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

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, the effect of a vegetable oil on the oxygen barrier properties of different polymer packaging materials [i.e. amorphous polyethylene terephtalate (APET), polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE)] was investigated. The influence of both relative humidity and the combination of relative humidity and sorbed oil on the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) was studied. Regardless of the relative humidity, the APET film remained an excellent oxygen barrier even after storage in rapeseed oil for 40 days. An increased OTR was observed in both the PP and HDPE films stored for 40 days in rapeseed oil. The OTR of the HDPE films was altered to a much greater extent than the OTR of the PP film. The OTR of the HDPE film was also significantly increased for films stored for 20 days in rapeseed oil. The increase in OTR of an HDPE film stored for 40 days in rapeseed oil was between 36 and 44%, depending on the relative humidity, compared to the OTR through the virginal polymer. The amount of oil sorbed by the polymer films used decreased in the following order: HDPE ≫ APET > PP.