A barrier layer is a layer within a material or packaging system designed to reduce the passage of substances such as gases, moisture, light, aromas, or chemicals.
Barrier layers help preserve food quality and shelf life and can also reduce interactions between food and other packaging components. Depending on the application, materials such as aluminum, specialized plastics, coatings, or other engineered layers may provide barrier properties.
A barrier is not necessarily an absolute seal. Its effectiveness depends on the material, thickness, defects, temperature, contact time, and the particular substance being blocked.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Multilayer packaging: the overall packaging structure may contain several layers, one or more of which may function as barriers.
- Food-contact surface: the surface that directly touches food; it may or may not itself be a barrier layer.
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