Barrier Coatings

move from film to paper with confidence.

Water-based barrier coatings make it possible for brands to transition packaging from multi-material plastic films—which can be difficult to recycle—to recyclable, renewably sourced paper, without sacrificing performance. Paperization isn’t just a trend. It’s a core strategy in the shift toward packaging with improved end-of-life outcomes.

If you’re switching from film to paper, you need the right barrier coatings to ensure your product is protected. Michelman barrier coatings make it possible.

 

Achieve More Sustainable Packaging in a Variety of End Uses With Michelman Barrier Coatings.

Extend the shelf life of dry foods. Coffee, soup mixes, and beverage powders require low MVTR and OTR. Michelman coatings, paired with the right paper, can meet or exceed the performance thresholds required for the typical shelf life of these products, ensuring freshness and preserving aroma.

Protect frozen and refrigerated foods from oxygen and moisture. Frozen and refrigerated foods, like vegetable salads, rely on effective oxygen and moisture protection to prolong shelf life. Michelman barrier coatings can help maintain the ideal humidity and oxygen levels, while preventing condensation in both film and paper structures.

Prevent corrosion in hard-to-hold substances. For home goods like fertilizers, insecticides, concrete, and pool chemicals, not only can humidity damage the product, but it could also create a dangerous handling situation. With the right substrate and barrier coatings, it’s possible to keep moisture, moisture vapor, and oxygen out of these structures. 

Impart oil and grease resistance to foodservice packaging. Paper wraps, trays, and containers with strong OGR coatings perform better and last longer, improving the experience for quick service restaurants, meal delivery services, and back yard barbecues.

Unlock better end-of-life options for health and beauty packaging. Packaging structures for cosmetics and other health and beauty products present unique challenges. When used in combination with the right substrates, Michelman’s barrier coatings can keep powders dry, prevent oil from seeping, and retain signature scents, while eliminating the need for multi-material film packaging structures.

What Kind of Barrier Protection Does Your Packaging Need?

To successfully move from film to paper, your barrier coating must perform for your product and environment. Michelman’s barrier coatings provide essential protection.

Oxygen Barrier

Dry foods like coffee, soup mix, and protein powder require packaging structures with a low oxygen transmission rate (OTR) to preserve freshness and maintain shelf life. Metallized packaging structures incorporating Michelman coating systems can achieve OTRs as low as 0.1 cc/(m²·day) @ 23°C/85%RH.

Product Name
pH
Brookfield Viscosity
Substrate - paper
Substrate - film
water resistance
adhesion
Michem® Flex B1001 5–7.5 150–700
Michem® Flex B1002 5–7.5 <500
Michem® Flex B3510 3–6 <100
Michem® Flex B3513 3–6 <100
Michem® Flex B3530 2.1–5 <500
Michem® Flex P2400 4.5–7 <50

 

Moisture Vapor Barrier

Control humidity exchange to keep your dry contents dry. A moisture vapor barrier limits how much water vapor passes through the packaging. Metallized packaging structures incorporating Michelman coating systems can achieve moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTR) as low as 1 gr/(m2·day) @ 23°C/85%RH.

Product Name
pH
Brookfield Viscosity
grease & oil resistance
water resistance
heat seal
Michem® Flex HS9105 9–11 20–250
Michem® Prime 4983R 8.4–9.4 50–400
VaporCoat® 1300 8–9.5 150–450
VaporCoat® 2200 8.2–9.2 100–300
VaporCoat® 2200R 8.2–9.2 100–600
VaporCoat® 2240 8–9 50–1000

 

Oil and Grease Resistance

Without strong oil and grease resistance (OGR), fried and saucy foods, fresh baked goods, and other food service items can leave a soggy, greasy mess on consumers’ hands and surfaces. Leading food service brands trust Michelman’s barrier coating technology to provide strong oil and grease resistance with direct food contact compliance in a variety of applications.

Product Name
pH
Brookfield Viscosity
water resistance
MVTR
heat seal
Michem® Coat 1548B 7.5–9 50–200
Michem® Coat 1548M 8–9 50–250
Michem® Coat 95 8–8.6 250–650
VaporCoat® 1300 8–9.5 150–450
VaporCoat® 2200 8.2–9.2 100–300
VaporCoat® 2200R 8.2–9.2 100–600
VaporCoat® 2240 8–9 50–1000

 

Water Resistance

Protect your package from external moisture like condensation or spills. A strong water resistance barrier keeps paper-based packaging from softening or losing strength in damp, frozen, and refrigerated environments.

