Mechanical and thermal behaviour of flexible food packaging polymeric films materials under high pressure/temperature treatments

• Published in: Packaging technology & science 2008-08, Vol.21 (5), p.297-308
• Main Authors: Galotto, M J, Ulloa, P.A, Hernández, D., Fernández-Martín, F., Gavara, R., Guarda, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Application fields; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; DSC; Exact sciences and technology; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Handling, storage, packaging, transport; HPP; mechanical behaviour; packaging materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; scanning electron microscopy (SEM); Technology of polymers; thermal behaviour
• ISSN: 0894-3214; 1099-1522
• DOI: 10.1002/pts.807

The effect of high‐pressure processing on mechanical and thermal properties of four complex packaging materials (polyethylene/ethylene vinyl alcohol/ polyethylene: PE/EVOH/PE; metallized polyester/polyethylene: PETmet/PE; polyester/polyethylene: PET/PE; polypropylene SiOx recovered: PPSiOx) was studied. Pouches of the different materials containing distilled water or olive oil as food simulants, as well as empty ones, were subjected to 400  MPa for 30  min, at temperatures of 20 or 60°C. Delamination and wrinkling were a general consequence of the high‐pressure processing of multilayer polymeric systems. However, no significant changes were observed regarding the mechanical properties of PE containing laminates after pressurization. PPSiOx underwent significant modifications as SiOx completely broke down. Neither thermal property was affected by pressure, as it was the processing temperature that induced tempering effects on the crystallization behaviour of polymeric components. Only PE/EVOH/PE, when in contact with water as a simulant, presented a decrease in the melting point temperature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.