title: Ethylene vinyl alcohol: a review of barrier properties for packaging shelf stable foods.
abstract: Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) is one of the best known flexible thermoplastic oxygen barrier materials in use today. It is especially important for refrigerated and shelf-stable foods where oxygen deteriorates the quality of packaged products and reduces their shelf life. EVOH accounts for a majority of thermoplastic barrier materials used for rigid or semi-rigid retortable food containers. However. it is of limited use in flexible packages or lid films for rigid trays used for packaging thermally processed shelf-stable low acid foods due to its moisture sensitivity. Nevertheless, current use of other oxygen barrier materials such as polyvinylidene chloride and aluminum foil creates environmental concerns. Innovations in food processing technologies provide opportunities for increased use of EVOH in food packaging. The aim of this review is to give an overview of research on the oxygen barrier properties of EVOH from the perspective of structure-barrier property relationships and the consequences of food processing conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6120, USA.
authors.forename: K Khanah
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mokwena
authors.forename: Juming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D018857:Food Packaging; D061353:Food Storage; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability; D044367:Phase Transition; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011786:Quality Control; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011145:Polyvinyls; D014867:Water; C020320:ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer; D010100:Oxygen