Flaky Pigment PVA Coating for Crispy Bread Packaging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current packaging materials for foodstuffs, such as bread, either preserve freshness by using plastic coatings that soften the crust or keep it crispy with paper that dries out quickly, lacking a balance between maintaining crust crispness and extending shelf life.

Innovation Solution

A packaging material comprising base paper coated with a flaky pigment and polyvinyl alcohol, which achieves appropriate water and air permeability, allowing for a crispy crust while extending the product's freshness and enabling environmentally friendly recycling or composting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If plastic coating is used to prevent drying, then shelf life is extended, but crust crispness deteriorates due to softening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf lifeVSAvoidcrust softening
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a composite coating material consisting of biodegradable polymer and flaky pigment particles. The flaky structure creates a porous network that allows controlled water vapor transmission, preventing both excessive drying and condensation-induced softening. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by enabling shelf life extension while maintaining crust crispness through selective permeability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The flaky pigment particles create a porous coating structure that controls water vapor transmission. The porous nature allows breathability preventing crust softening while still providing protection against excessive drying, thus extending shelf life without compromising crust quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If paper material is used to maintain crust crispness, then crust quality is preserved, but shelf life is reduced due to excessive drying

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrust crispnessVSAvoidshelf life
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The biodegradable polymer combined with flaky pigment creates a composite that provides the breathability of paper while adding protective properties. The polymer matrix holds the flaky particles in a structured arrangement that controls moisture exchange, maintaining crust crispness while reducing excessive water loss to extend shelf life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the physical parameters of the coating through flaky particle incorporation, the material achieves optimal water vapor transmission rate. This parameter optimization allows the packaging to maintain crust crispness while controlling drying rate to extend shelf life beyond traditional paper packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If plastic packaging is used to extend shelf life, then product availability increases, but environmental friendliness deteriorates due to non-biodegradability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf lifeVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters from conventional plastics to biodegradable polymers while maintaining functional performance. The flaky pigment coating provides the necessary barrier properties for shelf life extension, and the biodegradable nature of the polymer matrix ensures environmental friendliness, resolving the contradiction between extended availability and environmental impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The material maintains the crust of fresh bread crispy for a longer period while keeping the product saleable for several days, outperforming traditional plastic and paper packaging in terms of water vapor and air permeability, and can be recycled or composted.

Implementation Method 1

a coating on at least one side of the base paper, the coating comprising a flaky coating pigment and polyvinyl alcohol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

The material according to the invention can be manufactured in such a way that appropriate water permeability, water vapour permeability as well as air permeability are achieved

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater vapour transmission:

Data Source

PatentEP3482930B1A material for packaging of foodstuff, and a package for foodstuff
Publication Date: 2021.03.24 UPM SPECIALTY PAPERS OY
  • EP3482930B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3482930B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a material (2) for packaging foodstuff, the material comprising paper. Said paper is base paper (4) which has been coated on at least one side with a coating (3) comprising one or more flaky coating pigments and polyvinyl alcohol, wherein the total dry weight of said flaky coating pigment and polyvinyl alcohol comprises 20 to 60 wt% of polyvinyl alcohol, and the total dry weight of said flaky coating pigment and polyvinyl alcohol constitutes at least 70 wt% of said coating (3). Furthermore, the invention relates to a food package (1) comprising said material (2).