Cryovac, Inc.

John R Wolf

George Dean Wofford

Ram Kumar Ramesh

Bradford E Webster

Anton L Timmons

Rafizi Ramli

Christopher Brown

Larry Bikle McAllister

Edward Lee Mumpower

Blaine C Childress

T Brad Zix

Larry B Mcallllister

A multilayer, heat-shrinkable film generally includes at least one bulk layer and a microlayer section comprising at least 10 microlayers, each of which has a thickness ranging from about 0.001 to 0.015 mil. The ratio of the thickness of any of the microlayers to the thickness of the bulk layer is at least about 1:2. The film has a total free shrink (ASTM D2732-03) of at least about 10% at 200&#xb0; F.

Multilayer, heat-shrinkable film comprising a plurality of microlayers

A multilayer, heat-shrinkable film generally includes at least one bulk layer and a microlayer section comprising a plurality of microlayers. The ratio of the thickness of any of the microlayers to the thickness of the bulk layer ranges from about 1:2 to about 1:40.

A lined tray may be made by printing on a film an ink comprising from about 15 to about 50 weight percent binder resin selected from ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, polyamide polymers, polystyrene polymers, and acrylic polymers. The printed film is laminated to a tray substrate to form a lined tray substrate, so that the outermost ink surface of the printed film is directly adhered to the tray substrate. The lined tray may be formed into a tray.

Method of making a lined tray

A heat-shrinkable multilayer film comprises (A) a first layer, which is an outer layer, and which comprises polyolefin; (B) a second layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polystyrene, and polyurethane, wherein the second layer has a thickness of from about 10 to 50 percent, based on a total film thickness; (C) a third layer comprising a polyamide having a melting point of 160&#xb0; C. and below; and (D) a fourth layer, which is an outer layer, the fourth layer comprising polyester. The first layer preferably serves as a seal layer in a heat-shrinkable bag. The third layer provides enhanced orientability of the tape from which the film is formed, thereby providing improved total free shrink and lower shrink temperature. The third layer also provides greater optical clarity and permits the presence of a thicker polyamide layer, thereby increasing impact strength and improving the O-barrier of the film. The high melting polyester of the fourth layer permits at least two bags, having product therein, to be stacked on top of one another and sealed simultaneously, without sticking to one another, thereby doubling the output of a vacuum chamber machine. A bag and a process of making a packaged product are also disclosed.

Stack sealing method using multilayer packaging film

A heat-shrinkable multilayer film comprises (A) a first layer, which is an outer layer, and which comprises polyolefin; (B) a second layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polystyrene, and polyurethane; (C) a third layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyester and polyester having a melting point of from about 130&#xb0; C. to about 260&#xb0; C.; (D) a fourth layer, which is an outer layer, the fourth layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide and polyurethane. The first layer preferably serves as a seal layer in a heat-shrinkable bag. The third layer provides enhanced impact strength, optics, grease-resistance, and free-shrink of the film, and renders the tape more easily orientable. The high melting polyester, polyamide, and/or polyurethane of the fourth layer permits at least two bags, having product therein, to be stacked on top of one another and sealed simultaneously, without sticking to one another, thereby doubling the output of a vacuum chamber machine. A bag and a process of making a packaged product are also disclosed.

Heat-shrinkable multilayer packaging film comprising inner layer comprising a polyester

A method of forming a package by heat sealing a trap-printed laminate to a support member (e.g., tray). The laminate has a free shrink in each of the transverse and machine directions of at least about 10% at 200&deg; F. and at least about 21% at 240&deg; F. The laminate has an oxygen transmission rate of no more than about 100 cubic centimeters. The outside layer of the laminate comprises at least about 40% of one or more relatively high-melt polymers each having a melting point at least about 25&deg; F. higher than the lowest melting point polymer of the sealant layer. The first film has an oxygen transmission rate greater than the oxygen transmission rate of the second film.

Package including a lidstock laminate

A packaging laminate useful as a lidstock comprises first and second films, and an image between the first and second films. The first film comprises a sealant layer forming the inside surface of the first film. The first film has a free shrink at 220&deg; F. in at least one direction of at least about 7%. The second film comprises an outside layer forming the outside surface of the second film. The outside layer comprises at least about 40% by weight of the outside layer of one or more relatively high-melt polymers each having a melting point at least about 25&deg; F. higher than the lowest melting point polymer of the sealant layer. The second film has a free shrink at 185&deg; F. of no more than about 10% in each of the machine and transverse directions. The outside surface of the first film is directly laminated to the inside surface of the second film. The first film has an oxygen transmission rate greater than the oxygen transmission rate of the second film. The laminate has an oxygen transmission rate of no more than about 100 cubic centimeters.

Lidstock laminate

A heat-shrinkable multilayer film comprises (A) a first layer, which is an outer layer, and which comprises polyolefin; (B) a second layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polystyrene, and polyurethane; (C) a third layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyester and polyester having a melting point of from about 130&deg; C. to about 260&deg; C.; (D) a fourth layer, which is an outer layer, the fourth layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide and polyurethane. The first layer preferably serves as a seal layer in a heat-shrinkable bag. The third layer provides enhanced impact strength, optics, grease-resistance, and free-shrink of the film, and renders the tape more easily orientable. The high melting polyester, polyamide, and/or polyurethane of the fourth layer permits at least two bags, having product therein, to be stacked on top of one another and sealed simultaneously, without sticking to one another, thereby doubling the output of a vacuum chamber machine. A bag and a process of making a packaged product are also disclosed.

A multilayer, heat-shrinkable food packaging film useful for forming a post packaging pasteurization bag. The film includes at least three layers: 1) a first outer layer formed from a resin composition having a Vicat softening point of at least 100&deg; C., 2) a second outer layer having one or more thermoplastic gloss materials of polyester, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a melt index of greater than 1 g/10 minutes, styrene/butadiene block copolymer, and ethylene/styrene random copolymer, and 3) one or more inner layers between the first and second outer layers. At least one of the inner layers includes an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. The film has a total free shrink of at least 40% at 85&deg; C. If the second outer layer includes polyester, then each of the inner layers of the multilayer film is devoid of a weight amount of polyamide or polyester greater than the weight amount of polyester in the second outer layer. The second outer layer may include sufficient thermoplastic gloss material to impart a gloss of greater than 60%. The film may also include an oxygen barrier internal layer. A post pasteurization bag made from the inventive film provides the appearance and shrink characteristics comparable to those of a barrier bag film yet can form heat seals that withstand the abuse and heat associated with post pasteurization.

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Greer, SC, United States of America

John R Wolf