Innovative Light Barrier Solutions for Protecting Food from UV and Visible Light

A food packaging film that extends the shelf life of acidic products like wine and juice by releasing carbon dioxide into the headspace when in contact with the acid. The film has a composite inner layer made of polyethylene (PE) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that absorbs carbon dioxide from the acidic product. The CO2 is then slowly released into the headspace to displace oxygen and prevent oxidation. The passive barrier layer is based on nanoclay to further protect against oxygen and light.

Oxygen absorbing packaging material with improved light blocking and odor suppressing properties while maintaining oxygen absorption. The oxygen absorbing material contains a specific ratio of iron powder, titanium oxide, calcium oxide, and polyolefin resin. This composition allows the oxygen absorbing properties of iron powder to be combined with improved light blocking and odor suppression from the other components. The oxygen absorbing material can be used as a film or layer in packaging applications like food containers or cover materials to provide extended shelf life.

Protective starch-based film with long-term bacteriostasis and ultraviolet shielding properties for food packaging. The film is made by self-assembly of metallic polyphenol coated zinc oxide nanoparticles and self-polymerization of a melanin-like precursor with starch. The metallic polyphenol nanoparticles provide antibacterial activity, ultraviolet shielding, and mechanical strength. The melanin-like precursor crosslinks the starch and nanoparticles into a network. The film has high ultraviolet shielding, bacteriostasis, and transparency compared to conventional packaging materials.

Composite polyvinyl alcohol preservative film with low luminous transmittance for light-proof packaging of fruits and vegetables to prevent spoilage and discoloration. The film contains modified silicon dioxide nanoparticles dispersed in a polyvinyl alcohol solution. The modified silicon dioxide nanoparticles have a particle size range of 200-1000 nm. This composite film provides better light-blocking properties compared to pure polyvinyl alcohol film due to the nanoparticles scattering light. The nanoparticles also improve film compactness. The modified silicon dioxide is made by reacting silicon dioxide with a silane compound in toluene, then acid treating. The composite film is prepared by dissolving polyvinyl alcohol in acid, adding the nanoparticles, antimicrobial, and stirring before defoaming

Active and intelligent food packaging made by grafting curcumin onto polypropylene using reactive extrusion. The curcumin is covalently bound to the polymer backbone to prevent migration. The curcumin in the packaging material provides antioxidant and radical scavenging properties to prevent food spoilage. The packaging also changes color in the presence of ammonia, indicating spoilage. The curcumin-grafted polypropylene has improved UV barrier properties compared to native polypropylene. The reactive extrusion method allows scalable production of the active and intelligent packaging.

Edible coatings for protecting foods like fruits, vegetables, and processed foods from moisture loss, UV damage, and nutrient leaching. The coatings are made from nanocellulose and nano calcium carbonate. The coatings are edible, transparent, and provide barrier properties against water, gases, and UV light. They prevent moisture loss, prevent UV damage, and prevent nutrient leaching in fruits and vegetables. The coatings can be applied before or after harvest to mitigate post-harvest damage. The coatings can also be used to protect frozen foods from drip loss during thawing.

Containers, like PET bottles, that protect the contents from light degradation while maintaining a white appearance. The containers have a base, side wall, and neck. The side wall contains a polyester like PET and a secondary polymer YY like cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) or polymethylpentene (PMP). This combination provides high opacity and whiteness throughout the side wall. The neck section also has the same polymer blend to match the side wall whiteness. This prevents a visible contrast between the neck and side wall that would be aesthetically unacceptable.

Packaging containers like PET bottles that are white and opaque to block light from degrading the contents. The containers have a base, side wall, and neck. The side wall has a lightness (L*) of at least 90 and the neck has a lightness of at least 84. This prevents a noticeable difference in color between the neck and side wall. The opaqueness is achieved by using materials like cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) or polymethylpentene (PMP) in the container body along with polyester. The COC or PMP is mixed with a light shielding pigment during preform production to ensure consistent whiteness throughout the bottle.

Packaging material that blocks light and extends shelf life of light-sensitive products. The packaging composite material has a layer made of polarizing films that provides broad-spectrum light blocking. The polarizing films can be joined together to form the polarizing layer. Surface layers can be attached to the outer sides of the polarizing layer. The composite material can be used as packaging or labels for light-sensitive products like food, medicine, or building materials. The thickness of the polarizing layer is 20 nm-10 mm, with each polarizing film 10 nm-1 mm thick. This composite material provides a simple, wide-spectrum light blocking effect for packaging and labels to extend shelf life of light-sensitive products.

