Systech Illinois 7002 water vapour analyser in use at Salerno University Research Centre.

The University of Salerno was founded in 1988 and is situated in the village of Fisciano in the Irno Valley, a few miles from Salerno. With its modern campus and state-of-the art facilities, it has become one of the leading universities in Southern Italy. At the laboratories of Technology of Polymers, the Department of Industrial Engineering, research has focused on developing PLA nanocomposites with improved performance for use in food packaging applications.
As a result of growing consumer awareness of environmental issues and regulatory pressure concerning waste reduction, the plastics industry is moving increasingly towards the use of natural polymers. Poly-lactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biopolymers in the production of food packaging. The PLA offers physical and mechanical performances comparable to traditional thermoplastic materials and it can be processed using conventional technologies. It also provides specific properties significant to food packaging products, such as a high barrier to aromas; grease resistance; high transparency and printability. However, PLA has some performance limitations including its barrier properties to water and oxygen. This has hindered application possibilities, such as packaging for foods with a short shelf life (yoghurt pots, fresh fruit and vegetable containers, juice and water bottles).

The research group at the University of Salerno aim to overcome this issue and improve the properties of the PLA by blending it with other biopolymers and through the addition of nanofillers. In evaluating the permeability of water vapour in the PLA nanocomposite films, the Research Centre at the University of Salerno have chosen the Systech Illinois 7002. This water vapour permeation analyser is capable of measuring 0.002-1000 g/m2/day. It offers quick response and consistently accurate measurements with absolute moisture measurement.
This leading analytical instrument offers precision temperature, humidity and flow control providing consistent and repeatable test conditions. With a wide sample temperature range and a controllable relative humidity range it has a quick changeover from wet to dry sample runs. It has the widest measurement range in the market making it ideal for research and development permeation testing.

As a global company Systech Illinois specialises in online, portable and laboratory water vapour permeation analysis equipment. With 30 years as one of the leading experts in gas and moisture measurement, Systech Illinois' application and technology knowledge provides efficient gas analysis solutions in many industry sectors worldwide.
For the process industry, Systech offer a wide range of analysis solutions including measurement of water vapour, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and many other gases. In addition, Systech manufacture intrinsically safe units for use in hazardous areas.
Systech Illinois is a multinational company with offices and gas analysis equipment manufacturing facilities in the UK and the U.S. Systech is very proud of its well developed and well trained workforce, which enables it to offer customers a continuing high level of service, and become known globally as a leading supplier of gas analysis instrumentation.
For more information on the Systech product range please visit www.systechillinois.com

Systech Illinois

Beth Faulkner
Phone: +44 1844 216838 (EMEA)
+1 815 344 6212 (N. & S. America and Canada).

Web: www.systechillinois.com
Systech Illinois
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This release was published on openPR.