American National Can Company

Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Inc.

Pechiney Emballage Flexible Europe

Mark E Nordness

John P Eckstein

Robert J Blemberg

Johnny Qiang Zheng

Keith Duane Lind

Douglas J Jackson

Gregory K Jones

Gregory J Seeke

Ronald J Dembowski

George Herbert Walbrun

Mary E Shepard

Frank T Bauer

David M Banik

George H Walburn

Grant A Gustafson

Copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefins that have been formed by the polymerization reaction in the presence of a single site catalyst, such as a metallocene, are used to form collapsible dispensing containers and/or components thereof. Blends of the copolymers with propylene polymers are disclosed and used to form a body wall layer or a collapsible dispensing container head having good bond strength with a body wall layer formed of an ethylene polymer. Methods for improving the adhesion between collapsible dispensing container components, such as between body wall layer formed of an ethylene polymer and another body wall layer formed of a propylene polymer, or between a body wall layer formed of an ethylene polymer and a collapsible dispensing container head formed of a propylene polymer, are also disclosed.

Structures of polymers made from single site catalysts

Copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefins that have been formed by a polymerization reaction in the presence of a single site catalyst, such as a metallocene, are used as a film or as a layer in multiple layer films, including molecularly oriented and irradiated heat shrinkable films. Novel blends of the copolymers with other polymeric materials are disclosed and used as a film or a layer in a film particularly in molecularly oriented and heat shrinkable films. Bags made from the multiple layer films are especially useful for shrink packaging primal cuts of meat. Processes for the formation of flexible films and packages made therefrom are also disclosed.

Disclosed and claimed are formulations of polyvinylidene chloride, methyl acrylate and substantially no ethylene vinyl acetate which have high gas, especially oxygen, barrier properties and which maintain said high gas, especially oxygen, barrier properties after retorting; films and film-packages such as pouches from such formulations; and, methods of preparing foods employing such film-packages.

MA-PVDC formulations, films, and structures which maintain high barrier

Apparatus and method for fabricating films and packages, especially films and packages containing a layer of vinylidene chloride copolymer. The preferred apparatus includes a coextrusion feedblock (20) in combination with an annular extrusion die (10) having an internal crosshead mandrel (11), and intervening spacing means for conveying the melt stream (24) from the feedblock to the die. The mandrel (11) has a cross-head groove (14), whose preferred design resembles elements of a rectangle. The inner surface of the outer die wall (19) preferably has an offset portion, including one of a pair of ramps (33A, 33B) traversed by the melt stream (24) as it leaves the groove. The die (10) maintains the melt stream in a single basic shape as the melt stream traverses the die. The VDC copolymer is shielded from the equipment surfaces beyond the VDC copolymer extruder. Equipment surfaces beyond the VDC copolymer extruder are protected from the VDC copolymer. The effective shielding enables use of a die (10) greater than 85 cm. circumference at its exit (31).

Co-extrusions methods

Blends having improved adhesion to each other when coextruded into multilayer films, such films, film-packages such as pouches from such films, and methods for making and using the films and film-packages are disclosed and claimed. Improved adhesion between layers results from adjusting the components of the blends of the layers. In addition, improved adhesion between layers results from reducing the temperature of the chill roll in the cast coextrusion process.

Blended films, structures therefrom, and methods of making and using them

Vinylidene chloride methyl acrylate copolymer coextruded with second and third different polymeric compositions in fabrication of multiple layer films. The third layer is between the first and second layers. The second composition can have a melting temperature greater than 204.degree. C., and can be, for example, polyester, polyamide, or polycarbonate. Preferred films contain at least five layers, at least one of which has a typical extrusion processing temperature higher than the typical extrusion processing temperature of the VDC-MA. Methods of fabricating such films are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Menomonee Falls, WI, United States of America

Mark E Nordness