Thermoformable film lamination containing a flexible polyamide coextrusion

1. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate including:

an outer layer comprising a biaxially oriented polyester film;

a layer of ink on a surface of said outer layer;

an adhesive layer adjacent said layer of ink; and

a flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film adhered to said adhesive layer, said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film comprising a semi-crystalline polyamide layer and said polyamide containing coextruded film including an exterior polyolefin layer opposite said biaxially oriented polyester film, wherein said polyolefin layer is an exterior surface layer of said laminate.

2. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 1 in which said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film includes a layer comprising a blend of a semi-crystalline polyamide and an amorphous polyamide.

3. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 1 in which said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film comprises an oxygen barrier layer sandwiched between a first polyamide layer and a second polyamide layer.

4. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 3 in which said oxygen barrier layer is comprised of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.

5. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 1 wherein said flexible polyamide containing coextruded film includes an internal polyolefin layer adhered to said layer of adhesive.

6. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 5 wherein said flexible polyamide containing coextruded film includes a first tie layer disposed adjacent said internal polyolefin layer.

7. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 6 in which said flexible polyamide containing coextruded film comprises a first polyamide layer adhered to said first tie layer.

8. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 7 in which said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film includes an oxygen barrier layer adhered to said first polyamide layer.

9. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 8 in which said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film includes a second polyamide layer adhered to said oxygen barrier layer on the side opposite said first polyamide layer.

10. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate as in claim 9 including a second tie layer adhered to said second polyamide layer.

11. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate having at least three layers comprising:

an outer layer comprising a biaxially oriented polyester film having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a layer of ink on a said inner surface of said biaxially oriented polyester film; and,

a flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film adhered to said biaxially oriented polyester film, said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film comprising a semi-crystalline polyamide layer and an exterior polyolefin layer opposite said biaxially oriented polyester film, wherein said exterior polyolefin layer is an exterior surface layer of said laminate.

12. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate according to claim 11 , wherein said layer of ink on said inner surface of said biaxially oriented polyester film comprises printed indicia, and said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film is adhered to said printed indicia.

13. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate according to claim 11 , wherein said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film includes at least one layer comprising a blend of a semi-crystalline polyamide and an amorphous polyamide.

14. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate according to claim 11 , wherein said flexible, polyamide containing, coextruded film comprises a three-layer film including a first polyamide layer, a second polyamide layer and an oxygen barrier layer disposed between said first and second polyamide layers.

15. A flexible, thermoformable packaging film laminate comprising:

an outer layer of biaxially oriented polyester film having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a layer of ink disposed on said inner surface;

an adhesive layer positioned to overlie said layer of ink;

a first polyolefin layer adhered to said adhesive layer;

a first tie layer adjacent said first polyolefin layer;

a first polyamide layer adjacent said first tie layer;

an oxygen barrier layer adjacent said first polyamide layer;

a second polyamide layer adjacent said oxygen barrier layer;

a second tie layer adjacent said second polyamide layer; and,

a second polyolefin layer adjacent said second tie layer;

wherein said first polyolefin, said first tie layer, said first polyamide layer, said oxygen barrier layer, said second polyamide layer, said second tie layer and said second polyolefin layer comprise a coextruded film, wherein at least one of said first polyamide layer and second polyamide layer comprises a semicrystalline polyamide layer, and wherein said second polyolefin layer is an exterior surface layer of said laminate.