Multilayer film comprising cyclic olefin copolymer

1. A coextruded multilayer film structure comprising, in order,

at least one puncture resistant layer comprising at least one cyclic olefin copolymer and at least one ionomer or polyolefin;

at least one tie layer;

at least one barrier layer consisting essentially of a layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) between at least two layers each independently comprising a polyamide, a cyclic olefin copolymer or a blend of cyclic olefin copolymer and polyethylene or polypropylene or ionomer;

at least a second tie layer;

at least a second puncture resistant layer comprising at least one cyclic olefin copolymer and at least one ionomer or polyolefin; and

at least one sealant layer;

wherein the film is either monoaxially oriented or biaxially oriented.

2. The multilayer film structure according to claim 1 wherein the film structure has a puncture resistance of at least 2 J/mm, wherein the puncture resistance is measured according to DIN14477 at a speed of 1 mm/min using a rod bearing a spherical ball at its tip, the rod having a diameter of 2 mm and the spherical ball having a diameter of 2.5 mm.

3. The multilayer film structure according to claim 1 wherein the at least one puncture resistant layer comprises at least one cyclic olefin copolymer and at least one ionomer, at least one cyclic olefin copolymer and polyethylene, or at least one cyclic olefin copolymer and polypropylene, the tie layer comprises olefin homopolymers or copolymers, or ethylene copolymers; and the sealant layer comprises olefin homopolymers and/or copolymers chosen from among polyethylene, propylene homopolymers and copolymers, ethylene copolymers, or mixtures thereof.

4. The multilayer film structure according to claim 1 prepared by a triple bubble process.

5. The multilayer film structure according to claim 1 wherein the at least one barrier layer consists essentially of a layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer between at least two layers each independently comprising a polyamide or a blend of cyclic olefin copolymer and polyethylene or polypropylene or ionomer.

6. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one barrier layer consists of a layer of EVOH between two layers comprising a blend of cyclic olefin copolymer and ionomer, polyethylene or polypropylene, optionally with tie layers between the layer of EVOH and the layers comprising a blend of cyclic olefin copolymer and ionomer, polyethylene or polypropylene.

7. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one barrier layer consists of a layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer adjacent to and between two layers comprising a polyamide.

8. The structure according to claim 1 further comprising an outer layer comprising a polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, or polyolefin.

9. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the puncture resistant layer comprises from 10 to 99 weight percent of the at least one cyclic olefin copolymer, based on the total weight of the puncture resistant layer.

10. A packaging article comprising a coextruded multilayer film structure as characterized in claim 1 .

11. The multilayer film structure according to claim 2 wherein the film structure has a puncture resistance from 2 to 10 J/mm.

12. The multilayer film structure according to claim 3 wherein the olefin homopolymers or copolymers comprise polyethylene homopolymers or copolymers, propylene homopolymers or copolymers, and the ethylene copolymers comprise ethylene α-olefin copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers, or polymers or copolymers modified with acid, anhydride or epoxide functionalities.

13. The multilayer film structure according to claim 3 wherein the sealant layer comprises an ethylene (meth)acrylic acid copolymer or ionomer thereof.

14. The multilayer film structure according to claim 3 wherein the at least one barrier layer consists essentially of a layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer between at least two layers each independently comprising a polyamide or a blend of cyclic olefin copolymer and polyethylene or polypropylene or ionomer.

15. The multilayer film structure according to claim 3 wherein the at least one barrier layer consists of a layer of EVOH between two layers comprising a blend of cyclic olefin copolymer and ionomer, polyethylene or polypropylene, optionally with tie layers between the layer of EVOH and the layers comprising a blend of cyclic olefin copolymer and ionomer, polyethylene or polypropylene.

16. The multilayer film structure according to claim 3 wherein the at least one barrier layer consists of a layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer adjacent to and between two layers comprising a polyamide.

17. The multilayer film structure according to claim 3 further comprising an outer layer comprising a polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, or polyolefin.

18. The multilayer film structure according to claim 3 wherein the polyolefin comprises a polyethylene homopolymer, polyethylene copolymer, polypropylene homopolymer or polypropylene copolymer.

19. The multilayer film structure according to claim 3 wherein the at least one tie layer comprises polyethylene homopolymers or copolymers, propylene homopolymers or copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers, or polymers or copolymers modified with acid, anhydride or epoxide functionalities; and the sealant layer comprises an ethylene (meth)acrylic acid copolymer or ionomer thereof.

20. A process for manufacturing a coextruded multilayer film structure, said coextruded multilayer film structure comprising, in order,

at least one puncture resistant layer comprising at least one cyclic olefin copolymer and at least one ionomer or polyolefin;

at least one tie layer;

at least one barrier layer consisting essentially of a layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) between at least two layers each independently comprising a polyamide, a cyclic olefin copolymer or a blend of cyclic olefin copolymer and polyethylene or polypropylene or ionomer; and

at least one sealant layer;

wherein the coextruded multilayer film structure is either monoaxially oriented or biaxially oriented;

said process comprising the steps of:

coextruding a multilayer film structure to a coextruded tubular film;

cooling the coextruded tubular film in a first bubble;

orienting the coextruded tubular film under heating in a second bubble to produce an oriented film; and

relaxing the oriented film under heating in a third bubble.

21. The process of claim 20 wherein the oriented film is either mono-axially oriented or biaxially oriented.