Enhancing the Oxygen Barrier Properties of Nanocellulose at High Humidity: Numerical and Experimental Assessment

Films formed from cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are known to be good barrier materials against oxygen, but they lose this feature once placed in humid conditions. To tackle this issue, we applied an optimized pressing condition under elevated temperature to increase the films’ density and improve their barrier performance. Furthermore, a water barrier coating was employed on the surfaces to control the moisture uptake at high relative humidity (RH). Neat self-standing films of CNF with the basis weight of 70 g/m2 were made through a filtration technique and pressed for 1 hour at 130 °C. The resulting nanostructures were covered on both sides using a water-borne barrier layer. Hot-pressing resulted in a significant reduction in oxygen transmission rate (OTR) values, from 516.7 to 3.6 (cm3/(m2·day)) and to some degree, helped preserve the reduced oxygen transmission at high relative humidity. Introducing 35 g/m2 of latex coating layer on both sides limited the films’ swelling at 90% RH for about 4 h and maintained the OTR at the same level. A finite element model was used to predict the dynamic uptake of water into the systems. The model was found to over-predict the rate of water uptake for uncoated samples but gave the correct order of magnitude results for samples that were coated. The obtained data confirmed the positive effect of hot-pressing combined with coating to produce a film with low oxygen transmission rate and potential to maintain its oxygen barrier feature at high relative humidity.

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Opto-chemical method for ultra-low oxygen transmission rate measurement

2009 IEEE Sensors ◽

10.1109/icsens.2009.5398515 ◽

2009 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Tscherner ◽

C. Konrad ◽

A. Bizzarri ◽

M. Suppan ◽

M. Cajlakovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Method ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Rate Measurement ◽

Low Oxygen ◽

Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽

Oxygen Transmission

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362 Prolonging the Shelf-life of Fresh-cut Tomato Slices through Modified Atmosphere and Low Temperature

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.34.3.506a ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 506A-506

Author(s):

Ji Heun Hong ◽

Ken Gross

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Shelf Life ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Chilling Injury ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Atmospheric Composition ◽

Modified Atmosphere ◽

Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽

Fresh Cut ◽

Oxygen Transmission

Fresh-cut produce continues to be a rapidly growing industry. However, there is little information available on storage conditions for many commodities, particularly for fresh-cut tomato slices. A major problem with fresh-cut tomato slices is their short shelf-life. The best method to extend shelf-life is refrigerated storage, preferably around 4 to 5 °C. Unfortunately, tomato tissue is susceptible to chilling injury at such temperatures. Experiments were conducted to compare changes in quality of slices from red tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit during storage at 5 or 10 °C under various modified-atmosphere conditions. In this study, we used the fourth uniform slice from the stem end and analyzed for various quality attributes during the storage period. At both 5 and 10 °C storage temperatures, ethylene concentration in containers sealed with Film A (oxygen transmission rate of 60.3 or 77.9 ml per hour per m2 at 1 atm and 99% relative humidity at 5 or 10 °C, respectively) was higher than that sealed with Film B (oxygen transmission rate of 87.4 or 119.4 ml per hour per m2 at 1 atm and 99% relative humidity at 5 or 10 °C, respectively), during storage. In addition, chilling injury, as measured by percent of slices showing some water soaked-areas, in containers sealed with Film B was higher than that of slices in containers sealed with Film A. The percent of visible fungal growth of slices was roughly correlated with the degree of chilling injury, as measured by the percent of slices showing some water soaked-areas. After 13 days of storage at 5 °C, slices stored in containers with a beginning atmospheric composition of 12% CO2 /1% O2 were firmer, compared to slices given the other treatments. After 9 days of storage at 10 °C, no visible fungal growth was observed on slices in containers with a beginning atmospheric composition of 12% CO2/1% O2 or 12% CO2/20% O2. However, slices in containers with a beginning atmospheric composition of air, or 4% CO2/1 or 20% O2 and 8% CO2/1 or 20% O2 did show visible signs of fungal growth at 25%, 33%, 46%, 29%, and 100% of infected slices, respectively. Slices in containers given all treatments, with the exception of 12% CO2/1% O2, had visible fungal growth after 15 days of storage at 5 °C. Slices in containers containing eight slices had less chilling injury and visible fungal growth than those containing four slices. Chilling injury of slices stored in completely enclosed plastic containers, similar to those commonly observed in grocery food stores, was over 7-fold higher than chilling injury observed in slices containers covered with Film A after 12 days of storage at 5 °C. However, there were no significant differences in the amounts of the volatiles we measured, i.e., ethanol, ethyl acetate, hexanol and hexanal, between the two container types. These results suggested that modified-atmosphere packaging storage can extend shelflife, as well as inhibit chilling injury in fresh-cut tomato slices.

