Vapour (vapor) Permeability of edible films
 
InstrumentstestingSensorsGasses and vapoursConsultancy

 

About Versaperm

Versaperm manufactures gas permeability testing equipment, offers a comprehensive permeability testing service and a materials consultancy. These are used to measure gas permeability and leakage, important in medical and pharmaceutical packaging, foils and films, coatings, food and confectionery packaging and contents, and many other applications.

Instruments

Versaperm designs and manufactures instruments to meet each customer’s needs. Instruments are typically be based on a modular MkVI design.

Testing Service


Our laboratory testing service has over 30 years experience to enable us to choose the best technique to measure your sample's permeability both quickly and accurately.

 

Sensors

Our diverse and growing range of sensors are based on fundamentally different and divergent physical principals. The choice of the right sensor for an application is critical in the successful deployment of the equipment. We are not tied to a sensor manufacturer.

Gases / Vapours

At Versaperm we can measure the permeability for almost any gas / vapour including water vapour, Oxygen, CO2 Hydrogen, Helium, Nitrogen and Hydrocarbons.

Applications

Consultancy

Our Consultancy division combines our theoretical and practical Permeability skills in instrument design and manufacture. Permeability Consultancy

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Vapour permeability of edible films

 

Edible films and teh measurement of vapour permeability

The Versaperm meter can be used to measure the permeability of the edible films products as well as for the packaging used for the finished product.

The permeability of edible films

Food makers and pharmaceutical companies can improve the shelf life and boost the quality of their products by controlling how the moisture and oxygen flow within their products.  However, there are major differences between the permeabilities of the many available bio-based edible films, coatings and options that allow them to do this.  Making the right choice is crucial, but not easy, as it also varies critically with the way the food is prepared.

Fortunately, Versaperm has developed a way that to measure the critical property reliably and accurately, using its latest range of permeability measurement equipment.  Additionally, as permeability varies with the absorption and temperature of both the food and the coating, the equipment has an in-built oven which can mirror the cooking process.

Very basic overview of edible films:

Polysaccharides including cellulose, chitosan and starch and, proteins such a zein and collagen, and lipids such as triglycerides and fatty acids, can all be used as edible film-forming materials.
Polysaccharide films are low cost but only provide a low moisture barrier.

Protein films have good plasticity, elasticity, and good oxygen barrier properties but only offer poor water vapour resistance. Lipid films have good moisture barrier properties but poor oxygen barrier and mechanical properties. 

 

For background on edible films click here or here

For equipment to measure permeability click here

For information on permeability testing click here

For background information on permeability click here

 vapor permeability of edible films



Vapour permeability is the measure of how strongly a material can resist the barrier passage of any gas (such as water vapour, Oxygen, CO2 or a hydrocarbon).  Vapour permeability dramatically affects the physical characteristics of most products and materials, from outdoor clothing to missiles and from pizza to industrial seals.

Vapor permeability table

 

 

Versaperm Limited
10 Rawcliffe House, Howarth Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1AP, UK, Tel: +44 1628 777668
e.mail: webcontact@versaperm.com
© Versaperm Limited 2010