Franca Arrighi
TS&D Scientist, Dow Europe
Franca Arrighi is TS&D Scientist in the Packaging and Specialty Plastics TS&D group at the Dow Chemical Company. Franca is the European Application Technology Leader for hot melt adhesives and supports new application development across consumer markets. Franca holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Università Statale di Milano in Italy. Prior to Dow, Franca had worked in Rhom and Haas and in Mapei S.p.A. R&D in the areas of adhesives and sealants.
Evolving Substrates and Functional Polymers: Enhancing Adhesion on Recycled Materials
The packaging industry has witnessed a significant shift towards more sustainable substrates. This shift is not merely a trend but a necessary adaptation to meet environmental regulations and consumer demands for eco-friendly products. The substrates now incorporate higher percentages of recycled content and are often coated with materials that enhance their durability and aesthetic appeal. Examples include cardboards coated with bi-axially oriented polypropylene, wax, or glossy printing. These shift present adhesion challenges due to their low porosity and highly polar nature.
Polyolefins used in HMA are known for their superior performance, offering excellent thermal stability, nevertheless, they are inherently non-polar and necessitate additives with functionalities such as maleic anhydride to improve adhesion.
This study provides an in-depth analysis of the material chemistries, morphology, and physical properties of hard-to-bond surfaces and compares them to traditional case and carton materials. It further explores the potential of functional polymers in improving adhesion while anticipating industry and consumer demands for safer materials.
Co-authors: Shankar CV Ram, Isabelle Uhl, Yue Deng
Breakout VI – Adhesives for Sustainable Packaging – 11 September 2025 – 16:30 – 17:00 – Room 1