Top Ten Packaging Inventions of the 20th Century (1)

In the 20th century, the world packaging industry has made great progress, great developments and many inventions. In reviewing the history of packaging for hundreds of years, we selected ten major packaging inventions or major packaging application technologies for evaluation based on the technical difficulty of the “packaging”, the breadth of applications, the scientific rationality, and the bright prospects. It aims to promote the development of packaging in the 21st century.

1. Cellophane
Invented Celluloid (Cellulose Film) in 1908, was the earliest and most brilliant packaging invention in the 20th century. Created a precedent for modern transparent flexible packaging.
In the spring of that year, the Swiss chemist Jacques Brandenbergev obtained the cellulose film for the first time when he used wood pulp as a spray test. Because of his "transparency" (Phane French), he named it " Transparent cellulose "Cellophane, Chinese transliteration as "celluloid."
In 1991, Brandenburg designed a machine for the trial production of celluloids, but the production was small. In 1924, Cellophane transferred technology to the world's largest DuPont (Du Pont) Buffalo plant. Since then, Cellophane officially entered the stage as a packaging material.
In 1926, Shinko Corporation in Tokyo, Japan, also started production of Cellophane. In 1930, Avisco Corporation in the United States, and many companies successively put into production. Celluloid is made from natural cellulose and has more than 100 varieties. Today, all manufacturers produce Cellophane films in different sizes, from inner packaging to outer packaging, from liner boxes to special bags. A single celluloid (PT) performs well but has poor moisture resistance. After coating a nitrocellulose membrane, it is a soft, moisture-proof, vapor-impermeable packaging film that is widely used because of its low cost. In the case of high-grade oxygen-barrier packaging, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC)-coated cellophane (KPT) is excellent in oil resistance, airtightness, and moisture impermeability, the coating is thin, and the heat sealability is good. .
In 1963, in order to meet the needs of US supermarkets for multi-bone chicken and meat packaging, the United States developed a polyethylene coated cello packaging material. Since the price is lower than that of PVDC coating type, its application is very prosperous. When Celluloid first entered the market, the price was high and it was only used for luxury packaging. Between 1924 and 1939, the price dropped by 21 times (0.4 US dollars per pound) and the application was greatly expanded. At the end of the 1990s, the quality and cheap "Cellophane" will surely be rejuvenated in the tide of green packaging.

2. Polypropylene (PP)
Invented by Italy's Nata in 1954, Polypropylene, a biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film developed in the 1960s, became the main force for packaging, and was widely hailed as a “Packaging Queen” abroad.
In 1957, the Monte-Ericsson Company of Italy used the Zigler-Natta method to produce PP. In 1958, polypropylene extrusion film was first produced. In 1962, biaxially oriented polypropylene film began industrial production. B) OPP was rapidly developed as a new type of transparent flexible packaging material. By the end of this century, there were more than 150 companies in the world and more than 300 production lines. The annual output was close to 20 million tons; China's annual demand was close to 500,000 tons.
Polypropylene is non-toxic and odorless, has good moisture resistance and high mechanical strength. It is widely used in food, candy, cigarettes, tea, juice, milk, textiles, cosmetics and other packaging fields. BOPP is a more popular packaging than cellophane (such as PVC) due to its rich raw materials, excellent performance and versatility. Its simple manufacturing process and reasonable price make BOPP a more universal packaging than BOPET and BOPA, especially in compounding. Packaging, pearl packaging, food candy packaging plays an important role.
Polypropylene is the fastest growing and most widely used variety, but it also has its shortcomings. Currently, new properties are being imparted through physical and chemical methods such as copolymerization, grafting, cross-linking, and blending (ABC technology).
It is not only an excellent packaging material, but also a high-quality engineering plastic.
ABC technology is the key technology for modern modification, namely alloy, blend and composite technologies. The first composite films were PE/PP/PE coextruded films developed by Kordite Company in the United States in 1963. They were first used for the packaging of bread and other foods. At that time, the three layers each had a thickness of 10 μm, 25 μm, and a peaceful co-existence of 0 μm. With various types of composite films, it has evolved in the direction of high-quality, diversified, and asymmetric composites.
In addition, in order to expand the use of polypropylene, foreign countries are developing high-strength, high-rigidity high-crystallinity polypropylene (HCPP), which has obvious seven advantages, has the ability to compete with other plastics.

3, Irradiated Packaging (Irradiated Packaging)
In 1896, the French physicist Antoine Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity. In 1898, Mdane Curie discovered the radioactive elements of Radon and Radium, and in 1900 the French physicist Paul Villard. Γ-rays were found. Shortly afterwards, there have been applied subjects such as radiation and radiation techniques.
The use of γ-rays to irradiate packaged foods began in the 1970s and was originally used for packaged and fresh-keeping packaging of meat products, which was based on scientific theory and practice. The obvious advantages of irradiation packaging are:
1 to extend the food preservation period;
2 New packaging (if polymer) can be used and the packaged product can be directly irradiated;
3 maintain product characteristics;
4 No chemical residues (such as preservatives);
5 Reduce product loss;
6 packaging production process automation;
7 Save energy resources, protect the environment, the best green technology;
8 Good technical and economic indicators. According to the data from the International Atomic Energy Conference, the food storage energy-storage freezing method is 90 kW/h·ton, the pasteurization temperature is 230 kW/h·ton, and the heat sterilization is 300-700 kW/h·ton. The selective sterilization was 0.76 kW/h·ton, and the irradiation was completely sterilized to 6.3 kW/h·ton. Therefore, even in accordance with the requirements of the green environmental protection standard ISO 140000, it is an authentic green packaging process.
For example, a beef and pork packaged with a polymer material (radiator) can be stored for 2 months in a 3-50° d environment with a dose of 0.6 Mard of gamma rays; selective sterilization with heat treatment combined with irradiation can make The shelf life of the product at 5-20°d is extended to 5 months.
Milk is the best food given to us by nature, but it is difficult to keep fresh: Heat treatment (pasteurization, boiling) will cause some physical or chemical changes in milk, and the effect of treatment with electric field, ultraviolet light or chemical reagents Poor. Treatment with ionizing radiation (irradiation dose of 0.3 to 0.4 Mard) can sterilize the milk and preserve it.
In the 1990s, the scope of radiation packaging products has also been greatly expanded, such as vegetables, dried fruits, convenience fabrics, cooked meat products, health drinks, Chinese and Western medicines, cosmetics, hygiene products, native products, food products, fresh fruits and vegetables, etc. The radiation source is gamma rays, x-rays, high-energy electron beams, etc. The radiation dose is strictly controlled within a safe range, leaving no radioactive material behind.
Due to the negative effect of the first atomic bomb in Hiroshima, radiation products have been in a state of “grabbing, covering, and concealing” for more than 30 years. In accordance with international regulations, China also formulated the “Irradiated Food Management Regulations” in China two years ago. Starting from June 1, 1998, all irradiated foods (including imports) sold on the Chinese market should be posted on the external packaging. There is an "IRRADIATED FOOD" green round logo pattern.
Irradiation can also be used for grafting, cross-linking modification of polymer materials, and also for disposal and regeneration of waste packaging materials.