ORIENTABLE ETHYLENE VINYL ALCOHOL BLEND

1 . A multilayer film comprising a first outer layer, a second outer layer and a barrier layer disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, the barrier layer comprising a blend of:

a. at least 90.0% ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having a first crystallization temperature; and

b. between (i) 2.0 wt % and 15.0 wt %, (ii) 2.5 wt % and 10.0 wt %, or (iii) 3.0 wt % and 5.0 wt % of a processing aid as compared to the barrier layer,

the blend having a second crystallization temperature that is at least 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, or 10% lower than the first crystallization temperature as measured by DSC with the following parameters:

a) hold for 1.0 min at 30° C.;

b) heat from 30.0° C. to 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min;

c) hold for 1.0 min at 230.0° C.;

d) cool from 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min;

e) hold for 1.0 min at 30.0° C.;

f) Heat from 30.0° C. to 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min.

2 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer has a first ΔH c and the blend has a second ΔH c which is at least 70%, 75% 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 105%, 110%, 115% or 120% the first ΔH c .

3 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer has an ethylene content of not more than 40 mol %.

4 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the processing aid is selected from the group consisting of triacetin, diacetin, lactic acid, triethyl citrate and glycerin carbonate.

5 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the multilayer film is a heat shrinkable multilayer film having a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 30 percent as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2732.

6 . The multilayer film of claim 1 comprising at least two barrier layers.

7 . The multilayer film of claim 6 wherein the multilayer film comprises a layer disposed between the at least two barrier layers.

8 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the processing aid comprises:

a. at least one ester,

b. at least one carboxylic acid or carbonate functional group, and

c. at least one hydroxyl functional group.

9 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the barrier layer comprises less than 1.0 wt % salts based on the composition of the barrier layer.

10 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the barrier layer comprises 0.0-1.0 wt % of material other and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer and processing aid.

11 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the film has an oxygen transmission rate of no more than: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145 or 150 cubic centimeters (at standard temperature and pressure) per square meter per day per 1 atmosphere of oxygen pressure differential measured at 0% relative humidity and 23° C. measured according to ASTM D-3985.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the processing aid is between 2.0 wt % and 10.0 wt %, as compared to the barrier layer, of triethyl citrate or triacetin.

14 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the film is crosslinked.

15 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer has a first ΔH m and the blend has a second ΔH m which is at least 70%, 75% 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 105%, 110%, 115% or 120% the first ΔH m .

16 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the film has a transparency of at least 15 percent, or at least 20 percent, or at least 25 percent, or at least 30 percent, measured using ASTM D 1746-97.

17 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the film has a haze of less than 7.5 percent, or less than 7 percent, or less than 6 percent, measured using ASTM D 1003-00.

18 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the film has a gloss, as measured using ASTM D 2457-97, of from 60% to 100%, or from 70% to 90%.

19 . The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the film has a CO 2 /O 2 Transmission Rate ratio of between 1.5 and 3.0 wherein CO 2 Transmission Rate is measured in accordance with ASTM F2476 O 2 Transmission Rate is measured in accordance with ASTM D-3985 at standard pressure, 73° F. and 0% relative humidity.

20 . A blend of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer and processing aid comprising:

a. at least 90.0% ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having a first crystallization temperature; and

b. between (i) 2.0 wt % and 15.0 wt %, (ii) 2.5 wt % and 10.0 wt %, or (iii) 3.0 wt % and 5.0 wt % of a processing aid as compared to the blend,

the blend having a second crystallization temperature that is at least 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, or 10% lower than the first crystallization temperature as measured by DSC with the following parameters:

a) hold for 1.0 min at 30° C.;

b) heat from 30.0° C. to 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min;

c) hold for 1.0 min at 230.0° C.;

d) cool from 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min;

e) hold for 1.0 min at 30.0° C.;

f) Heat from 30.0° C. to 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min.

21 - 29 . (canceled)

30 . A process for making a multilayer film comprising the steps of:

a. providing a barrier blend comprising:

i. at least 90.0% ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having a first crystallization temperature; and

ii. between (i) 2.0 wt % and 15.0 wt %, (ii) 2.5 wt % and 10.0 wt %, or (iii) 3.0 wt % and 5.0 wt % of a processing aid as compared to the barrier blend,

the blend having a second crystallization temperature that is at least 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, or 10% lower than the first crystallization temperature as measured by DSC with the following parameters:

a) hold for 1.0 min at 30° C.;

b) heat from 30.0° C. to 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min;

c) hold for 1.0 min at 230.0° C.;

d) cool from 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min;

e) hold for 1.0 min at 30.0° C.;

f) Heat from 30.0° C. to 230.0° C. at 10.0° C./min,

b. coextruding the barrier blend to form a multilayer film having a first outer layer, a second outer layer and the barrier blend disposed as a layer between the first outer layer and the second outer layer.

31 - 38 . (canceled)