A Study on Application of Infrared Sensor Method in Moisture Permeability Test of Food Packaging Materials

Abstract

Objective This paper is based on the technical improvement of the infrared sensor devices and has combined with the moisture permeability experiments of various food packaging materials, aiming to explore the application performance and effect of infrared sensor method equipment in the moisture permeability test of food packaging materials. Methods The improvement of the temperature control capacity of the equipment together with the sample clamping device helped to ensure a stable temperature during the test. In addition to the test of film/sheet, vessel type samples, the equipment subject to the referee-cup method principle and the equipment of the infrared sensor principle in this study were utilized to test the leather, PET film, sheet, PP film, PET/AI/PA/CPP film and VMPET film with varying moisture permeability levels respectively for their water vapor permeability rates at two different test conditions: 23°C, 90%RH and 38°C, 90%RH. Results The improved infrared sensor method equipment and cup method equipment share a similar relative uncertainty in the test. The water vapor permeability deviations between materials with distinct levels of moisture permeability are within the allowed range after tests with two methods and at different test conditions. Moreover, the homogeneity of test results of each food packaging material is satisfactory. Also, compared with the previous infrared sensor method equipment, the improved equipment witnessed an increase in both uncertainty and precision. Conclusion Therefore, the improved infrared sensor method test equipment can test the water vapor permeability of food packaging materials with different performances in a more accurate and reliable way.