Oxygen Permeability Test Method of Pudding Cups

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ABSTRACT
Pudding cups need to have effective oxygen barrier properties to guarantee the quality of its shelf life. This article introduces an oxygen transmission rate test method to test the pudding cup, i.e. the coulometric method. The test principle, instrument features, specifications, and testing procedures are all included in this article, which may provide reference for oxygen permeability test of packaging containers.
Significance and Use
Cup shaped containers are used to pack pudding products to keep the shape of pudding and avoid deformation caused in the transportation and storage process. Milk, eggs, and fruit juice are the main raw materials used to make pudding. These ingregients are liable to be oxidized, which in turn can cause the loss of nutrients, inferior taste, and deterioration. Therefore, these packages need high oxygen barrier charcteristics.
Pudding cups are mainly made of glass and plastic. Plastic cups are widely used as they are easy to transport. There is a significant difference in the oxygen permeability rate between various plastic materials of pudding cups. Even for the same material, due to the differences in thickness and process technique, the oxygen permeability may be noticably different. Therefore, precise OTR readings for the cups are crucial for maintaining quality control.

Referenced Standard
There are two main test methods of oxygen transmission rate of packaging materials, i.e. differential pressure method and coulometric method (equal pressure method). The tests mentioned in this article were performed according to ASTM F1307-02: Standard Test Method for Oxygen Transmission Rate through Dry Packages Using a Coulometric Sensor.
Apparatus
The testing instrument used in the tests mentioned in this article was C230H Oxygen Transmission Rate Test System, manufactured by Labthink Instruments Co. Ltd.

Test Specimen
One type of plastic pudding cups was tested for its oxygen transmission rate.
Procedures
（1）Seal the specimen in the fixture for package test with rapid adhesive. Next, wait until the adhesives get solidified. Install the fixture with specimen on the instrument and seal it with a sealing bag. There is a package hood that controls the temperature.
(2) Set specimen name, test temperature, humidity and other test parameters. Click Start Test to start the test.
(3) The instrument automatically controls temperature and humidity. The test is performed automatically. Test results are displayed after tests.
CONCULUSION
The oxygen permeability represents the oxygen barrier property of a pudding cup. Pudding cups need to have an effective oxygen barrier property to guarantee the quality of the product’s shelf life. This article introduced an OTR test of a pudding cup using the coulometric method (equal pressure method).
ADVANCEMENTS IN PERMEATION MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY
Labthink C230H
Replacing the traditional coulometric sensor with a totally new and independent designed oxygen coulometric sensor increased the sensitivity and precision of Labthink C230H by an order of magnitude. The instrument provides accurate, reliable permeation results to 7 x 10^(-4).
Temperature and Humidity
The Internal embedded temperature and humidity sensors can monitor and automatically adjust the temperature and humidity in test cell, maintain the stability of the test environment. This is a design for further improvement in accuracy.
Test Block
The new design of test block with advanced hydrodynamic and thermodynamic significantly reduce the difference in temperature, humidity and flow between the three chambers. Support simultaneous testing of three identical or different samples.