Oxygen Permeable Multilayer Packaging for Fresh Meat
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging methods for perishable goods, such as meat, fish, and produce, face challenges in maintaining a breathable atmosphere while preventing spoilage and microbial contamination, particularly for products like fresh fish that require oxygen permeability to inhibit anaerobic bacterial growth, and existing materials lack sufficient oxygen and CO2 permeability.
Innovation Solution
A semi-rigid or rigid multilayer structure comprising an oxygen-permeable layer made from E/X/Y copolymers, organic acids, and ethylene-containing polymers, which allows for controlled gas permeability and structural strength, providing a barrier against moisture and microorganisms while allowing oxygen and CO2 to permeate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a moisture-impermeable surface is used to prevent degradation by moisture, then moisture protection is improved, but oxygen permeability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging structure is divided into distinct functional layers: a moisture barrier layer (impermeable to moisture) and an oxygen permeable layer (permeable to oxygen and CO2). This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between moisture protection and oxygen permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material construction with multiple layers having different permeability characteristics. The moisture-impermeable layer provides moisture protection while the oxygen-permeable layer allows gas exchange, creating a composite structure that simultaneously achieves both requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional plastic packaging materials are used to provide barrier properties, then protection from contamination is improved, but gas permeability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is segmented into a contamination barrier layer (conventional plastic providing protection from microorganisms and contaminants) and a gas permeable layer (allowing oxygen and CO2 exchange). This functional segmentation enables simultaneous achievement of contamination protection and gas permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
Composite packaging structure combining conventional plastic materials for contamination barrier properties with specialized oxygen-permeable materials for gas exchange, achieving both protection and breathability functions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum skin packaging is used to exclude atmospheric air, then protection from oxidation is improved, but oxygen availability for aerobic products deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of excluding oxygen as in traditional vacuum packaging, the invention inverts the approach by actively allowing oxygen permeation through the packaging layers. The structure is designed to maintain oxygen availability while still providing protection from harmful oxidation through controlled atmosphere management.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging design changes the oxygen permeability parameter from near-zero (vacuum packaging) to controlled positive values, allowing oxygen to reach aerobic products while maintaining protection from harmful factors through the multilayer structure.
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 multilayer structure effectively extends the shelf life of perishable goods by inhibiting anaerobic bacterial growth and maintaining product quality by ensuring adequate oxygen and CO2 permeability, addressing the limitations of traditional packaging materials in terms of breathability and microbial protection.
Implementation Method 1
the oxygen permeable layer comprises or is produced from a composition that comprises or consists essentially of or is produced from one or more E/X/Y copolymers, one or more organic acids, and optionally one or more ethylene-containing polymers, one or more silicon-containing polymers
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are rigid or semi-rigid multilayer structures that provide high oxygen permeability values comprising metallocene polyethylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers or highly neutralized blends of ethylene acid copolymers, organic acid salts and optionally one or more ethylene-containing polymers or silicon-containing polymers. Such structures have improved oxygen permeability and are useful in packaging food products such as case ready meat, fish, sausage, fresh produce, and the like that require breathable packages.