Barrier
films are multi-layer films that have been designed to be impervious to
gas migration and are often called gas barrier films. They are used for
lamination and protective system applications. The small size of the
pores in these films prevents penetration of liquid water, but the
interconnected pore structure allows for transmission of water vapor.
Barrier films are durable and flexible, having excellent compatibility
with variety of products. They extend the shelf life and improve the
hygienic conditions for handling the packaged products. They eliminate
expensive and often inadequate cleanup. They are easy to use and quick
to install and remove.
Barrier Film Materials
In most cases, in the cross sections of barrier films, the inner is
made up of polyethylene sealing layer, the outer layer is thin and the
middle layer of the barrier is of microscopic thickness. It is to be
noted that the composition of the barrier material is most important in
determining its permeability and not its thickness.
Metal foil or aluminum foil is the most effective gas barrier material, which is
followed by transparent ceramic barriers. EVOH, sputtered aluminum,
barrier nylon are transparent plastic barrier layers used in the food
industry. Each specific barrier material has its own unique barrier
properties.
Barrier Film Construction
All gas barrier films are made of multiple layers. The outer layer is a
strong plastic with a high melting point, often made of polyester or
polypropylene. The inner-middle layer is the gas barrier material. The
bottom layer is a low-density polyethylene, which softens at relatively
low temperatures. Additional inner layers are used to increase the
barrier properties of the film, and adhesives may be used to cement the
layers.
Commercially significant materials used for making barrier films are
aluminum foils, glass-coated films, nylon resin,
metallized film, cyclic
olefin copolymer resin and films, polychlorotrifluoroethylene resins and
films, polytetrafluoroethylene, diverse polyolefins, and
precipitation-cast polyurethanes.
The number of layers, the selection of polymers, the layer
configuration and the thickness of individual layers depend on the
intended film use.
Barrier Films Applications
Barrier films are used for applications in protective clothing and
packaging. These are also used as barrier against spills, as needed in
carpet underlayments or baby seats. They offer excellent resistance to a
wide variety of chemicals for chemical resistant clothing.
They are well suited in food packaging where moisture, oxygen and odor
barrier is essential. It is ideal for applications such as cheese
packaging, sausage chubs, and capliners. Some common examples for
barrier films are found in grocery store. Bags used for packaging potato
chips and meat products are gas barrier bags. They can also be laminated
to other films and substrates for additional barrier functionality.
These films provide moisture protection in health care and
pharmaceutical blister packaging and other industrial applications. They
are also valued in exotic military, aerospace, aircraft, and electronic
applications. Barrier films are used to make different packaging
products like
- Packaging bags
- Aluminum foil
- Aluminum sheet
- Packaging pouch
- Packaging rolls
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