ARS | Publication request: Effect of Chlorine Dioxide Gas on Polymeric Packaging Materials

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: August 6, 2007
Publication Date: September 3, 2007
Citation: Netramai, S., Rubino, M., Auras, R., Annous, B.A. 2007. Effect of Chlorine Dioxide Gas on Polymeric Packaging Materials. In: 23rd IAPRI Symposium on Packaging. Windsor, United Kingdom: Pira International.

Technical Abstract: Permeability, solubility and diffusion coefficients of chlorine dioxide for high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, and multilayer of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), EVA/EVOH/EVA were determined through a quasi-isostatic method using an electrochemical sensor. The different polymer samples were also assessed using FT-IR before, and after they were exposed to chlorine dioxide. The low permeability coefficients of PET, nylon and EVA/EVOH/EVA indicated that they had high chlorine dioxide barrier, while PEs, PVC, and PS had high permeability coefficients, suggesting poor barrier properties to chlorine dioxide. After being exposed to gaseous chlorine dioxide, the IR spectra of nylon, PET, EVA/EVOH/EVA, and PS showed changes in their absorbance intensities indicating the possible chemical changes of the polymers after chlorine dioxide exposure.