Image courtesy of Aquapak
Aquapak Polymers, a polymer technology manufacturer based in Birmingham, England, has partnered with Industrial Physics, a global packaging, product and material test and inspection company based in Boston, to create a set of water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) testing methods for its Hydropol biodegradable polymer.
According to a news release from Aquapak, Hydropol offers the benefits of traditional polymer plastics and is water soluble, biodegradable, nontoxic and UV resistant. It also offers multiple end-of-life options like recyclability, compostability and compatibility with anaerobic digestion plants.
Industrial Physics is a global test and inspection partner that works across a wide range of industry sectors to help customers protect the integrity of their packaging, products and materials. The group comprises various specialist testing brands, including Systech Illinois, TQC Sheen, Quality By Vision, Eagle Vision, Steinfurth, Technidyne, RayRan, Testing Machines Inc. and more.
Industrial Physics’ surveyed 255 packaging professionals globally. The survey found that professionals say testing new sustainable materials is challenging. Almost half the 255 global packaging professionals, 49 percent, said meeting testing standards was one of the biggest challenges they faced in the wider adoption of sustainable packaging materials.
An example of this is that current WVTR test methods and standards are based on traditional polymers rather than biodegradable alternatives such as Hydropol.
Aquapak approached Industrial Physics to support it in developing a repeatable and reliable test method for WVTR for its Hydropol biodegradable polymer.
The WVTR test method is a known challenge for hydrophilic polymers, and the team at Aquapak was looking to use knowledge and resources from Industrial Physics to develop a testing method that could be carried out in-house as well as replicated at its customers' premises wherever they were in the world.
Max Phippard, quality control manager at Aquapak, says, “Allowing the WVTR test to reach equilibrium means that we are confident in the results. Over the last few months, we have carried out full analysis of multilayer samples to gain an understanding of how our customers can replicate their own WVTR testing regime on Hydropol.”
“We have reached a point where the WVTR test on Hydropol can be replicated anywhere in the world by using the approach taken by Aquapak and ourselves,” says Alana Shema, product line director at Industrial Physics. “This is a major step forward because it will shape how hydrophilic films are tested in the future. It allows our global customers who source sustainable packaging materials such as Hydropol to carry out their own WVTR knowing they can trust the results.”
Phippard adds, “As highlighted in Industrial Physics’ research, businesses face challenges when looking to switch to new, sustainable packaging materials. Developing a WVTR approach for Hydropol is one of the ways we are supporting our customers as they take this journey."
Industrial Physics says it offers a range of packaging, product and material integrity testing solutions to food and beverage, flexible packaging, medical, pharmaceutical and coatings markets. The company adopts a collaborative approach with customers to help them work through the challenges of moving to sustainable packaging.
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