Self-heating packaging: a review on reaction kinetics, material optimization, and thermal safety

The escalating demand for ready-to-eat and emergency food products has catalyzed the development of self-heating packaging technologies. Despite notable progress, the performance of packages is often constrain by the inherent trade-off between heating efficiency and safety. Consequently, an analysis encompassing reaction kinetics, material optimization, and thermal safety is essential. This study uses a PRISMA-guided scoping review of 139 studies, alongside a bibliometric analysis of 20 selected articles, to systematically map the evolution of research on self-heating packaging technologies and elucidate thematic interconnections. The review underscores the intricate relationships among thermal reactions, material integrity, and considerations pertaining to chemical and environmental safety. It further addresses the categorization of heat transfer mechanisms, the determinants of thermal performance, advancements in chemical composition, and applications in food. The results demonstrate that calcium oxide (CaO)-based reactions are the most efficient in generating heat, while increased polymer degradation temperatures improve the thermal stability of packaging. Prospective research should prioritize integrating CaO reactants into thermodynamic modeling and developing environmentally sustainable composite reinforcements to achieve safe, efficient, and sustainable self-heating systems for emergency food packaging applications.