100B-9 |
Thermal packaging for shipping foods |
B. F. OZEN, D. Granizo, J. D. Firebaugh, and L. J. Mauer. Department of Food Science, Purdue University, 1160 Food Science Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1160 Boxes of perishable foods and pharmaceuticals are traditionally shipped using expanded polystyrene (EPS) containers and frozen gel packs. EPS is an effective thermal insulator; however, polystyrene use has disadvantages including environmental problems during production and disposal, large storage area needed, and fragility of containers. Reflectix, Inc. has developed a series of food shipping packages that address these disadvantages. The products are flexible, aluminum foil laminated bubble packs with multiple layers of foil and/or bubble pack. The aluminum foil layer reflects 97% of radiant heat, and the bubble pack resists conductive heat flow. Our objectives were to determine: 1) the thermal insulating characteristics of the bubble-foil package designs for conditions simulating those in food shipping, and 2) the most efficient material configuration to maximize thermal insulation. Corrugated boxes were lined with select configurations of Reflectix Inc. products and compared to traditional EPS shipping boxes. Frozen ice packs and common food products were placed in the boxes. Boxes were placed in controlled environmental chambers at 105ºF and 72ºF. Temperature changes within the boxes were recorded over 48-hours according to ASTM procedures. Times for internal temperatures to reach 45, 55, 65, and 75ºF were determined. Results showed that a single layer of foil with two layers of bubble pack, preformed in the shape of the box to eliminate temperature losses at seams, had comparable insulating capabilities to EPS. They both maintained temperatures below 65ºF for 20 hrs in the 105ºF chamber. Also, products with spacers between the corrugated box and Reflectix material had higher insulation properties than those without spacers. Results indicate that a Reflectix, Inc. package has insulting capabilities comparable to EPS with fewer disposal, space, and fragility concerns.
Session 100B, Food Packaging
|