Abstract: As a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for making a heat-shrinkable annular film, comprising: (A) extruding an annular extrudate downward from an annular die; (B) quenching the annular extrudate by applying a quenching liquid to the annular extrudate; (C) reheating the extrudate to an orientation temperature of from 130° F. to 210° F., resulting in a reheated annular extrudate; and (D) orienting the reheated annular extrudate while the reheated annular extrudate is in the solid state, the orientation being carried out with a total orientation factor of at least 2, so that the resulting oriented, heat-shrinkable film has a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 10 percent. The extrudate comprises at least one semi-crystalline polyamide selected from the group consisting of: (i) polyamide 6, (ii) polyamide 66, (iii) polyamide 6/66, and (iv) polyamide 6/12. The semi-crystalline polyamide makes up at least 5 volume percent of the annular extrudate.

Abstract: A multilayer, heat-shrinkable film contains at least one semi-crystalline polyamide selected from the group consisting of polyamide 6, polyamide 66, polyamide 6/66, and polyamide 6/12. The film may have a total semi-crystalline polyamide content of at least 35 volume percent, based on total film volume, and a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 35 percent. The film may have an FTIR Transmission Absorbance A1199/A1170 ratio of up to 1.65. The film may be a retortable film, capable of being used in a process for preparing a retorted packaged product.

Abstract: A retortable packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable film having at least three layers. The first layer serves as an inside layer of the packaging article, and contains a polyolefin having a melting point of at least 241° F., and/or a polyamide copolymer having a melting point of from 275° F. to 428° F. The first layer of the film is heat sealed to itself. The second layer is an inner film layer containing at least one semi-crystalline polyamide that makes up at least 65 weight percent of the second layer. The third layer serves as an outside layer of the packaging article, and comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of (i) a polyolefin having a melting point of at least 241° F., and (ii) a polyamide copolymer having a melting point of from 275° F. to 428° F. The film exhibits a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 20 percent. At least one semi-crystalline polyamide makes up at least 35 volume percent of the multilayer film.

Abstract: A multilayer, heat-shrinkable film has a first layer that is an outer film layer and that serves as a heat seal layer, and a second layer comprising at least one semi-crystalline polyamide. The first layer contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of (i) polyolefin having a density of from 0.88 g/cm3 to 0.917 g/cm3, and (ii) ionomer resin. The second layer contains at least one semi-crystalline polyamide selected from the group consisting of polyamide 6, polyamide 66, polyamide 6/66, and polyamide 6/12, with the semi-crystalline polyamide making up at least 50 weight percent of the second layer. The film has a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 35 percent. The film has a total semi-crystalline polyamide content of at least 35 volume percent. The multilayer, heat-shrinkable film exhibits a percent haze as measured using ASTM D 1003-00, and a percent transparency as measured using ASTM D 1746-97, in accordance with the following equation: % Transparency?5.33 (% Haze)?31.

Abstract: As a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for making a heat-shrinkable annular film, comprising: (A) extruding an annular extrudate downward from an annular die; (B) quenching the annular extrudate by applying a quenching liquid to the annular extrudate; (C) reheating the extrudate to an orientation temperature of from 130° F. to 210° F., resulting in a reheated annular extrudate; and (D) orienting the reheated annular extrudate while the reheated annular extrudate is in the solid state, the orientation being carried out with a total orientation factor of at least 2, so that the resulting oriented, heat-shrinkable film has a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 10 percent. The extrudate comprises at least one semi-crystalline polyamide selected from the group consisting of: (i) polyamide 6, (ii) polyamide 66, (iii) polyamide 6/66, and (iv) polyamide 6/12. The semi-crystalline polyamide makes up at least 5 volume percent of the annular extrudate.