TO REDUCE OXYGEN TRANSMISSION RATE OF PLAIN BI AXIALLY ORIENTED POLY PROPYLENE FILM FOR FLEXIBLE PACKAGING OF FOOD PRODUCTS

Abstract

This thesis report is based on research work on oxygen barrier property of plain BOPP film. Research work is done to reduce the oxygen transmission rate of plain BOPP film. Reduction in oxygen transmission rate of plain BOPP is important for flexible food packaging. It results in increase in shelf life of food product for example bread. To reduce OTR value coating of a hybrid solution is applied on the BOPP film. Coating is done by two different methods, cylinder coating and dispersion coating. In this research work a hybrid solution (with different composition) is prepared by mixing an organic component and an inorganic component. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) is used as inorganic component and poly vinyl alcohol is used as organic component. Corona treated plain BOPP film is coated with these prepared solutions. OTR value of this coated film was measured by appropriate apparatus. This coated film is characterized by FTIR, FE-SEM, TGA and DSC. Then application of this experiment is performed by packaging of bread in pouches formed by impulse sealing. These pouches are made of coated BOPP film with different composition solution. A reference sample is also prepared, packaging of bread in pouch made of plain BOPP without coating. Then results are compared