Moisture sorption isotherms for paper and paperboard in food chain conditions

The moisture content of paper and paper-based packaging materials affects packaging function and integrity. For perishable food products it is especially important to understand the moisture sorption properties of paper based materials in high humidity, and the frozen to ambient temperature conditions experienced during storage and distribution. This paper reviews the published moisture sorption isotherm data for paper and paper based materials and the reasons for the differences in measured behaviour of different materials. Particular focus is made on the availability and prediction of the moisture sorption isotherm in the high relative humidity region. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.