Toppan develops Fire Extinguishing Film for Lithium-ion batteries

Film produces no harmful gases

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Toppan
Toppan’s fire extinguishing film is on sale from February.

Toppan Printing (Toppan) (TYO: 7911), a global enterprise in communication, security, packaging, décor materials, and electronics solutions, has developed a fire extinguishing film that responds to heat by emitting aerosol particles. This new film is an addition to Toppan’s “Smart Life-value Packaging” lineup, which is part of the recently launched “Toppan S-value Packaging” range targeting added value for society and fulfilling living. The fire extinguishing film is on sale from February and targeted at manufacturers of batteries and electrical appliances.

With applications for rechargeable batteries expanding to such fields as mobile devices and mobility, lithium-ion batteries are becoming more widely used and offering higher power levels. However, this increases the risk of fire-related accidents, not only during use but also after disposal. Toppan has combined its advanced coating technologies and transparent vapor-deposited GL barrier film with a highly effective fire extinguishing agent from Yamato Protec Corporation to produce an adhesive film with outstanding long-term durability and workability.

Toppan
The fire extinguishing film can be attached to the inside of lithium-ion battery cases, switchboard panels, or outlet covers.

Toppan’s fire extinguishing film is highly effective in extinguishing fires at an early stage or preventing their spread in the event of equipment problems or short circuits. It is lightweight and compact, meaning it can be used with ease in enclosed spaces and locations in which there is a fire risk. Potential applications include attachment to the inside of lithium-ion battery cases, switchboards and power distribution equipment, outlet covers, or waste containers at public facilities. The film uses no substances that pose a risk to humans or the environment and produces no harmful gases when it is activated.

The film works by filling an enclosed space with fire extinguishing aerosol particles in response to the heat generated by a fire. The aerosol particles extinguish the fire through negative catalysis. This makes it an effective solution for putting out fires promptly and containing their spread to prevent further damage.

“This film enables greater fire safety without any negative impact on people or the environment,” said Yoshimitsu Anamizu, managing executive officer of Toppan’s Living and Industry Division. “We intend to develop more products based on this technology to contribute to accident and disaster prevention and a safer, more sustainable society for everyone.”

Toppan
The fire extinguishing capabilities of the film are based on negative catalysis by aerosol particles

The fire extinguishing film will be on display in the Toppan Booth (S1-12, South Hall 1) at Tokyo Pack 2021, which will be held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center from 24 to 26 February.

GL Barrier is Toppan’s range of transparent films providing world-class barrier performance. The multilayer structure of GL Barrier films combines unique coating and vapor-deposited layers to enable outstanding, stable barrier performance relied upon for a wide range of items in the food, medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial materials sectors. Films in the GL Barrier range include Prime Barrier, for products with superior functionality and added value, Freshlight, for simple barrier packaging, and GL Film, for diverse applications from fast-moving consumer goods to industrial materials.

2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India

Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.

The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry. While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.

The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.

Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.

Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.

Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.

– Naresh Khanna

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