Packaging technology

This article provides an introduction to the emerging technology of biosensors and its potential applications to food packaging. This biosensor technology may used to enhance the communication function of the intelligent packaging system (see the Intelligent Packaging article) to enhance the safety and quality of food products.

The term ‘‘microbial biofilm’’ or ‘‘biofilm’’ refers to the complex aggregation of microorganisms growing on a solid substrate such as a packaging material, not a film that is made of biopolymer.

The prefix ‘‘bio-’’ means life in Greek. Biobased materials indicate the substances obtained from living or dead animals or plants.

Modern synthetic polymers have been used for over 50 years as barriers to mass transport of liquids and gases. Major applications of barrier polymers include food and pharmaceutical packaging. The growth in polymer-based packaging materials at the expense of metal and glass containers has seen the importance of barrier polymers continue to rise.

Barrier coatings provide barriers to certain gases, liquids, radiation, or other substances. These may include oxygen, water vapor, aroma, light (including ultraviolet), and, in the case of food packaging applications, products such as oils and fats, and so on.

A barrel, or cask, is a cylindrical vessel of wood that is flat at the bottom and top, with a slightly bulging middle. The three primary parts of a barrel are heads (bottom and top), staves (sides), and hoops (rings that bind the heads and staves together).

Shrink labels, bands, and sleeves provide today’s packaging companies with a unique and versatile method for labeling their products.

Plastic bags, available in virtually all shapes, sizes, colors, and configurations, have replaced paper in most lightduty packaging applications.

Multiwall bags are concentric tubes of 2–6 layers or paper with a choice in the type of end closure. Designs differ mainly with respect to whether the sack is to be filled through an open mouth or valve. This depends on the product or volume to be handled.

Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) are intermediate between smaller packages, such as shipping sacks and drums, and the larger bulk truck and railcar quantities. IBCs fall into two general categories: Flexible and Rigid. Filled IBCs occupy about the same space as a typical palletized unit load.