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Esterified lignin coating as water vapor and oxygen barrier for fiber-based packaging

Holzforschung ◽

10.1515/hf-2012-0214 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 67 (8) ◽

pp. 899-905 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Eva-Lena Hult ◽

Klaus Koivu ◽

Janne Asikkala ◽

Jarmo Ropponen ◽

Pauli Wrigstedt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Vapor ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Gel Permeation Chromatography ◽

Barrier Properties ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Oxygen Barrier ◽

Continuous Film ◽

Barrier Materials ◽

Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽

Moisture Barrier Property

Abstract Lignin, esterified with palmitic and lauric acid chloride, has been studied for the application as coating on fiber-based packaging material. The aim was to improve the barrier properties against water vapor and oxygen of paperboard. The esterification was followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography measurements. The lignin esters were applied on paperboard and formed a continuous film. The moisture barrier property of the coated paperboards was characterized by the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). A significant decrease in WVTR was observed, for example, 40 g m-2 (for 24 h) for a paperboard coated with 10.4 g m-2 hardwood kraft lignin palmitate. The contact angle of water on the lignin ester coatings was high and stable. For all paperboard samples coated with lignin esters, a significant decrease in oxygen transmission rate was observed. Accordingly, lignin palmitate and laurate have a high potential as a barrier materials in packaging applications.

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Effects of flexing, optical density, and lamination on barrier and mechanical properties of metallized films and aluminum foil centered laminates prepared with polyethylene terephthalate and linear low density polyethylene

Journal of Plastic Film & Sheeting ◽

10.1177/8756087920963532 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 875608792096353

Author(s):

Changfeng Ge ◽

Suraj Singh Verma ◽

Jack Burruto ◽

Nazar Ribalco ◽

Janice Ong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Vapor ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Aluminum Foil ◽

Oxygen Barrier ◽

Water Vapor Transmission Rate ◽

Linear Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽

Water Vapor Transmission ◽

Lamination Process ◽

Oxygen Transmission

Flex barrier and optical density (OD) are two unique properties for metallized films and aluminum foil. This study investigated the effect of flexing on barrier properties of a laminate comprising metallized films and aluminum foil, as well as OD and adhesive lamination process on the overall multilayer laminate performance. Three (3) barrier layers, namely aluminum foil, metallized polyethylene terephthalate (met OPET) film with a high OD, and standard metallized PET film(met OPET), were laminated with the same printing layer OPET and sealing layer linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), into OPET/adhesive/foil/adhesive/LLDPE and OPET/adhesive/met OPET/adhesive/LLDPE structures. The oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) were measured before and after flexing. The aluminum foil centered laminate had an excellent oxygen barrier after the 20-cycle flexing test and failed to retain its oxygen barrier after the 270-cycle flexing. Compared to the aluminum foil centered laminate, the metallized film centered laminates were less affected by the flexing on the oxygen barrier. For all laminates, the water vapor barrier was less severely affected by flexing than the oxygen barrier. This study suggests that the ASTMF392 Gelbo D (20- cycle flexing) can determine if aluminum foil and metallized film centered laminates are resistant to flex-formed pinhole failures. A higher OD, a thicker film thickness and lamination process improved laminate’s actual barrier, resulting in lower measured transmission rates versus that predicted using Henry's solubility law and Fick's diffusion law. The laminate’s water vapor transmission rate is 55–74% lower than predicted. The oxygen transmission rate is 15–31% lower than predicted.

