Abstract:
Tubes can serve as mediators of gas exchange between the atmosphere inside an impermeable modified package and the surrounding atmosphere. Gas permeabilities through different size tubes (diameter: 0.0065, 0.010, 0.012 and 0.016 m; length: 0.005, 0.010, 0.015, 0.020, 0.022, 0.030, 0.040 m) were measured at 1.5°C, 7°C, and 19°C. It was found that gas permeabilities through tubes were not significantly affected by temperature in the range tested; however tube diameter and length did affect gas permeability. An increase in tube diameter and/or decrease in tube length caused an increase in gas permeability. A regression model relating permeability to tube diameter and length was developed. Oxygen permeability was always greater than carbon dioxide permeability for the same tube dimensions, and permeability ratios (K*B /K*A ) of tubes were found to be between 0.72 and 0.98.
