Accurately analyze the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of your packaging
Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) is a key parameter for assessing the gas permeability of packaging materials. This analysis is essential to ensure the optimal preservation of oxidation-sensitive products, such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Thanks to an accurate measurement of OTR, manufacturers can optimize the choice of their packaging materials in order to extend the life of products and guarantee their quality until they are consumed.
What analyses can be performed using the oxygen transmission rate (OTR)?
OTR analysis determines the amount of oxygen passing through a packaging material over a given period. Several types of tests can be performed:
- Measuring the oxygen transmission rate at different temperatures and humidity levels to simulate real storage conditions.
- Comparison of different materials or multilayer structures to choose the most suitable packaging.
- Evaluation of barrier performance after aging in order to analyze the degradation of the material over time.
- Quality control of production batches to ensure the conformity of packaging before marketing.
These analyses are essential to ensure product preservation, prevent oxidation and meet the regulatory requirements of the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
How Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) Analysis Works
The measurement of oxygen permeability (OTR) relies on specific techniques to accurately quantify a material's permeability to oxygen. The most common methods include:
- Pressure sensor method :
- A sample of the material is placed between two chambers.
- One of the chambers is filled with oxygen while the other is under vacuum or filled with an inert gas (nitrogen).
- The sensor detects the amount of oxygen passing through the material and calculates the OTR.
- Coulometric detection method :
- Used for materials with very low permeability.
- A coulometric detector accurately captures and measures transmitted oxygen.
- Fluorescence method :
- Measurement of the fluorescence variation of an optical sensor as a function of oxygen concentration.
- A fast technique suitable for flexible films and packaging.
Each method is chosen according to the expected level of permeability and the regulatory requirements of the sector concerned.
Technical characteristics of oxygen transmission rate (OTR) analysis
OTR analysis is characterized by several essential technical parameters:
- Measurement range : From 0.01 to several hundred cm³/m²/24h depending on the permeability of the material.
- Test temperature : From -20 °C to +60 °C to simulate real storage and usage conditions.
- Relative humidity : Adjustable between 0% and 90% RH to reproduce ambient conditions and assess the impact of humidity on permeability.
- Measurement units : cm³/m²/24h, cm³/(pkg·24h), or cm³/L depending on specific needs.
- Reference standards : ASTM D3985, ISO 15105-2, DIN 53380, JIS K7126 guaranteeing the reliability and comparability of the results.
These parameters allow for precise measurements tailored to the specific needs of manufacturers.
For which matrices?
OTR analyzed on a wide range of packaging materials, including:
Léa Géréec
Technical and scientific advisor
