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Assessment of Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Different Flexible

Packaging Films for Packaging of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) Pulp
Briquettes

Article · May 2017

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4180 in Biosciences 10(21), Print : ISSN 0974-8431,
Trends Trends4180-4183,
in Biosciences
201710 (21), 2017
Assessment of Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Different Flexible
Packaging Films for Packaging of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) Pulp
Briquettes
BHAGWAT KUMAR*, S. PATEL, N.K. MISHRA, R.K. NAIK
Department of Agricultural Processing and Food Engineering
SV College of Agricultural Engineering &Technology & Research Station,
Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, IGKV, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
*email : bhagwatdtc@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
In this paper results to analyzed the physical and
mechanical properties of different flexible packaging films
viz. LLDPE (Linear low density polyethylene), LDPE (Low
density polyethylene), MDPE (Medium density
polyethylene) and HDPE (High density polyethylene) for
packaging of tamarind pulp (phool Imli) briquettes are
presented. This includes the determination of thickness,
tear strength, grammage, bursting strength and water
vapour permeability (WVTR) test based on IS: 1060-1966
Part I, ASTM D 689-79 Part 20, IS: 1060-1966 Part I, IS:
1966-1975 Part I and IS: 1060-1960 Part II respectively.
Results about the physico-mechanical characteristics of
flexible packaging films are essential for selecting proper
packaging materials for packaging of tamarind pulp
(phool Imli) briquettes to obtain the desired shelf- life.
Key words Packaging, Pulp (phool Imli), Flexible,
Physico-mechanical and WVTR.
Flexible packaging films are suitable for holding
various food products depending on the moisture, gas,
grease and light barrier properties of the component films,
it is one of second largest packaging materials used in food
sector (Snow, 1974). The prime function of food packaging
are extended the shelf-life of packaged food materials by
preventing unfavorable changes caused by microbial
spoilage, chemical contaminants, physical factor viz.
temperature change, oxygen, moisture, light, external force
and maintaining the quality and safety of food products
from the production to the time of consumption (Shankar
and Rhim, 2016).
The packaging performs the above mention functions
by creating a proper physiochemical condition for products
and act as a barrier for gases, water vapour, light and
microorganisms not only to maintain the food quality and
safety but also the enhance the shelf-life of the packaged
food products. Beside basic properties like mechanical,
optical and thermal properties of packaging materials must
prevent microbial growth and contamination, hinder gains
or loss of moisture and act as a barrier against water vapour
permeability (Marsh and Bugusu, 2007; Lee, and Rahman,
2014; Shankar and Rhim, 2016).
Tamarind ( Tamarindus indica L.) is a valuable fruit
used for food, medicinal, cultural, social and income
generation purposes, thus its packaging is importance. A
tamarind briquette is a densification of pulp (phool Imli)
by several compaction actions. Kumar et al. (1976) reported
that physico-chemical properties of some flexible packaging
materials such as low and high density polyethylene, PVC,
polystyrene, different types of cellulose based materials
such as greaseproof paper, glassine, kraft, regenerated
cellulose films and aluminum foil laminates used in food
packaging. Zeman (2007) also studied the mechanical
properties food package likes tensile strength, tensile strain
and modulus of elasticity.
The aim of this study was to determine the physico-
mechnical properties such as thickness, tear strength,
grammage, bursting strength and water vapour permeability
are material characteristics which influence a package’s
ability to resist static and dynamic forces during storage
and distribution of products (Harte et al., 1990). Thus it is
important to characterize the physico-mechanical properties
of packaging material as a function of protecting the original
quality of tamarind pulp (phool Imli) briquettes and
distribution to end users.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Flexible Packaging Films
Four polyethylene films were used in this study,
LLDPE, LDPE, MDPE and HDPE.
Physico-mechanical Properties of different Flexible
Packaging Films
Ten films specimen of each packaging materials were
tested to evaluate their respective characteristics (Goyal
and Patil, 2003). They are as follows.
Thickness
Micrometer (Fig.1) was used for this test based on IS:
1060-1966 Part I. Placed the specimen sample (10 cm × 10
cm) between two points of the micrometer and note the
corresponding reading. Thickness can be expressed in
micron (µ) and converted it into gauge, 1gauge = 0.25µ.
Tear Strength
Tear strength was measured using Elmendorf tear
tester shown in Fig.2. Tear tests were based on ASTM, D
689-79 Part 20. The sample of 50 mm × 62 mm size was
clamped in the two grips. This indicates the residual energy
lost in tearing and expressed in mN (Millinewton).
Grammage
The instrument used for this test is known as
Substance tester (Fig.3) described in the IS: 1060-1966 Part
I. The samples were cut by selecting the suitable template.
For heavy polyethylene (weighing above 100 GSM)
template of the size 10 cm × 10 cm was taken and below 100
GSM the template of size 10 cm × 20 cm was used and
 KUMAR et al., Assessment of Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Different Flexible Packaging Films
Fig. 1. Micrometer Fig.2. Tear tester
template put into the holder section of the instrument
reading will be displayed on the screen of the machine.
Results were expressed in g/m2.
Bursting Strength (IS: 1966-1975 Part I)
Fig. 4. Bursting strength tester
Bursting strength tester make by UBIQE Enterprises,
Pune (Fig. 4) was used for this test. The sample was fixed
between clamps. The area exposed is 1.2 in2. The sample is
subjected to steadily increasing pressure hydraulically
exerted on a diaphragm beneath the sample until it ruptures.
The pressure required to rupture the sample was
automatically recorded by a pressure gauge.
Water vapour permeability (IS: 1060-1960 Part II)
The value of water vapour permeability was
determined by the increase in weight of a dish filled with
desiccant (anhydrous calcium chloride), covered with the
test specimen and sealed with molten wax. The sealed dish
was placed in a humidity cabinet maintained at 38±1°C and
R.H. 90±2 %.
G×24
WVTR = —————
A×T
The WVTR (water vapour transmission rate) was
computed by the following formula:
Where
G = Weight gained in g
T= Time during which gain in weight is observed
A= Area of the sample exposed in m2
4181
Fig. 3. Substance tester
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Statically processing of the results of physico-
mechanical properties of flexible films is indicated in Table
1.
Many physical and mechanical properties of flexible
materials are depends upon the thickness of the materials.
Properties like tensile strength and moisture barrier are
directly related to thickness (Goyal and Patil, 2003). The
thickness of different flexible packaging films were found
to be 75, 175, 250, and 520 gauge in linear low density
polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE),
medium density polyethylene (MDPE) and high density
polyethylene (HDPE), respectively. Tear strength is a
resistance of a films to tearing force that is subjected to
tear strength of films was found as in machine direction
(MD) 1176, 2353, 2941 and 3530 mN for LLDPE, LDPE, MDPE
and HDPE respectively.
Grammage is also known as basis weight or substance
and expressed in g/m2. By this, we can compare the films in
a unit area which is heavier and which is lighter. The average
grammage of LLDPE, LDPE, MDPE and HDPE was found
to be 14.2, 24, 48.4 and 113.4 g/m2 respectively. The bursting
strength of films is the resistance it offers to a steady pressure
applied at right a angle to its surface under certain defined
conditions. The burst strength is taken to be the pressure
at the moment of failure of the films and is essentially a
measure of the capacity of the film to absorb energy (Gupta,
2010) The value of bursting strength of flexible films were
0.5, 1.2, 2.0 and 4.5 kg/cm2 for LLDPE, LDPE, MDPE and
HDPE respectively
The Water vapour transmission rate is the steady
water vapour flow in unit time through unit area of a body,
normal to the specific parallel surface, under specific
conditions of temperature and humidity at each surface
(ASTM, 2005). In this investigation, water vapour
transmission rate was measured at 38±1°C and 90±2% relative
humidity. HDPE film showed minimal WVTR (1.5 g/m224hr)
than LLDPE, LDPE and MDPE were 19.2, 9.3 and 6.5
respectively. The effect of films thickness on WVTR is
shown in Fig. 5. The results WVTR of LLDPE and LDPE
comparable with results reported by Basha et al., 2011 and
Punjrat, 1995.
4182 Trends in Biosciences 10 (21), 2017

