Japan Develops Plastic Composite Packaging Materials for Space Food

Dainippon Printing has developed packaging materials for space foods. The shape is a transparent bag with hot and cold water inlets and drinking mouths, which can be used after being put into freeze-dried foods. In order to make it have the strength to resist pressure changes, but also easy to eat in the space, the structure has been designed ingeniously. The company plans to begin sample supply for food manufacturers in 2007.

The bag part of the packaging material adopts a three-layer structure of polyethylene, nylon and polyester in order from the inside to the outside, and the thicknesses thereof are 80 μm, 25 μm and 12 μm, respectively. The caliber of the drinking mouth uses a size suitable for the soup to eat together. The drinking mouth and the lid are connected together with a resin cord and the lid will not float or be lost after unsealing. Also, when the lid is inserted into the drinking port in reverse, it can be resealed. Hot and cold water inlets can be connected to NASA's water cooking equipment. In addition, silicone components are also provided so that moisture does not leak after filling.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration and Development Agency (JAXA) is developing a project called "Space Japanese Food" (curry rice and ramen noodles used by ordinary families in Japan) for the purpose of using the experimental capsule "Hope" launched in 2007. , And in December 2006 established the certification standards for space Japanese food. The new packaging material was developed for this purpose. As a series of products, we will also develop non-drinking rice packaging bags and steamed food bags.

Reprinted from: Nikkei BP