Recycling a container comprising an external surface that faces the external surface of the container. The recycling includes depositing an indicia layer on a heat shrinkable film; optionally depositing a high opacity layer on the indicia layer; and depositing a light blocking composition on the indicia layer, on the heat shrinkable film, or on the high opacity layer, wherein the light blocking layer includes one or more light blocking components, and wherein the label is capable of blocking at least 80% of incident light having wavelengths in a range of 200 nm to 900 nm.

Light barrier compositions for packaging materials that provide better light protection for sensitive products like milk without sacrificing visual appearance. The compositions contain a blend of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with other polymers like polypropylene (PP), polylactic acid (PLA), and polymers with heteroatoms like nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and halogen. The blends have low light transmission in the UV and visible range below 1.5%. The compositions can be used in container walls or preforms to protect packaged products from light degradation without compromising visual appeal.

A recyclable high barrier cellulosic structure for forming cellulosic containers that can resist oxygen, moisture, and light penetration. The structure includes a cellulosic board substrate, a metal oxide layer on the substrate, and a tie layer between them. The cellulosic board substrate has low average and maximum transmittance in the UV-visible light spectrum. The metal oxide layer provides additional barrier properties. The tie layer connects the substrate and metal oxide layer. The structure can be used to form containers like paper-based food packaging.

Bacterial nanocellulose transparent film with barrier properties for packaging applications. The film is made by electron beam irradiating and mechanically treating wet bacterial cellulose to form nanocellulose fibers with carboxyl groups. The fibers are then filtered and dried into a multilayer structure. Alkali treatment and bleaching further improve properties. The film provides oxygen, moisture, and UV barriers.

UV-protective sleeve for mason jars and other containers to prevent light-sensitive products from being degraded by UV rays when stored in bright areas. The sleeve has a laminated construction with an outer neoprene layer for insulation, a middle Mylar layer to block UV light, and an inner rubber layer for jar grip. The sleeve covers the jar sidewalls and has a pocket for labels. It provides UV protection, insulation, and jar retention without obstructing access.

A composite beer container that prevents sunlight odor in beer by using a colored outer shrinkable member. The composite container is made by blow molding a colorless and transparent preform and a colored outer shrinkable member together. The colored member shrinks when heated, securing the preform inside. This prevents light from entering the container and degrading the beer. The inner preform is still transparent to see the beer. The colored outer member blocks sunlight.

Packaging material with improved barrier resistance to gases, liquids, and UV light using graphene-reinforced polymers. The packaging material is made by exfoliating graphite particles in a molten polymer using shear forces. This converts the graphite into graphene nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer matrix. The graphene-polymer composite has significantly enhanced barrier properties compared to unreinforced polymers. The graphene nanoparticles provide tortuous paths for permeants, strong bonding with the polymer, and reduced gaps between particles. This improves barrier resistance to gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and liquids like water.

Light barrier compositions for packaging materials that block UV and visible light to protect packaged foods from degradation. The compositions contain polyethylene terephthalate (PET) along with selected other polymers like polypropylene (PP), polylactic acid (PLA), or polymers with heteroatoms like nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or halogen. The specific polymer blends have low transmittance in the 400-700 nm range to block UV and visible light. The compositions can be used in containers, preforms, and walls to provide light barrier properties without sacrificing visual appeal.

Opacified polymeric compositions for packaging applications that provide high opacity with low levels of opacifying additives and at low thicknesses. The compositions include a first polymer, a second polymer with lower refractive index, and a combination of light scattering, light absorbing, and light reflecting additives. The additives in combination with the polymers provide synergistic high opacity. The second polymer encapsulates the additives and further increases light refraction. This allows using lower levels of opacifying additives and thinner compositions compared to using just the opacifying additives. The encapsulated additives also prevent the composite from separating during recycling.

Method for quantifying the photoprotective performance of complete packaged products like foods and beverages by exposing them to controlled light conditions. The method involves placing filled packages inside a specialized light exposure chamber that can maintain consistent temperature and humidity. The packages are monitored as they are exposed to defined light doses to determine how well the contents retain quality and stability under accelerated light aging. This allows quantifying the photoprotective performance of the entire packaged system, including the container and label, versus just the product. The chambers also have instruments to monitor light intensity, temperature, and humidity during the exposures.

Preforms and containers for packaging consumables like milk that block light to prevent degradation. The containers and preforms contain a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) along with a polyester like PET. The COC provides high light blockage while the polyester forms the bulk of the container. The COC prevents light transmission by scattering it internally. The COC also improves clarity compared to adding dark pigments to the polyester. The containers have an opaque white appearance without compromising recyclability.