Method and Instrument Assessing Barrier Properties of Starch-Based Biodegradable

Biodegradable plastics are gaining traction due to environmental concerns. To ensure their suitability for packaging food, pharmaceuticals, and everyday items, testing their barrier properties is crucial. These properties determine a material's ability to prevent gas or water vapor from passing through, affecting product quality and shelf life.

To evaluate the barrier properties of a full-starch biodegradable film, two standard tests can be employed:

Gas Transmission Rate (GTR): The test involves exposing the film to oxygen and measuring the amount of gas passing through over time.

Labthink C106H Gas Permeability Test System is based on the differential pressure method, and is professionally applicable to the determination of gas transmission rate, solubility coefficient, diffusion coefficient and permeability coefficient of plastic films, composite films, high barrier materials, sheets, and metal foils at different temperatures. The test system conforms to GB, ISO, ASTM and other international standards.

Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR): The test involves placing a water-filled cup covered with the film in a controlled environment and measuring the weight loss due to water vapor escaping.

 

Labthink C306H Water Vapor Transmission Rate Test System is designed and manufactured based on infrared sensor method and conforms to the requirements of ASTM F1249 and ISO 15106-2. This instrument can be used to measure the water vapor transmission rate of barrier materials with high and medium moisture barrier properties with a wide testing range and high testing efficiency. C306H is applicable to determination of water vapor permeability of plastic films, sheeting, paper, packages and other relative packaging materials in food, pharmaceutical, medical apparatus, consumer goods, photovoltaic and electronic industries, etc.

The full-starch biodegradable film exhibited excellent resistance to oxygen but poor water vapor barrier properties. This suggests its potential for packaging dry products but limitations for products requiring moisture protection.

To enhance the film's overall performance, researchers propose modifications such as incorporating thermoplastic starch or nano-reinforced montmorillonite. These additions can improve barrier properties, moisture resistance, and mechanical strength while maintaining biodegradability.

Overall, testing biodegradable films is important for understanding their limitations and identify areas for improvement to expand their practical applications.


As the demand for functional packaging materials grows, testing methods are evolving to ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of packaging films. Labthink encourages collaboration with packaging industry companies for quality control! Visit the website www.labthink.com to learn more!