Braskem deposited its 200th patent, a milestone in Innovation and Technology in the company’s history. The technical name of this new product, which offers countless benefits for the company's clients and consumers, is "Chemical Sensors and Their Application in Polymer Matrixes". This innovation allows plastic packages to "communicate" the quality of the packed product, advising if it is good or inappropriate for consumption.

The sensors involved in the patent were created by the Braskem research team in partnership with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. The project will take about two years to be concluded. Five people participated in development in this first phase. As the program advances, other people will be incorporated into the team in the various attributions linked to laboratory analyses, product development, tests at clients and final consumers, among others.

This patent is part of the Intelligent Packages project platform, which is to find sensors that are incorporated into plastic packages and that "advise" when any packed product characteristics change. Some practical applications of this innovation include packages for more sensitive foods, such as milk, yogurt, cold cuts, meats, produce and greens.

"Depositing this patent strengthens the importance of research and technology for Braskem growth strategy and for creating value. The company is once again at the forefront, developing a material that brings significant benefits to clients and final consumers," says Edwin Moncada, project coordinator and Braskem researcher

João Henrique Zimnoch dos Santos, professor at the UFRGS Institute of Chemistry and co-author of the patent, underscores the importance of cooperation between private enterprise and the university in this project: "The partnership with Braskem allied the university’s in-depth expertise in polymer research with the company’s vast knowledge in packaging materials and market needs. This partnership unites complementary skills and results in a more innovative product."

The use of sensors to formulate thermoplastic resins can be applied to several types of materials and segments, as well as work under different conditions, such as heat and cold. The projection is for this technology’s products to be on the market in 2010.