American Can Company

American National Can Company

William F Ossian

Roger P Genske

Dennis E Kester

Ronald C Christensen

Thomas S Wildenberg

Henry Warmbier

A multiple layer sheet structure has oriented layers of nylon and EVOH. Additional layers may or may not be utilized, and may or may not be oriented. Where additional layers are used, one of the additional layers, on the exterior surface of the structure, is preferably heat sealable. The structure shows improved impact resistance, after retort processing, over similar structures not having oriented nylon and EVOH layers. In certain embodiments, retort processed pouches made from the packaging structures have improved stress crack resistance when dropped onto a hard surface.

Multiple layer films containing oriented layers of nylon and ethylene

The invention provides improved films and pouches made therefrom for use in sterile packaging, wherein the package and product are sterilized after the process of filling and sealing the pouch. The improved films are a family of foil-based, multiple layer structures incorporating an improved combination of layers which form the sealant layer and the adhesive bonding to the foil layer. The sealant layer is linear low density polyethylene. The layer adjacent the sealant layer is a blend of 20% to 80% propylene ethylene copolymer and 80% to 20% linear low density polyethylene. The foil layer is primed with an anhydride modified propylene-based primer. Additional layers comprising propylene based polymers may be used between the blend layer and the primer.

Retortable foil-based packaging structure

Retortable packaging is made entirely with polymeric materials. The improved heat sealable structure has an inner heat seal layer of linear low density polyethylene. The second or adjacent layer is linear low density polyethylene with an optional 0% to 80% medium density polyethylene blended into it. A third layer is anhydride modified medium density polyethylene. Fourth, fifth and sixth layers respectively are nylon, ethylene vinyl alcohol and nylon. An optional layer between the second and third layers is at least 20% linear low density polyethylene and up to 80% medium density polyethylene. The entire multiple layer structure is firmly adhered together so that the layers mutually support each other in the unitary package.

Retortable packaging structure

A retortable pouch is made without the use of metal foil. The improved heat sealable structure has an inner heat seal layer of linear low density polyethylene. The second, or adjacent layer is a blend of 20% to 80% linear low density polyethylene and 80% to 20% propylene ethylene copolymer. Optional third, fourth and fifth layers are propylene ethylene copolymer. A sixth layer is anhydride modified polypropylene. A seventh layer is nylon, the eighth layer is ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer and the ninth layer is nylon. The entire multiple layer structure is firmly adhered together so that the layers mutually support each other in the unitary package.

A hermetically sealed pouch, being safe for the storage of foods, avoiding giving a taste to enclosed food, the filled pouch being able to withstand cooking temperatures typically used to cook food.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

William F Ossian