A Contribution to Methodology and Protocol Definition for Thermal Spray Coated Surface Compatibility Analysis in Food Processing Applications
Abstract The paper discusses the testing methodology and identifies the analytical protocols, with proper validation, in order to evaluate the compatibility of thermal spray coatings in the food production technology, according to EU and FDA applicable standards. A brief state-of-the-art analysis of the international standards on food additives and human health is given, namely on indirect food additives (as defined in 21 CFR 170.3(e)), that can migrate into the food during the process. An outline of the test protocols, based on contact between coating and food simulating solvents in a set time/temperature conditions, are presented, and the main phases for the proposed testing methodology, as the choice of the simulating solvent, the migration cell design and the time/temperature conditions, are discussed. Finally the proposed methodology and protocols are validated through a thermal spray coating for food process application test case.