Packaging, paper and films

Commonly used in food preparation in parchment papers and baking tray liners, silicone non-stick coatings are widely used to prevent batters from sticking to pan liners. They are designed to handle high temperatures encountered during baking, and with their non-stick properties, they make the baking process easier, reduce the cleanup time, and allow food to be removed quickly and efficiently.

Elkem's silicone SILCOLEASE™ system can be applied quickly and efficiently at low coat weights on low grammage paper and polyolefin films, to give unique processing advantages including heat-sensitive substrates.

Labels and graphics plan an important role in our lives, and as well as conveying important information, many need to be visually appealing. Every label or graphic, from fruit labels to vehicle wraps, are all carried through the production process on a release liner, using silicones to ensure that the label is reliably applied exactly when needed.

A variety of tapes are used across a vast range of industries to bond, seal, and adhere surfaces together. The applications found in electronics, medical, automotive, white goods and consumer goods can range from large wide rolls to micro applications – and many of these depend upon the use of silicone-coated release liners for ease of use and reliable application.  

Wide-web label and tape manufacturers have to run smoothly and efficiently with minimal interruptions, and so they typically use an automated turret to allow the trailing edge of the previous roll to come in contact with the leading edge of the new roll, and so entrain it in the process.

When the rolls themselves are silicone-coated, a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive is ideal for use in the splicing tape to hold the trailing edge and leading edge of the paper together.

The demand for paper continues to grow worldwide, both for writing and printing and for new possibilities such as cardboard furniture. To serve this diversified market, pulp & paper manufacturers are constantly looking to improve their productivity, and one way of doing this is to use silicone foam control agents, to enable better processing, as well as to lower waste and reduce water and energy consumption.