Improving packaging properties by electron beams (E-beam)

Electron beam processing (E-beam) is also used in the food industry to modify the characteristics of polymer products such as packaging films. Crosslinking polymers using E-beam improves numerous packaging properties.

Thermal: resistance to temperature, aging, and temperature, etc.

Mechanical: tensile strength, abrasion resistance, pressure resistance, creep resistance of the packaging film.

Chemical: resistance to cracking.

Heat-shrinkable packaging films, foams, or tubing with shape memory properties are very often crosslinked by electron beams. However, E-beam processing can also be used to achieve the opposite effect, namely material degradation. Electron beams cause polymer degradation, break the chains, and allow the material to be ground into a fine powder for use in inks and coatings. This also applies to wood fibers which are then reused in biodegradable detergents or diet substitutes.

CSI with its sister company RADSYS is at disposal for any discussion on the abilities of the electron beam technology in food industry.