Plastic and Gel Products
While microencapsulation can be successfully utilised for the controlled and targetted delivery of flavour and fragrances other techniques/materials such as gels and plastics may be more suitable in certain applications:
Plastics
Coloured Fragrant Masterbatches - Fragrance and flavours have been incorporated in a wide range of plastic products including bottle closures, bin liners, toys, air fresheners and dental products. The fragrances & flavours are designed to enhance the sensory experience of the consumer and end-user, by matching or complimenting particular attributes of the product. Fragrances and flavours are also used to mask unpleasant tastes and aromas. Additonal benefits arise from using aromas which have for example secondary biological characteristics such as mood enhancing, calming, antimicrobial or insect repellent.
There are a number of technologies available which can produce concentrates/masterbatches made up of approximately 40% flavour/fragrance which can be diluted down in injection moulding/extrusion machines to produce the desired product with a final flavour/fragrance concentration of 2-5%. Other systems allow either injection of liquid flavour during moulding and extrusion or impregnation of flavour/fragrance after the finished product component has been prepared.
The range of plastics which can be used is very broad no matter there processing temperatures although some modification of the fragrance/flavour components may be required to achieve the desired effect. The range of fragrance/flavours used is endless from single natural essential oils to complex synthetic formulations.
Gels
Air freshener Gels - Gels have been the basis of most air freshener products for many decades made initally from gelatin and or carrageenan the gels generally release the fragrance as they dry out leaving a small amount of residue after the fragarance had been spent. A typical household gel based air freshener will last 4-6 weeks. Although carrageenan based gels are still widely used there has been many modification with new gel materials being used. Some gels hold their shape after fragrance release other gels are designed to stop fragrance forming puddles on top of the gel in use. A typical household or in-car based gel will contain less than 10% fragrance, however gels containing over 90% fragrance are possible for controlled release in larger spaces. The gels can be poured into moulds or formed into beads depending on the application. In some cases membranes are used in contact with the gels in order to further control the release rate of the fragrance.
For help in developing new controlled release fragrant and flavoured products please email gnelson@burgundygold.com or telephone on 01928787179 or 07966341814