Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Physical and Chemical Properties of Fiberboard and Paperboard

Abstract

Effect of ionizing radiation on physical and chemical properties of lLberboard and paperboard.• I'tlCKl'Tiyi NOTtl (Typ» ol report and Irclutlr* daia«)Technical Report I». ABSTRACTIn a large-scale production of prepackaged radappertized (irradiation sterilized) foods there ore advantages in performing the irradiation of filled metal cans or flexible packages while stacked in fiberboard or paperboard shipping container's. This study was performed to determine the effect of electron and gamma radiation on the physical and chemical properties and functional performance of the fiberboard and paperboard materials that are used in the packing of can. and flexible packages of radappertized foods. Electron and gamma radiation caused significant physical and chemical changes in the fiberboard and paperboard materials. Physical property values (puncture, burst, tear, tensile) decreased with increasing radiation dose (1, 3, and S megarads) and increasing irradiation temperature (-80°C, -30* and 21°C). Whereas the component testing of fiberboard and paperboard and laboratory drop tests of fiberboard containers indicated that irradiation at a food-sterilization dosage level caused marked reductions in performance of the materials and containers made therefrom, these changes were not great enough to seriously impair the functional performance of the fiberboard and paperboard containers for packing of cans or packages of food during irradiation processing and subsequent shipment and storage. In a large-scale production of prepackaged radappertized (irradiation sterilized) foods there are advantaqes in performing the irradiation of metal cans or flexible packages while in the shipping container, either fiberboard or paperboard containers. The work covered in this report represents an investigation to determine the effect of electron and gamma radiation on the chemical and physical properties of fiberboard and paperboard materials and to evaluate the performance of shipping containers during the irradiation processing and subsequent shipme nt and storage. The investigations described were performed by Messrs.