Laminated Indicator Device with Removable Barrier for Food Packaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indicator devices for detecting oxygen, water, and other atmospheric conditions in food packaging are unstable when exposed to organic solvents and water, leading to leaching issues, and are difficult to activate after printing, requiring specialized equipment and complex processes.
Innovation Solution
A laminated indicator device with a removable barrier layer that allows controlled exposure to chemical agents, changing the concentration of indicators over time and altering their visible properties, using redox-sensitive dyes and semiconductor materials activated by UV light or reducing agents, and incorporating a semi-permeable barrier for controlled gas access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If indicator devices use redox-sensitive dyes and semiconductor materials for detecting atmospheric conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but stability of the object's composition deteriorates due to leaching issues when exposed to organic solvents and water
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator composition is encapsulated within a porous particle structure, creating a nested configuration where the active indicator materials are contained within the porous matrix. This nesting prevents direct contact and leaching while maintaining detection functionality through the porous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A barrier layer is applied over the indicator composition to prevent leaching of redox-sensitive dyes and semiconductor materials. The barrier layer acts as a protective shell that maintains composition stability while allowing the indicator to function through controlled interaction with atmospheric conditions.
2Measurement precision
If indicator devices require UV light activation or reducing agents for activation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for specialized activation equipment and processes
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator composition is pre-formulated with redox-sensitive dyes, semiconductor materials, and electron donors in a stable encapsulated form that can be applied directly to packaging without requiring subsequent UV activation or reducing agent treatment. The activation capability is built into the composition itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator composition contains all necessary components (redox-sensitive dyes, semiconductor materials, electron donors) within the porous particle structure, enabling it to self-activate and function without requiring external UV light sources or reducing agent applications. The system is self-sufficient for activation.
3Reliability
If indicator devices are designed to detect oxygen and atmospheric conditions in food packaging, then reliability is improved, but loss of substance increases due to leaching of indicator materials
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator materials are nested within the porous particle structure, which confines them and prevents leaching into the food or packaging environment. The nesting maintains material retention while allowing atmospheric detection.
Solution Approach 2:
A barrier layer is applied over the indicator composition to prevent leaching of indicator materials. The barrier shell maintains substance retention while allowing the indicator to detect atmospheric conditions through controlled interaction.
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 solution provides a stable and accurate method for detecting atmospheric conditions, preventing unfit food consumption and waste by clearly indicating the time since packaging was opened or prepared, without the need for specialized activation equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The semiconductor material has the ability to form an excited electronic state that is sufficiently oxidising to oxidize the sacrificial electron donor and has a reduced form that is able to reduce the redox sensitive material
Implementation Method 2
The intimate contact of the various components of the indicator allows the redox sensitive material to undergo a redox reaction wherein there is a transfer of electrons from the photogenerated reduced form of the semiconductor material to the redox sensitive material
Implementation Method 3
the indicator material displaying different visible properties in response to the presence or absence of a chemical agent and/or the concentration thereof
Data Source
AI summary
There is described an indicator device for indicating the passage of time, the indicator device comprising an indicator section and a barrier section adjacent thereto, said indicator section comprising: an indicator material; a substrate material; and a first adhesive layer; the indicator material and the substrate material being in the form of one or more layers; the indicator material displaying different visible properties in response to the presence or absence of a chemical agent and/or the concentration thereof; the barrier section comprising a removable barrier layer, the removable barrier layer being substantially impermeable to the chemical agent; wherein on removal of the removable barrier layer, the concentration of the chemical agent in the indicator section changes over time, effecting a visible change. The device may be used to detect the presence/absence of oxygen, water, carbon dioxide, an amine, ammonia, and/or carboxylic acids or to indicate the passage of time.