Food Industry Interested In New Diagnostic Ink Technology: Bayreuth And Bonn Universities' New Time Temperature Integrator

Bayreuth University, Germany, working with nearby Bonn University has developed and patented a time temperature integrator (TTI) which uses an ultraviolet (UV) light reactive ink. Special crystals in the ink change it from white to blue when exposed to UV rays. The process is reversible with time, at a temperature dependent rate. Ink printed and activated with a UV lamp must be laminated to protect it from the UV content of sunlight, otherwise the ink will remain blue. Cost effective benefits are possible because the TTI can be incorporated into coding or package printing. Licensing agreements with commercial partners could be signed within months. Food packaging manufacturers are among those who are especially interested.