Sorption of volatile compounds by ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) films from an aqueous solution was investigated to evaluate the merit of their use for food packaging. With regard to EVOH, equilibrium swelling values gave rise to a bimodal solubility parameter distribution with maxima at delta values of 8.5 assigned to ethylene units and 14.5 to vinyl alcohol units. Comparing distribution ratios of EVOH with those of middle-density polyethylene (MDPE), the ratios were 1:100 for terpene hydrocarbons, 1:10 for esters, 1:2 for alcohols, and almost 1:1 for aldehydes. By biaxial orientation of EVOH film, the sorption could be depressed below 60%. These results suggested EVOH films are more appropriate than MDPE for food container lining.
