Periodic Table -> The Chemistry of Polymer Banknotes

The Chemistry of Polymer Banknotes

Polymer banknotes were first adopted in Australia in 1988. The polymer banknotes were developed as an answer to the increased counterfeits of paper banknotes. This problem doesn't exist with electronic finance transactions like wire transfers and most loan types, but is a serious issue with banknotes. Polymer banknotes allow for incorporation of many security features that can’t be applied to paper banknotes.

Polymer banknotes are made from BOPP, which stands for Biaxially-Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP). Banknotes produced from BOPP are longer lasting, harder to destroy, waterproof, have better dirt resistance, and can be recycled when taken out of circulation. However, polymer banknotes have downsides as well. One of the downsides is that they cannot be easily folded, have unnatural feel, and can be permanently damaged if exposed to a heat of around 100 C.

The polymer banknotes production begins with applying two layers of ink side of the polymer note excluding the space for creating OVD (optically variable device). After that the polymer is cut into sheets and then is being printed on. The final stage of the polymer banknote creation is covering the note with very thing protective layer.

Polymer money usually incorporate optically variable device as a security feature. All security features of paper banknotes can also be incorporated in polymer banknotes. The polymer banknotes are very hard to counterfeit simply because many of its unique security features cannot be reproduced by scanning and photocopying them.

Polymer currencies have been adopted in several countries worldwide and some of them (Australia, New Zealand and Romania for example) use polymer banknotes exclusively.