Canning and Fish Packaging Technology

Unit 9 - Plastics for Packaging

9.3.2.Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC)
It is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinylidine chloride but usually referred as polyvinylidene chloride. The important characteristics are

• Extremely low water vapor permeability
• Extremely low oxygen permeability
• Suitable for heat sealing
• Very expensive.

Widely used as a very thin barriers coating on other material, eg. Cellulose film (MXXT), poly propylene and paper for the packaging of moisture sensitive foods. Thin films may be used for hand wrapping of poultry and cheese where surface tackiness and cling is an advantage.