90889 - Cosmetic Packaging

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows the most important aspects to take into account when designing a packaging for cosmetics to achieve the required final material properties and shape. The student knows the most important classes of polymeric materials used in cosmetic packaging and available on the market and their properties and he knows the industrial technological processes applied to produce it. The student knows the latest tendencies and challenges in research and development in the cosmetic packaging sector.

Course contents

Introduction. The function of packaging in cosmetics: basic general concepts, requirements of packaging, preservation of quality through packaging.

Part 1). Basic knowledge of macromolecular chemistry and physics:

• strategies of polymer synthesis;
• polymer degradation;
• polymer additives;
• polymers properties (molecular, structural, thermal, rheological, mechanical, barrier performances, permeability, scratch resistance, etc.)

Part 2). Description of the main industrial technologies for processing polymeric materials to produce cosmetic packaging components (applicators, tubes, roller-ball vials, makeup compacts, mascara tubes, flexible tubes, jars, pots, etc.):

• extrusion
• injection moulding
• blow moulding
• thermoforming

Part 3). Structure and properties of the main polymeric materials employed for cosmetic packaging (polyethylene and its copolymers, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate and its copolymers, polyvinylchloride, polyamides, acrylonitrile-styrene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, poly(methyl methacrylate), acrylic polymers, Surlyne, etc.)

Part 4). Innovative, intelligent and active packaging

Part 5) Bioplastic-based packaging, sustainable packaging

Part 6) Regulatory environment for cosmetic packaging

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching material (scientific books, literature articles and power point presentations) will be distributed during lessons

IoL platform will be used to deposit power point documents and reading materials. prepared by the teacher.

Teaching methods

The Course is structured with 32 hours of lectures where the various parts of the course contents are developed.

Attendance to course lessons is strongly recommended to understand the most fundamental aspects of the subject and the correlations among the different parts of the programme

Assessment methods

Students will have to demonstrate their knowledge on the main types of packaging materials, technologies to produce packaging, intelligent, sustainable packaging, and regulatory environment for cosmetic packaging.

To pass the examination the student is requested to answer in a correct and complete way to the questions.

Good language properties and the ability to make connections among the different parts of the programme will involve a higher score.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC

Office hours

See the website of Maria Letizia Focarete