Coatings for
water barrier
Maximize the resistance of your packaging with our next-generation water barrier solutions. Designed to protect paper, cardboard, and corrugated board against liquids and moisture, ensuring product integrity throughout the supply chain.
Superior protection with certified sustainability: recyclable, repulpable, and compostable.
What can you do with our water barriers?
Transform conventional paper into a high-performance material. Our coatings offer an effective barrier against water without compromising sustainability or operational efficiency.
Replace plastic laminates
Replace difficult-to-recycle multilayer materials with high-performance, low-environmental-impact barrier solutions.
Customized resistance
Choose the exact level of protection you need based on Cobb values, from adequate to excellent water barrier.
Preserve recyclability
Maintain the recycling, compostability, and repulpability properties of your packaging even with high water resistance.
Advantages of our water barriers
A perfect combination of technical performance and environmental responsibility, designed to easily integrate into your current processes.
Food contact
FDA, BfR, and EU approval for direct food contact, ideal for burger packaging and other foods.
Easy application
Compatible with existing Flexography and Rotogravure machines, without the need for special equipment.
High water resistance
Effective protection against liquids with customizable Cobb values according to your barrier needs.
Ecologically responsible
Recyclable, repulpable, and compostable products with BPI certification that reduce environmental impact.
Coatings for water barrier
Water resistance depends on the grade, paper, coat weight and drying. These families offer different functions; Cobb measures water absorption and does not establish a universal product ranking.
Corrugated Board
Boxes for fruits, vegetables, proteins, and refrigerated products requiring resistance to condensation.
Folding Cartons
Packaging for frozen foods, takeout boxes, burger packaging, and delivery containers.
Lightweight Papers
Food wrappers, paper bags, cups and containers for hot and cold drinks, greaseproof paper for baking.
Higher Cobb value = Higher water absorption
HydraBan® Series
- Cobb values 22-28 2 minutes
- Dilutable up to 90% with water
- Water resistance on paper and board
- Check bonding with the chosen adhesive
- Evaluate printing on the coating
Michem® Coat Series
- Cobb values 10-20 2 minutes
- Dilutable up to 30% with water
- Oil and grease barrier
- Selected grades add water resistance
- Gluing and other properties depend on grade
VaporCoat® Series
- Cobb values 0-10 2 minutes
- Water vapor transmission control
- Grades with water and grease resistance
- Validate closure, especially with water-based adhesives
- Evaluate in the complete structure
HydraBan® Series Performance
2 min Cobb vs. Dilution
High dilution advantages:
- Higher economic yield: Get up to 5 times more effective product with 80% dilution.
- Performance stability: Cobb values only increase from 22 to 27 points even with 80% dilution.
- Dramatic reduction: From an initial Cobb of 126.23 to ranges of 22-27, maintaining excellent protection.
- Operational flexibility: Adjust concentration according to your specific needs without compromising quality.
“The high dilution of the HydraBan® Series makes it a highly cost-effective option for applications requiring an adequate water barrier, allowing you to maximize product utilization.”
Product Comparison
HydraBan® Series
Michem® Coat Series
VaporCoat® Series
| Features | HydraBan® Series | Michem® Coat Series | VaporCoat® Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Liquid water | Oil and grease | Water vapor |
| Cobb Values (2 min) | 22-28 | 10-20 | 0-10 |
| Water Dilutability | Up to 90% - Maximum economic efficiency | Up to 30% | Limited |
| Gluing | Validate with the adhesive | Validate with the adhesive | Validate with the adhesive |
| Printing | Validate with the ink | Validate with the ink | Validate with the ink |
Applications of our water barriers
Transform your products with waterproofing solutions that maintain the integrity of your packaging in humid conditions
Agricultural Box
Corrugated board with water barrier to maintain freshness and resist moisture from agricultural products.
Refrigerated Boxes
Packaging for proteins and frozen products that prevent degradation by condensation and moisture.
Food Packaging
Folding cartons for burgers, wraps, and moist or greasy foods for delivery and restaurants.
Paper Cups
Lightweight papers with coating for hot and cold drinks replacing traditional PE.
Application Methods
Our water barrier coatings are compatible with various printing and application systems, facilitating their integration into your existing production processes.
Compatible Equipment
Flexographic Printers
Adaptable to any varnishing or printing station, offering excellent versatility for in-line application during the printing process. Ideal for cardboards, folding cartons, and medium-weight papers.
Rotogravure
Provides uniform and high-precision coatings in high-volume productions. Allows exact control of coating thickness, optimizing product consumption and improving yield.
Varnishing Systems
Independent varnishing units equipped with anilox rollers or transfer systems for off-line applications. Compatible with corrugators for direct application on corrugated board of different calipers.
Size Press
Allows direct application on paper machines, integrating the coating during the paper manufacturing process. Ideal for lightweight papers and products requiring full-surface treatment.
Application Process
Coating preparation
Depending on the selected series, the product can be diluted with water in different proportions to optimize performance and cost:
Application
WaterBarrierPage.methods.process.steps.1.desc
Application variables
Drying
Our coatings are compatible with conventional drying systems:
Validate temperature and time for the grade, substrate and coat weight. Check film formation and avoid damaging the material.
Quality control
Measure absorption using an agreed Cobb protocol and compare with your application target.
For grease, validate the method with the laboratory and test with actual contents. Kit is not a universal barrier measurement for water-based coatings.
Need to calculate your Cobb values?
Download our free Excel calculator
Discover the appropriate waterproofing agent for your packaging
Complete this questionnaire and receive a personalized recommendation to your email for the appropriate waterproofing agent for your packaging
View DetailsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the Cobb test and how to interpret its results?
The Cobb test is a standardized method for measuring water absorption in paper and cardboard. It is expressed in g/m² and represents the amount of water absorbed by a sample in a given time (usually 2 minutes). A lower Cobb value indicates better water resistance. For example, a Cobb value of 5 g/m² means excellent water resistance, while a value of 25 g/m² indicates moderate resistance. This measurement is crucial for determining the suitability of the coating for different applications.
Are these coatings suitable for all types of papers and cardboards?
Yes, our coatings have been formulated to be compatible with a wide range of cellulosic substrates, including: Corrugated board (200-500 g/m²), Cardboard and folding cartons (180-350 g/m²), and Lightweight papers (30-120 g/m²). Each series can be adapted for specific applications on any of these substrates.
What are the main differences between HydraBan®, Michem® Coat, and VaporCoat® series?
The HydraBan® Series offers an adequate barrier (Cobb 22-28) with high dilutability. The Michem® Coat Series provides a good barrier (Cobb 10-20) with medium dilutability. The VaporCoat® Series provides an excellent barrier (Cobb 0-10) with additional resistance to grease and moisture.
Do the coatings affect the recyclability or compostability of the packaging?
No, all our coatings are designed with sustainability in mind. They are recyclable, repulpable, and compostable (BPI certification), allowing packaging to enter normal recycling or composting streams.
What food safety certifications do these coatings have?
Food contact options are available. Confirm current grade and application documentation for the food, time, temperature and destination market.
What advantages do your coatings offer over traditional plastic laminates?
They offer environmental benefits (recyclable, compostable), production efficiency (in-line application), economy (lower total cost), and regulatory compliance, maintaining comparable protection levels.