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Numerical simulation of permeation through vacuum‐coated laminate films
Author(s) -
Mueller K.,
Weisser H.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
packaging technology and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.365
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1099-1522
pISSN - 0894-3214
DOI - 10.1002/pts.563
Subject(s) - materials science , permeation , coating , foil method , aluminium , composite material , dimensionless quantity , context (archaeology) , diffusion , mechanics , thermodynamics , paleontology , genetics , physics , membrane , biology
The material usage in the packaging market of Germany has decreased over the last few years. This trend results from the substitution of heavy packages with light‐weight, flexible materials. In this context, aluminium foil‐based multilayer films have been partly replaced by metallized laminates in food packaging technology. Other coating materials, such as Al 2 O 3 or SiO x , are used where transparent films are desired. The disadvantage of these vacuum‐coated layers is the existence of pinholes which allow diffusion processes, in contrast to aluminium foil‐based multilayer films. In this study the barrier behaviour of vacuum coated laminate films was predicted by numerical simulation. The results are presented in terms of dimensionless parameters so that they may be transferred to analogous problems. This model provides a method to calculate the oxygen permeation through coated laminates. However, it is invalid for condensable gases such as water vapour. The simulation is suited for characterizing the influence of the compound structure on the barrier properties of vacuum coated laminate films. The results are verified by comparing the calculated with measured values. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.