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Effect of Film Oxygen Transmission Rate on Lean Color and Microbiological Characteristics of Vacuum-Packaged Beef Knuckles

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-49.11.917 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 49 (11) ◽

pp. 917-919 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. W. SAVELL ◽

D. B. GRIFFIN ◽

C. W. DILL ◽

G. R. ACUFF ◽

C. VANDERZANT

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Leuconostoc Mesenteroides ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Refrigerated Storage ◽

Transmission Rates ◽

Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽

Microbiological Characteristics ◽

Brown Discoloration ◽

Packaged Beef ◽

Oxygen Transmission

Seventy-two beef knuckles were packaged (n = 12) in each of six different bag types with oxygen transmission rates (OTR) of 1, 10, 12, 13, 30 and 400 cc/m2/24 h at 4°C and 100% relative humidity to study brown discoloration of knuckles during refrigerated storage. Knuckles in bag types of OTR of 1 and 12 cc did not discolor as compared to those in bags with higher OTR (30 and 400 cc) probably due to differences in oxygen tension in the package and in the types of bacteria present. Deterioration of lean color of knuckles in some bag types of low OTR appeared associated with large percentages of Leuconostoc mesenteroides in the microflora.

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A Comparison of Vacuum Packaging Systems and Films on the Physical Characteristics of Beef Cuts

Journal of Milk and Food Technology ◽

10.4315/0022-2747-39.11.740 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 39 (11) ◽

pp. 740-744 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. C. SEIDEMAN ◽

Z. L. CARPENTER ◽

G. C. SMITH ◽

C. VANDERZANT ◽

K. E. HOKE

Keyword(s):

Transmission Rate ◽

Storage Period ◽

Vacuum Packaging ◽

Low Oxygen ◽

Packaging Film ◽

Transmission Rates ◽

Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽

Moisture Vapor ◽

Oxygen Transmission ◽

Reduced Surface

One hundred and fifty beef knuckles, 140 beef ribs, and 60 arm chucks were vacuum packaged by two systems (nozzle and chamber vacuumizing machines) in bags manufactured from films differing in oxygen and moisture vapor transmission rates. Primal cuts in each system were randomly assigned to storage periods of 7, 14, 21, 28, or 35 days. In addition, leaker packages were assigned storage periods of 7, 14. or 21 days. At the termination of each storage period, cuts were evaluated for degree of vacuum, appearance of fat cover, surface discoloration, and total desirability. The combination of a chamber vacuumizing machine and use of a packaging film with a low oxygen transmission rate resulted in superior fat appearance ratings, reduced surface discoloration, and higher total desirability scores. Cuts from leaker packages usually received the lowest ratings for these attributes.

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Influence of sorbed vegetable oil and relative humidity on the oxygen transmission rate through various polymer packaging films

Packaging Technology and Science ◽

10.1002/pts.2770070604 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 275-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

F. Johansson ◽

A. Leufvén

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Vegetable Oil ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Packaging Films ◽

Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽

Oxygen Transmission

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Impact of Backbone Amide Substitution at the Meta- and Para-Positions on the Gas Barrier Properties of Polyimide

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14092097 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (9) ◽

pp. 2097

Author(s):

Qian Wen ◽

Ao Tang ◽

Chengliang Chen ◽

Yiwu Liu ◽

Chunguang Xiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transmission Rate ◽

Barrier Properties ◽

Polyimide Film ◽

Flexible Display ◽

Gas Barrier ◽

Positron Annihilation Lifetime ◽

Barrier Materials ◽

Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽

Display Technology ◽

Gas Barrier Properties

This study designed and synthesised a meta-amide-substituted dianiline monomer (m-DABA) as a stereoisomer of DABA, a previously investigated para-amide-substituted dianiline monomer. This new monomer was polymerised with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) to prepare a polyimide film (m-DABPI) in a process similar to that employed in a previous study. The relationship between the substitution positions on the monomer and the gas barrier properties of the polyimide film was investigated via molecular simulation, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD), and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) to gain deeper insights into the gas barrier mechanism. The results showed that compared with the para-substituted DABPI, the m-DABPI exhibited better gas barrier properties, with a water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) as low as 2.8 g·m−2·d−1 and 3.3 cm3·m−2·d−1, respectively. This was because the meta-linked polyimide molecular chains were more tightly packed, leading to a smaller free volume and lower molecular chain mobility. These properties are not conducive to the permeation of small molecules into the film; thus, the gas barrier properties were improved. The findings have significant implications for the structural design of high-barrier materials and could promote the development of flexible display technology.

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