Investigation of polymeric sealants between metal substrates using high-resolution Neutron CT

Henkel Adhesive Technologies is a global leader in the adhesives, sealants, coatings and surface treatment market – across all industry segments worldwide. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success and industry know how.

Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world.

Sealants for rigid metal packaging, i.e., steel and aluminum cans, is a significant technology for the Henkel Adhesives Business Unit.  Henkel Can Sealants work to assure the safety and quality of packaged goods.  Proper application and distribution of can sealants is critical to assure optimum performance within the double seam of a can.

ANAXAM's material analytics - based on the most advanced possibilities in the field of measuring methods - using high-resolution Neutron CT was successfully applied to characterize the sealant distribution non-destructively and three-dimensionally in the double seam of a non-round food can.

The analysis is helping Henkel understand potential application defects that could contribute to the risk of failure of the can double seam to maintain a hermetic seal during the life of the package.

For this customer project, ANAXAM used the NEUTRA and ICON beamlines at the Paul Scherrer Institute.