Table 1. Physico-mechanical Properties of different Flexible Packaging Films (N=10)

Physico-mechanical Properties
Tear strength Bursting
Packaging Films Thickness (mN) Grammage Strength WVTR(g/m2 24
(gauge) MD (g/m2) (Kg/cm2) hr)
LLDPE Mean 75 1176 14.20 0.50 19.20
SD 0.91 13.83 0.83 0.06 2.32
CV 4.85 27.01 5.86 12.13 10.35
LDPE Mean 150 2353 24.0 1.20 9.30
SD 2.10 8.90 1.70 0.13 1.48
CV 5.61 24.20 7.05 14.75 10.59
MDPE Mean 250 2941 48.4 2.00 6.50
SD 3.44 9.68 3.29 0.21 1.82
CV 5.50 27.67 6.80 17.36 19.14
HDPE Mean 520 3530 113.4 4.5 1.50
SD 5.45 3.26 5.74 0.28 0.53
CV 4.17 9.76 5.06 13.63 18.00

mN- Milinewton MD- Machine direction N- Number of sample of each films

Thickness (gauge)

Fig. 5 Effect of films thickness on WVTR

CONCLUSIONS LITERATURE CITED

Assessment of physico-mechanical properties of
packaging films is important for the selection of packaging
materials to design storage environment for effective
handling and safety of food products to retain its quality
during storage and distribution. Tamarind is an economically
important spice, and the packaging has an important role to
fulfil its demand. Investigated parameter namely thickness,
tear strength, grammage, bursting strength and water vapour
transmission rate (WVTR) are directly related to physical
and barrier protection. In conclusion, LLDPE materiel had
found lowest value except WVTR comparison of all flexible
packaging films, least WVTR 1.5 g/m2 24 hr was recorded
for HDPE. All studied properties were greatly affected by
film thickness.
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Received on 24-05-2017 Accepted on 28-05-2017