Product Name
pH
Brookfield Viscosity
grease & oil resistance
heat seal
MVTR
Michem® Coat 1548B 7.5–9 50–200
Michem® Coat 95 8–8.6 250–650
Michem® Flex HS9105 9–11 20–250
Michem® Prime 4983R 8.4–9.4 50–400
VaporCoat® 1300 8–9.5 150–450
VaporCoat® 2200 8.2–9.2 100–300
VaporCoat® 2200R 8.2–9.2 100–600
VaporCoat® 2240 8–9 50–1000

 

Comprehensive Barrier Protection

Does your application require a different kind of protection? Contact our experts to see how we can help with aroma and mineral oil barriers, as well as thermal, mechanical, chemical, or UV resistance. With a broad portfolio of water-based coatings and hands-on application experience spanning many global markets, we’re ready to tackle your toughest packaging challenges.

Product Name
pH
Brookfield Viscosity
water resistance
grease & oil resistance
MVTR
heat seal
Michem® Coat 95 8–8.6 250–650
Michem® Flex HS9105 9–11 20–250
Michem® Prime 4983R 8.4–9.4 50–400
VaporCoat® 1300 8–9.5 150–450
VaporCoat® 2200 8.2–9.2 100–300
VaporCoat® 2200R 8.2–9.2 100–600
VaporCoat® 2240 8–9 50–1000

 

How Much Barrier Protection Is Required to Transition Packaging From Film to Paper?

Michelman’s water-based, repulpable, and PFAS-free functional and barrier coatings for fiber-based substrates can impart the requisite barrier performance without compromising the recyclability or compostability of the final package, supporting a more circular economy.

LOW Barrier Paper MEDIUM Barrier Paper HIGH Barrier Paper (with OPV) ULTRA HIGH Barrier Paper (with OPV and metal layer) Applications/Markets frozen food, baked goods candy bars, tea bags oatmeal, spices, croutons coffee, drink mix, protein powder Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) 23ºC/50%RH cc/(m 2 ·day) n/a <3 <3 <0.1 Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) 23ºC/85%RH g/(m 2 ·day) >50 20-50 15-30 <1 Cobb 30min, g/m 2 <15 <15 <15 <15 Oil & Grease Resistance 3M kit 9-12 12 12 12 Heat Seal A-A, 3 bar, 0.5 sec >2.5N/15mm with fiber tear >2.5N/15mm with fiber tear >2.5N/15mm with fiber tear >2.5N/15mm with fiber tear Barrier Performance Requirements for Common Applications
LOW Barrier Paper Ideal for: frozen food, baked goods Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) 23ºC/50%RH cc/(m 2 ·day) n/a Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) 23ºC/85%RH g/(m 2 ·day) >50 Cobb 30min, g/m 2 <15 Oil & Grease Resistance 3M kit 9-12 Heat Seal A-A, 3 bar, 0.5 sec >2.5N/15mm with fiber tear Barrier Performance Requirements for Common Applications
MEDIUM Barrier Paper Ideal for: candy bars, tea bags Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) 23ºC/50%RH cc/(m 2 ·day) <3 Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) 23ºC/85%RH g/(m 2 ·day) 20-50 Cobb 30min, g/m 2 <15 Oil & Grease Resistance 3M kit 12 Heat Seal A-A, 3 bar, 0.5 sec >2.5N/15mm with fiber tear
HIGH Barrier Paper (with OPV) Ideal for: oatmeal, spices, croutons Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) 23ºC/50%RH cc/(m 2 ·day) <3 Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) 23ºC/85%RH g/(m 2 ·day) 15-30 Cobb 30min, g/m 2 <15 Oil & Grease Resistance 3M kit 12 Heat Seal A-A, 3 bar, 0.5 sec >2.5N/15mm with fiber tear
ULTRA HIGH Barrier Paper (with OPV and metal layer) Ideal for: coffee, drink mix, protein powder Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) 23ºC/50%RH cc/(m 2 ·day) <0.1 Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) 23ºC/85%RH g/(m 2 ·day) <1 Cobb 30min, g/m 2 <15 Oil & Grease Resistance 3M kit 12 Heat Seal A-A, 3 bar, 0.5 sec >2.5N/15mm with fiber tear
 
 

VaporCoat® products can be used as overprint varnishes (OPVs) to protect the printed surface, while also helping control the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR).

 

Michem® Flex B Series offer excellent oxygen and mineral oil barrier along with good oil and grease resistance, and can also act as metallization primers for paper.

 

Michem® Flex HS Series are heat seal coatings that impart water and oil resistance, plus moderate MVTR, with excellent global food contact compliance.

 

Market-Ready Packaging Solutions, Available Today

Michelman barrier coatings aren’t just lab-tested; they’re in-market with trusted partners.