Surface and Microstructural Failures of PET-Coated ECCS Plates by Salmon-Polymer Interaction
The new types of knowledge-intensive, multilayer containers consist of steel plates protected against corrosion by nanometric electrolytic chromium (Cr0) and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) layers chemically bonded to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer coating to preserve food. It was observed that after emptying the cans, the salmon adhered to the polymer coating, changing its color, and that this adhesion increased with longer storage times. This work was aimed at determining the product-container interactions and their characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), confocal Raman and micro-Raman imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The zones of adhesion showed surface changes, variations in crystallinity and microstructural degradation of the PET coating. In addition, localized damages altering the functional properties of the multilayer system were observed as microcracking in the chromium layers that protect the steel. The degradation undergone was evaluated and characterized at a surface and microstructural level to establish the failure mechanisms, which were mainly associated with the activity of the adhered muscle and its biochemical components. Finally, a recommendation is done to preserve the useful life and functionality of cans for the preservation and efficient use of resources with an impact on recycling and environmental conservancy.
Comparison of the quality and storage stability of salmon packaged in various retort pouches
Abstract The effect of thin metal oxide coated barrier materials on the quality of shelf stable salmon was investigated. Four different retort pouch structures were used: Cast polypropylene (CPP); polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/silicon oxide-coated nylon/CPP (SIOX); Aluminum oxide-coated PET/nylon/CPP (ALOX); PET/aluminum foil/CPP (FOIL). To determine the amount of lipid oxidation in the salmon, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) was measured. Salmon packaged in SIOX pouches had higher TBARS value, 43.53 mili-extinction/g, than salmon packaged in FOIL pouches, 37.06 mili-extinction/g, after 8 weeks of storage. A multiple comparisons test was used to evaluate the sensory characteristics of the salmon. Salmon packaged in SIOX pouches had less acceptability, 4.11, than salmon packaged in FOIL pouches, 5.44, after week 8. Conversely, salmon packaged in ALOX pouches had similar sensory and TBARS value with salmon packaged in FOIL pouches. The barrier properties of each pouch material were also investigated. Oxygen permeability (OP, g μm/m 2 day kPa) of SIOX increased from 0.88 to 10.55 after retort processing. SIOX had an OP of 10.94 at week 8 while ALOX and FOIL had 0.51 and 0.47 of OP, respectively. Overall, shelf stable salmon packaged in ALOX had a shelf life comparable to salmon packaged in a traditional FOIL pouch material, while salmon packaged in SIOX had a significantly lower shelf life then either ALOX or FOIL.
Comparison between Material Parameters of Polyethylene Grades and the Test Performance Behaviour of Packaging for the Transport of Dangerous Goods
For the characterization and the comparison of polyethylene grades used for the manufacture of packaging and intermediate bulk container, the following parameters are required: melt flow rate (MFR), density (D), low‐temperature notched impact strength, full notch creep test (FNCT) and increase of MFR by molecular degradation (resistance to oxidative degradation). The relationship between these material parameters determined on the basis of specimens prepared from compression‐moulded sheets of polyethylene grades and the test behaviour of packaging has been investigated in several tests. The environmental stress crack resistance determined by FNCT represents the impacts from the stacking tests performed with standard liquid wetting solution (without pre‐storage) and with normal butyl‐acetate‐saturated wetting solution (pre‐storage with normal butyl acetate). Resistance to molecular degradation by the determination of MFR increase is related to the impacts in drop tests and stacking tests performed after pre‐storage for 21 days with standard liquid 55% nitric acid at 40°C. The low‐temperature impact strength is directly comparable with the impacts in drop tests at −18°C performed without pre‐storage and after pre‐storage with 55% nitric acid. A partly good relationship was found between the test results and the material parameters. Conditioning the design types with 55% nitric acid for 21 days causes an increase in the marginal drop heights of the design types in drop tests at −18°C when compared with design types without pre‐storage. Post‐cross‐linking of the grades increases stiffness because of the acidic influence. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.