Definition
Oxygen Transmission Rate—the measurement of the amount of oxygen gas that passes through a substance over a given period under specific conditions.
Applications
- Selecting oxygen barriers
- Shelf-life prediction for fats and aroma-sensitive products
Benefits
- Controls oxidation
- Preserves aroma
- Supports evidence-based material selection
Industry Examples
- Medical: oxygen control for sensitive components requiring stable atmosphere.
- Industrial: barrier selection for corrosion prevention in metal parts packaging.
- Electronics: evaluated when packaging oxygen-sensitive electronic coatings and conformal-coated.
FAQ
Q: Does thickness alone reduce OTR?
A: Sometimes, but material choice (EVOH/foil) is usually more impactful.