Barrier Properties and Mechanical Properties of Multilayer Plastic Composite Films for Food Packaging

CHENG Yuying; YE Huaxiong; SU Hongfei; LIN Qinbao; ZHU Yu; YANG Qinghua; HUANG Zhendi

doi:10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.17.011

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Packaging Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (17) : 104-110. DOI: 10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.17.011

Advanced Materials

Barrier Properties and Mechanical Properties of Multilayer Plastic Composite Films for Food Packaging

CHENG Yuying¹, YE Huaxiong^2,3, SU Hongfei¹, LIN Qinbao^2,*, ZHU Yu², YANG Qinghua⁴, HUANG Zhendi¹

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Abstract

Single-material packaging is an important direction for the sustainable development of food packaging. The work aims to comparatively investigate the differences in gas barrier properties, water vapor barrier properties, and mechanical properties between a single-material polyethylene (PE) film and several other plastic composite films (PP/PE, PA/PE, and aluminized films). The oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) were measured using the differential pressure method and the cup method, respectively, and the differences between the front and back sides were analyzed. Tensile tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties and anisotropy. The double-layer PE film exhibited the weakest oxygen barrier property (OTR approx. 1 764-1 933 cm³/(m²·24 h·0.1 MPa)), moderate water vapor barrier, and significant mechanical anisotropy (tensile strength 75.91 MPa in MD and 40.68 MPa in TD). The PP/PE film showed moderate barrier properties (OTR approx. 900 cm³/(m²·24 h·0.1 MPa)) and reverse anisotropy (higher TD strength). The PA/PE film had a good oxygen barrier property (approx. 29-52 cm³/(m²·24 h·0.1 MPa)) but a poor water vapor barrier property, and exhibited the most balanced mechanical properties. The aluminized film showed the best oxygen barrier property (approx. 1 cm³/(m²·24 h·0.1 MPa)), but its water vapor barrier property was directionally sensitive (front 1.08, back 4.29 g/(m²·24 h)), and it presented a risk of delamination during machine-direction tensile testing (6 out of 10 specimens, 60% occurrence). Although the double-layer PE film has insufficient oxygen barrier properties, it has good recyclability potential within existing polyolefin recycling streams and is suitable for oxygen-insensitive or short-shelf-life foods. The PP/PE film combines moderate recyclability with moderate barrier properties and is suitable for scenarios requiring medium oxygen barrier properties. The PA/PE and aluminized films are suitable for high oxygen barrier requirements. This study systematically compares the performance differences between recyclable films and conventional high-barrier films, providing an experimental basis for material selection in sustainable food packaging.

Key words

plastic composite film / barrier properties / mechanical properties / oxygen transmission rate / water vapor transmission rate

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CHENG Yuying, YE Huaxiong, SU Hongfei, LIN Qinbao, ZHU Yu, YANG Qinghua, HUANG Zhendi. Barrier Properties and Mechanical Properties of Multilayer Plastic Composite Films for Food Packaging[J]. Packaging Engineering. 2026, 47(17): 104-110 https://doi.org/10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.17.011

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