WATER-VAPOR AND OXYGEN BARRIER PROPERTIES OF CORN ZEIN COATED PAPER

Water vapor transmission rates of corn zein coated paper are 70-131 g/ 100 in.(2).day for papers coated with 5-15 lb/ream of corn zein. WVTR decreases as coating level increases, but no difference occurs between 10 and 15 lb/ream coating levels (p<0.001). WVTR increased when addin g plasticizer to the coating for a 10 lb/ream coating level (p<0.001). Oxygen transmission rates of zein coated paper were higher than for m ost conventional polymer films currently used for food packaging. Meas ured values were approximately 95,000, 35,000, and 16,000 cm(3)/100 in .(2).day for coating levels of 5, 10, and 15 lb/ream, respectively.