Multi-layered packaging are multilayer or composite materials using innovative technologies aimed to give barrier properties, strength and storage stability to food items, new materials as well as hazardous materials. Multiple layers are formed by

coextrusion Plastics extrusion is a high-volume manufacturing process in which raw plastic is melted and formed into a continuous profile. Extrusion produces items such as pipe/tubing, weatherstripping, fencing, deck railings, window frames, plastic films ...

lamination Lamination is the technique/process of manufacturing a material in multiple layers, so that the composite material achieves improved strength, stability, sound insulation, appearance, or other properties from the use of the differing materials ...

, or various

coating A coating is a covering that is applied to the surface of an object, usually referred to as the substrate. The purpose of applying the coating may be decorative, functional, or both. Coatings may be applied as liquids, gases or solids e.g. Powde ...

technologies. The material of construction of multilayered packaging ranges from paper to plastics to metals. Most multilayered packages are not readily recyclable. Basf company and Uflex recently developed multilayered

food packaging Food packaging is a packaging system specifically designed for food and represents one of the most important aspects among the processes involved in the food industry, as it provides protection from chemical, biological and physical alteration ...

from 100% recyclable materials. History of multilayered packaging dates back to the late 1950s when

Procter & Gamble The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. It specializes in a wide range of personal health/consumer he ...

first designed multilayered collapsible tubes for toothpastes.

Amine In chemistry, amines (, ) are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia (), wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent su ...

group containing products deforms

HDPE High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is a thermoplastic polymer produced from the monomer ethylene. It is sometimes called "alkathene" or "polythene" when used for HDPE pipes. With a high strength-to-density ratio, ...

on storage, and are incapable of arresting amine odours. Multilayered CO-EX bottles are the best packaging solution for such products.

Types

Multiwall paper sacks

These are made of multiple layers of extensible kraft paper of differing grammages. These are gaining popularity in the cement industry, drug and fertilizer industry where the inner or outer layer of the sacks are made of polyethylene to protect the product from moisture.

Laminated-cartons and plastic bottles

These find use in paint industry, tetra packs containing milk, fruit juice, syrups and pharmaceutical industry. The typical combinations are as follows: *Paper/foil/

LDPE Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene. It was the first grade of polyethylene, produced in 1933 by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) using a high pressure process via free radical polymerization. Its ...

*Aluminium foil/paper/

* PE/aluminium foil/paper *

PET A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive appearances, intelligence ...

/aluminium foil/

Apart from these

nylon Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides ( repeating units linked by amide links).The polyamides may be aliphatic or semi-aromatic. Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic, generally made from pet ...

EVOH Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) is a formal copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol. Because the latter monomer mainly exists as its tautomer acetaldehyde, the copolymer is prepared by polymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate to give the ethyl ...

, EAA, PA, EVA,

SiO2 Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula , most commonly found in nature as quartz and in various living organisms. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one ...

plasma coatings are also used in laminates to give various functional properties. The layer combinations are selected by the engineer depending on the product characteristic, shelf life and extent of vapour transmission rate. Precooked food are packed in PS/

/PE bags with PVE/PDVC/PE closures.

Coextrusion

Coextrusion is the

plastic extrusion Plastics extrusion is a high-volume manufacturing process in which raw plastic is melted and formed into a continuous profile. Extrusion produces items such as pipe/tubing, weatherstripping, fencing, deck railings, window frames, plastic fi ...

of multiple layers of material simultaneously. Such products are popularly known as CO-EX.

References

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