Technological breakthrough in cationic photoinitiators with Irgacure® 270

* Fast UV curing, low emission, low odor
* Successful use in food packaging



With Irgacure® 270, BASF made a technological breakthrough in the development of cationic photoinitiators for packaging inks. For the first time, Irgacure® 270 now makes it possible to combine fast UV curing with very low emissions. This new product is very versatile, and its applications include both UV-curable printing inks and clear overprint varnishes.



Photoinitiators are substances that form free radicals when they are exposed to UV light, and these radicals initiate polymerization reactions. Irgacure® 270 is a new high-molecular-weight sulfonium salt which fulfills the high standards that UV-curable inks for food packaging are required to meet. Extensive tests have shown that emissions and migration are both very low. A complete registration package has been put together.



Irgacure® 270 is mainly employed in UV-curable applications that demand low-emissions. These include clear overprint varnishes, flexographic inks, screen inks and inkjet inks for printing food packaging made from a variety of substrates such as paperboard, plastics and metal.



Pigments & Resins

The product range of BASF’s Pigments & Resins business unit includes pigments, effect pigments, pigment preparations and dyes, resins, light stabilizers, photoinitiators and additives as well as specific masterbatches in Europe. Our products are manufactured and marketed worldwide. We are one of the world’s leading suppliers in these fields. Further information on our products may be found at www.basf.com/resins.


About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year.