Packaging Print Methods

Flexography
- Stamps
- Rubber plate with a raised image
- Low quality printing used for packaging
Rotogravure (photogravure)
- Metal plate engraved with image (recessed)
- Used for high quality printing
Offset Lithography
- Based on polarity of inks and plate
- Non-polar inks are repelled from polar
- Best for rough surfaces like cardboard
Ink-Jet Printing Commonly used for best before dates
Low quality
Glass containers:
Advantages: good marketing gimic, impermeable to gases and moisture and
does not migrate into food products, rigid good verticle strength, stacking
without damage, resealable recyclable and reusable
DA: Heavy, brittle, impact sensitive, can be made thicker if coated with
plastic
Metal cans
Tin Plate Steel:
-

Tin electrolytically plated onto steel (iron alloy)

Thicker on inside than
Tin expensive and in short supply

Tin free steel (chromium oxide)

- More economically viable and paintable
Chromium oxide
- Has layers of enamel both inside and outside
- More paintability and tin plate
- Common products soup, canned salmon
Aluminum cans
Alloy of Aluminum- Manganese-Magnesium
Lacquered on inside to protect metal from salt or acid

Lighter than steel cans

Beer, pop, drinks.
Metal can linings
Epoxy Acid and heat resistant
- Used for canned meats, fish, fruit, or pasta and vegetables
Vinyl Resistant to acids and alkalis but not high temperatures
Not used in sterilization
Acrylic White lining for fruits or vegetables
Oleoresin R Low cost, general purpose, gold coloured coating, when
combined with zinc oxide can be used for sulphur coating foods to prevent
oxidation
3 piece can starts with flat lacquered tin plate steel before cans are formed
Cylinder then formed (results in side seam)
Processor end on the top
Manufacturers End on the bottom
Other end is double seemed after filling
Advantages size versatility, maximum end strength (more metal layers),
forming equipment cheap
2 Piece Can
No side seam and only one end seam
Small can size only
Expensive capital costs
Thinner walls used for carbonated beverages
Thicker walls for sterilization
Metal Aerosol Cans Ready Whip dessert topping
Pam non-stick spray
Contents 60% product and 40% propellant
Can be separate pr combined with the product
Eg. Pam
Liquified propellant need headspace
Equilibrium between gas and liquid phase
Compressed gas:
Gas stays at the top and food at the bottom
As headspace gets bigger, the pressure can get lower

PolyLactic Acid (PLA)

Sunchips compostable paper
Lactide formed can be polymerized into the packing material
PLA requires higher than room temperature glass rubber state
Plastic:
Cellophane from cellulose fibre
Some derived from petroleum and natural gas synthetic high molecular
weight carbon polymers
Based on one or more monomers
Ethylene
Derived from petroleum
Ethylene are put together Polyethelene
Length of chain determine plastic properties
Thermoplastic Thread lie chain molecules that tangle together
Non covalent bonds
Soft and flow when heated
Elastomers
Covalent cross links between polymers can lead to elastics
Rubers (dont mely)
Thermosets Polymers can be linked by primary valence covalent crosslinks
Plastics set when formed and are thermally stable
Mouldable can take a variety of forms (films, bottles, jars, trays)
Chemically inert
Cost effective and lightweight
Chemically inert
Plastics Food Packaging Selection
Strength, Flexibility, Transparency
Permeability of a plastic to liquids and gases
Potential for chemical compounds present in plastics to migrate into the
specific food/ potential toxicity
PET Polyethelene trephhthalate
Heat resistant
Steam sterilized
Microwavable food
Excellent CO2 O2 barrier

HDPE 20% more expensive than LDPE

Harder, more brittle
Good moisture and CO2 barrier
Jar heavier retail bags
LDPE
High degree of branching
Cheaper
Spft
mid heat resistant
Controllable moisture barrier
Clarity
Heat stability
Strength
Polypropylene (PP)
Stronger than polyethelene
Aunt Jemima, Boxes
Cellphone
PVC 50% chlorine by weight
Commonly used by moulds/ food compartment trays
EVA- cold applications
Bags for ice cibes, frozen vegetables
More expensive than LDPE
PVDC- saran wrap
Excellent O2 and CO2 barrier
Heatsealable
High cost
Nylon condensation polymerization of an organic acid and an amine
Clear fi