HIGH-BARRIER RECYCLABLE FILM
Disclosed herein are high-barrier recyclable films for packaging having a composition of at least 95% polyethylene. The film is comprised of an oriented and annealed base film, a sealant and a barrier material between the base film and the sealant. The film can be used for high-performance packaging applications, providing good appearance and high barrier.
1 ) A high-barrier recyclable film comprising:
a) a base film, the base film being oriented, annealed and cross-linked,
b) a sealant, and
c) a barrier material, the barrier material located between the base film and the sealant, wherein the high-barrier recyclable film comprises at least 95% polyethylene.
2 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , wherein the base film has a free shrink rate of less than 7% in the machine direction and less than 7% in the transverse direction upon application of heat up to 90° C.
3 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , wherein the high-barrier recyclable film has an oxygen transmission rate between about 1×10 −6 cm 3 /m 2 /24 hours to about 20 cm 3 /m 2 /24 hours.
4 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier material is polyacrylate based.
5 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier material is present at a basis weight between about 0.016 g/m 2 and about 3.26 g/m 2 .
6 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , wherein the high-barrier recyclable film comprises at least 97% polyethylene.
7 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , wherein the base film has a clarity of at least 85%.
8 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , wherein the at least 95% polyethylene portion of the base film composition consists of high-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, or combinations thereof.
9 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , wherein the base film is coextruded and comprises an interior layer comprising medium-density polyethylene, the interior layer positioned between an outer layer comprising high-density polyethylene and an inner layer comprising high-density polyethylene.
10 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 , further comprising printed indicia.
11 ) A high-barrier recyclable film comprising:
a) a base film,
b) a sealant film, and
c) a polyacrylate based barrier material located between the base film and the sealant film,
wherein the base film has a free shrink rate of less than 7% in the machine direction and a free shrink rate of less than 7% in the transverse direction upon application of heat up to 90° C., and
wherein the high-barrier recyclable film comprises at least 95% polyethylene.
12 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 11 , wherein the base film is oriented in at least the machine direction.
13 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive between the base film and the sealant film.
14 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 11 , further comprising a primer between the base film and the sealant film.
15 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 11 , wherein the high-barrier recyclable film has an oxygen transmission rate between about 1×10-6 cm 3 /m 2 /24 hours to about 20 cm 3 /m 2 /24 hours.
16 ) A high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 11 , wherein the barrier material is in a layer that has basis weight between about 0.016 g/m 2 and about 3.26 g/m 2 .
17 ) A package for a product comprising the high-barrier recyclable film according to claim 1 or 11 .
18 ) A method of making a recyclable package, the method comprising:
a) extruding a polyethylene to form a base film;
b) orienting the base film in a machine direction;
c) annealing the base film;
d) coating the base film with a barrier material;
e) creating a high-barrier recyclable film by connecting the base film to a sealant such that the barrier material is between the base film and the sealant; and
f) forming the recyclable package by heat sealing the high-barrier recyclable film.
19 ) A method of making a recyclable package according to claim 18 , wherein the method further includes irradiating the base film, thereby forming cross-links in at least an outer surface of the base film.
20 ) A high-barrier recyclable film comprising:
a) a base film that is oriented in at least one direction,
b) a sealant film, and
c) a barrier material located between the base film and the sealant film,
wherein the base film has a free shrink rate of less than 7% in the machine direction and a free shrink rate of less than 7% in the transverse direction upon application of heat up to 90° C., and
wherein the high-barrier recyclable film comprises at least 95% polyethylene.