Aluminized film is one kind of high barrier packaging material, which is widely used in flexible plastic packaging industry. Aluminized film is plastic film coated with a thin layer of aluminum oxide. The common aluminized films include VMPET, VMCPP and VMBOPP, etc. Those aluminized films can be used as packaging material independently or laminated with other films to form aluminum laminated films.

The aluminum oxide coated on the surface of the plastic film is the key factor that determines the barrier property of the aluminized film, which is important to the quality assurance of the products paced with such packaging materials. Meanwhile the cost of aluminized film is low and that’s another reason why such packaging materials are more and more widely used in packages for coffee, milk powder, finger chips, tea, candy and pharmaceuticals, etc.

Generally, the barrier property of aluminized film is related to internal structure and thickness of the layer of aluminum oxide. As well, the manufacturing craft is another factor that may influence the barrier property of aluminized film. Sometimes, the barrier property of aluminized film may be compromised owing to the destruction of the internal structure of aluminum oxide layer.

This article provides a simplified test method of oxygen barrier property of aluminized film for your reference. The testing instrument is Labthink’s C130H Gas Permeability Tester, which adopts differential pressure method.

With differential pressure method, the sample is mounted in a gas transmission cell so as to form a sealed semi-barrier between two chambers. One chamber contains the test gas at a specific high pressure, and the other chamber, at a lower pressure, receives the oxygen. The oxygen will be detected by either a manometric sensor or a volumetric sensor.

Figure 1. Aluminized Films

Figure 2. C130H Gas Permeability Tester

The tests can be performed according to the following procedures.

(1)   Cut three pieces of specimens with sample cutter. The diameter of the specimen should be Φ97 mm.

(2)   Clamp the three specimens into the test cells of the instrument.

(3)   Set specimen name, specimen thickness, test temperature, test humidity and other test parameters.

(4)   Switch on the vacuum pump.

(5)   Click Start Test to start the tests. The test results will be calculated and displayed automatically.

By testing the oxygen barrier property, the manufacturer can select proper packaging materials to ensure the quality of their products within shelf life.

For more details about C130H Gas Permeability Tester, please visit www.labthink.com

About Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd:

Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd is one leading supplier of packaging testing instruments, which is headquartered in Jinan, China and operated in Boston, U.S.A.