You can access each calculator via the buttons or the drop-down menu.  For all of these you can select between different geometries representing typical packaging formats; film, cup, bottle and cuboid. This enables you to simulate your target package design. The calculating models gives you estimates of the O2 (oxygen), Water Vapour and CO2 Transmission Rate and CO2 Transmission Rate of various plastics including packaging material like PP, PE, PET, PA and EVOH.

For all geometries and packaging formats you can define them as multilayer structures and select the thickness and the type of material from the drop-down menu. For the typically injection moulding formats of a cup and cuboid you can also add an IML layer and even this can be a multilayer.

These barrier properties of coextruded, co-injection moulded multilayer and in-mould-label solutions can be studied and evaluated by adding layers, changing the geometry, adding an in-mould label (IML) or by changing the time and conditions of storage or exposure.

The combination of geometrical options, permeability properties and environmental conditions provides a useful tool for design and development.

Please be aware of the following functions and features:

CO2 transmission rate calculators

• Calculation of CO2TR with constant CO2 concentration on one side
• Calculation of CO2TR with a declining CO2 concentration - as in MAP packaging

Simulation of variation in conditions as in the logistic chain

• You can add a sequence of conditions as you experience in the logistic chain with different temperatures and humidity

Water Vapour Transmission Rate

• In the WVTR calculation the Relative Humidity must be entered for both the outer storage environment and the inner atmosphere in the pack. This will change the gradient and change the transmission rate. As a worst case you can consider inside to be zero.  

New features

We have recently added new models for calculation of the permeability of structures containing:

• Aluminium foil
• Metallised OPP
• Metallised OPET
• Cavitated OPP
• Cavitated and metallised OPP

Read more in the separate section of the drop-down menu

Calculating steps

• Define geometry parameters (e.g length, radius, height, width)
• Choose materials (define number of layers, the layer material and thickness)
• Add as many layers as needed
• Define environmental conditions (temperature, humidity etc)
• Alternatively, add more conditions in a sequence
• Push “calculate” and view the calculation results

Free version

All four calculators are offered in a free version which include

• Relevant selection of materials
• Up to 5 layers for extruded films and blow moulding
• 1 layer for cup and cuboid plus 1 layer IML
• Calculation for one set of conditions

Payable version

All four calculators are offered in a paid version which include

• Wide selection of materials
• Free number of layers for extruded films and blow moulding
• Free number of layers for cup and cuboid as well as the IML
• Free number of conditions can be calculated in a sequence 
• Unsubscribe at any time 

Try it out – The Norner Barrier Calculator

Video tutorials

We have a separate YOUTUBE channel where we have published videos with examples of calculations and instruction of how to use the calculators.