional isocyanate adhesives in compostable packaging and film applications.
Overview
This solution is a water-based polyacrylated glycerol (PAG) adhesive formulated for bonding polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastic films to metal layers and inks. The technology addresses a key challenge in compostable packaging and film manufacturing: achieving strong, reliable adhesion on bio-based substrates without relying on traditional isocyanate adhesives, which raise environmental and health concerns. By using glycerol—a readily available byproduct of biodiesel and oleochemical production—as the foundational building block, the adhesive supports sustainability goals while delivering bond strength comparable to or exceeding conventional systems. The approach is intended for converters and manufacturers in packaging, consumer goods, agricultural films, and medical device sectors seeking high-performance, compostable material solutions.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Bio-based chemistry: Built on polyacrylated glycerol derived from glycerol-ketal acrylates, providing multiple reactive functional groups (alkene, alcohol, ester, carboxylic) that promote adhesion to diverse substrates
- Water-based formulation: Eliminates the need for solvent carriers, reducing volatile organic compound emissions and improving workplace safety
- PHA film compatibility: Designed to chemically graft onto PHA film surfaces, extending the reactivity previously demonstrated with cellulosic substrates to bio-based polyesters
- Metal and ink adhesion: Functional group diversity supports bonding to metal layers and ink coatings commonly used in multilayer film structures
- Compostability alignment: Compatible with ASTM D6400 compostable material systems, supporting end-of-life sustainability
- Platform potential: The polymer system may be tunable through formulation and additive modification to address additional adhesive and coating applications beyond the initial PHA target
Technology readiness level
The PAG adhesive chemistry has been previously published and validated for cellulosic substrates, demonstrating adhesive strength at least equivalent to traditional isocyanate adhesives. Current development is focused on extending this performance to PHA films, with planned validation steps including formulation application onto PHA substrates, standard adhesive strength testing, iterative formulation optimization, and downstream testing of ink and metal adhesion on coated films. The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of validation specific to PHA applications and is positioned for collaborative development with film converters and packaging manufacturers interested in sustainable adhesive solutions.
About Saber Chemical, Inc.
Saber Chemical, Inc. specializes in the development and commercialization of compostable core-shell particles (CCSPs) designed to enhance the performance of bioplastics. By integrating these CCSPs into materials such as PLA, PHA, PBS, PBT, PBAT, TPS, and PCL, the company produces performance-grade pellets that offer increased toughness, often achieving greater than 200 J/m Izod impact strength, while maintaining ASTM D6400 compostability. This technology, which originated from NSF-funded research, utilizes glycerol-ketal acrylates to create nanoscale particles that improve material properties without sacrificing environmental sustainability. The company's innovations are designed to be compatible with standard industrial manufacturing processes, including twin-screw compounding, extrusion, and injection molding.
These solutions are targeted at converters and manufacturers in sectors such as packaging, consumer goods, agricultural films, and medical devices who require high-performance, sustainable material alternatives. By providing a scalable approach to material modification, Saber Chemical assists partners in developing durable, compostable products that meet demanding mechanical and thermal requirements. The company engages with customers through technical data support, sample requests, and collaborative research and development efforts, leveraging expertise in polymer chemistry and sustainable monomer synthesis to facilitate the adoption of its additives in commercial applications.
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