Abrasion resistant heat shrinkable multilayer film
A multilayer heat-shrinkable film having a sealant layer and skin layer each including a linear low density polyethylene copolymer and a silicon dioxide, at least two substrate layers including an ethylene copolymer; and a core layer including a very low density polyethylene copolymer.
1 . A multilayer heat-shrinkable film comprising:
a. a sealant layer comprising between 30-49.99 wt % of a homogeneous polyethylene copolymer having a density from 0.91 to 0.93 g/cm 3 , between 50-69.99 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 0.01-0.4 wt % of a member selected from the group consisting of natural silica, synthetic silica, ceramic spheres, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, and mica;
b. at least two substrate layers comprising an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;
c. a core layer comprising between 70-90 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 10-30 wt % of a very low density ethylene/octene copolymer having a density less than 0.915 g/cm 3 , and
d. a skin layer comprising between 30-39.99 wt % of a homogeneous ethylene/hexene copolymer having a density from 0.91 to 0.93 g/cm 3 , at least 10 wt % of a high density polyethylene homopolymer having a density of at least 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 50-59.99 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 0.01-0.4 wt % of a member selected from the group consisting of natural silica, synthetic silica, ceramic spheres, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, and mica;
wherein the multilayer heat-shrinkable film has an oxygen transmission rate of between 2000 to 9000 cm 3 (STP)/(m 2 -day-1 atm) at 40° C. and 0% relative humidity measured in accordance with ASTM D3985.
2 . The multilayer heat-shrinkable film of claim 1 , wherein the multilayer heat-shrinkable film has a total thickness of between 0.0101-0.0304 mm.
3 . The multilayer heat-shrinkable film of claim 1 , wherein the sealant layer has a thickness of between 15-45% of the total thickness of the multilayer heat-shrinkable film; the skin layer has a thickness of between 15-40% of the total thickness of the multilayer heat-shrinkable film; the core layer has a thickness of between 20-45% of the total thickness of the multilayer heat-shrinkable film; and each of the at least two substrate layers have a thickness of between 5-15% of the total thickness of the multilayer heat-shrinkable film.
4 . The multilayer heat-shrinkable film of claim 1 , wherein the multilayer heat-shrinkable film is a five layer heat-shrinkable film, each of the five layers being distinct from an adjacent layer.
5 . The multilayer heat-shrinkable film of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/hexene copolymer of the skin layer is a linear low density ethylene/hexene copolymer.
6 . The multilayer heat-shrinkable film of claim 1 , wherein the multilayer heat-shrinkable film is cross linked and biaxially oriented.
7 . The multilayer heat-shrinkable film of claim 1 , wherein the multilayer heat-shrinkable film has a haze of less than 2% measured in accordance with ASTM D1003 and has a gloss from 70% to 90% measured in accordance with ASTM D2457.
8 . A packaged product comprising:
a. a support structure exhibiting a shape;
b. a product situated within the support;
c. a multilayer heat-shrinkable film encapsulating the support thereby isolating the product from an external environment;
the multilayer heat-shrinkable film comprising:
i. a sealant layer comprising between 30-49.99 wt % of a homogeneous polyethylene copolymer having a density from 0.91 to 0.93 g/cm 3 , between 50-69.99 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 0.01-0.4 wt % of a member selected from the group consisting of natural silica, synthetic silica, ceramic spheres, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, and mica;
ii. at least two substrate layers comprising an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;
iii. a core layer comprising between 70-90 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 10-30 wt % of a very low density ethylene/octene copolymer having a density less than 0.915 g/cm 3 ; and
iv. a skin layer comprising between 30-39.99 wt % of a homogeneous ethylene/hexene copolymer having a density from 0.91 to 0.93 g/cm 3 , at least 10 wt % of a high density polyethylene homopolymer having a density of at least 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 50-59.99 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 0.01-0.4 wt % of a member selected from the group consisting of natural silica, synthetic silica, ceramic spheres, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, and mica;
wherein the multilayer heat-shrinkable film has an oxygen transmission rate of between 2000 to 9000 cm 3 (STP)/(m 2 -day-1 atm) at 40° C. and 0% relative humidity measured in accordance with ASTM D3985.
9 . The packaged product of claim 8 wherein the product is a food product.
10 . The packaged product of claim 8 wherein the support structure is a thermoformed tray comprising polyethylene terephthalate, crystallized polyethylene terephthalate, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate, recycled polyethylene terephthalate, glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate and blends thereof.
11 . The packaged product of claim 8 wherein the multilayer heat-shrinkable film is not perforated.
12 . The packaged product of claim 8 wherein the packaged product has a pass rate of at least 40% Shaker Table Test tested under ASTM D4169 Truck Level I.
13 . A method for packaging a product comprising the steps of:
a. providing a support structure which retains its shape while supporting a product;
b. situating a product within the support;
c. encapsulating the support with a multilayer heat-shrinkable film thereby isolating the product from an external environment;
the multilayer heat-shrinkable film comprising:
i. a sealant layer comprising between 30-49.99 wt % of a homogeneous polyethylene copolymer having a density from 0.91 to 0.93 g/cm 3 , between 50-69.99 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 0.01-0.4 wt % of a member selected from the group consisting of natural silica, synthetic silica, ceramic spheres, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, and mica;
ii. at least two substrate layers comprising an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;
iii. a core layer comprising between 70-90 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 10-30 wt % of a very low density ethylene/octene copolymer having a density less than 0.915 g/cm 3 , and
iv. a skin layer comprising between 30-39.99 wt % of a homogeneous ethylene/hexene copolymer having a density from 0.91 to 0.93 g/cm 3 , at least 10 wt % of a high density polyethylene homopolymer having a density of at least 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 50-59.99 wt % ethylene/octene copolymer having a density from 0.93 to 0.95 g/cm 3 , and between 0.01-0.4 wt % of a member selected from the group consisting of natural silica, synthetic silica, ceramic spheres, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, and mica;
wherein the multilayer heat-shrinkable film has an oxygen transmission rate of between 2000 to 9000 cm 3 (STP)/(m 2 -day-1 atm) at 40° C. and 0% relative humidity measured in accordance with ASTM D3985.