Modeling the Oxygen Barrier Properties of Nylon Film Intended for Food Packaging Applications

Abstract

We present a mathematical model to predict the oxygen-permeability coefficient of nylon film as a function of the water activity at the upstream and downstream side of the film. To validate the model, oxygenpermeability tests were conducted at 25 °C. The fitting and predictive ability of the proposed model was successfully tested by fitting and predicting the oxygen-permeability coefficient. The obtained results point out the need for a more accurate analysis of the oxygen and water-transport phenomena in the case of water-sensitive packaging films like nylon.

A simple model to predict the oxygen transport properties of multilayer films

“…Moreover, Del Nobile et al (2003c) found a value of E% equal to 7.04 between experimental and predicted values. It is worth noting that the E% value obtained by using the mathematical model proposed in this work, is quite satisfactory considering the simplest assumptions used to derive the model with respect to those of Del Nobile et al (2003c).…”

“…Del Nobile et al (2003c) present a mathematical model to predict the oxygen permeability coefficient of nylon film as a function of the water activity at the upstream and downstream side of the film. In particular, the model was used to predict the oxygen permeability of the investigated film when the water activity at the upstream side of the film differs from that at the downstream side.…”

“…Del Nobile et al (2003c) proposed a mathematical model able to predict the oxygen barrier properties of nylon film as a function of the water activity at the upstream and downstream side of the film. In particular, to determine the oxygen permeability coefficient, the steady-state water concentration profile was evaluated.…”

“…As can be inferred from Eq. (3) to determine the oxygen permeability coefficient the steady-state water concentration profile should be evaluated first (Del Nobile et al, 2003c). To overcome this complexity a simplified empirical approach is proposed in the following.…”