Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to packaging materials comprising at least one antimicrobial agent. Particularly, the disclosed packaging materials incorporate, via extrusion into the sealant layer, an antimicrobial agent based on the lauroyl arginate (LAE) moiety. Such packaging materials are suitable for use in the packaging of food products (such as fresh red meat) to control microbial contamination.

Abstract: A multilayer active oxygen barrier film includes at least one bulk layer and a microlayer section including a plurality of microlayers, at least one of which includes an active oxygen barrier. The microlayer section can comprise at least one microlayer comprising an active oxygen barrier, and at least one microlayer comprising a passive oxygen barrier. A method of making a multilayer active oxygen barrier film is also disclosed, in which a bulk layer is extruded, a plurality of microlayers is coextruded to form a microlayer section; and said bulk layer and said microlayer section are merged to form a multilayer film and wherein the plurality of microlayers includes an active oxygen barrier.

Abstract: A multilayer oxygen barrier film includes at least one bulk layer and a microlayer section including a plurality of adjoining microlayers including ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein the plurality of adjoining microlayers includes at least one microlayer including a first ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer having a first ethylene content, and at least one microlayer including a second ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content different from the ethylene content of the first ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer. Methods of making a multilayer oxygen barrier film are also disclosed, e.g. in which a bulk layer is extruded, a plurality of adjoining microlayers is coextruded to form a microlayer section; and said bulk layer and microlayer section are merged to form a multilayer film; wherein the plurality of adjoining microlayers is as recited above.

Abstract: An article, such as a polymeric film, sachet, purge control pad, or label, includes a sulfur scavenger. In some embodiments, an oxygen scavenger is also included. A method includes providing an article, including a sulfur scavenger and an oxygen scavenger; and subjecting the article to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger. A method of reducing the sulfur content of a package containing a food product includes either (1) providing a film including a layer including a zinc ionomer, and a layer including an oxygen scavenger; packaging the food product in the film; and storing the package for at least 24 hours; or (2) providing the food product at a temperature of 40° F.; providing a film including a layer including a sulfur scavenger; packaging the food product in the film; and storing the package for at least 24 hours.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a system and method that allows on-demand oxygen generation within a package. Particularly, the disclosed package incorporates a mass of an oxygen generating material within the interior or exterior of the package. The oxygen generating material is contained by some means, for example, in a cartridge, pouch, sachet, or other similar article separate from a packaged product. For applications with fresh red meat, at the time the package is ready for display, oxygen generation is initiated to increase the oxygen concentration within the package interior, thereby allowing blooming of the red meat.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenger composition includes a block co-polymer having at least one block including a polyester condensation polymer segment having cycloalkenyl group(s) or functionality directly or indirectly bonded to the polymer chain of said block, and having at least one second block including a polymer segment of a thermoplastic, film forming material. The block copolymer has been found to act as an oxygen scavenger agent under both ambient and refrigerated conditions, to be compatible with conventional film forming packaging materials, and to provide compositions exhibiting low tack which can be readily formed and processed using conventional film forming equipment. A packaging material, such as a film or laminated product suitable for packaging applications, can include the oxygen scavenger composition.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenger composition includes mer units that have at least one cycloalkenyl group or functionality and, further, has mer units derived from isophthalic acid or terephthalic acid or certain derivatives thereof. The oxygen scavenger composition has been found to act as an oxygen scavenger under both ambient and refrigeration conditions, to be compatible with conventional film forming packaging materials, to inhibit undesirable oligomer formation and oxidation by-product formation, and to be readily formable and processable using conventional film forming equipment. A film and laminated product having said oxygen scavenger composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A package includes a vacuumized bag made from a film including an outer layer including an olefin polymer or copolymer, an inner layer including an olefin polymer or copolymer, an oxygen barrier layer, disposed between the outer and inner layer, including a polymer or copolymer having an oxygen permeability of less than 100 cm3 O2/m2·day·atmosphere, and an intermediate layer, disposed between the oxygen barrier layer and inner layers, including a polymer or copolymer, wherein at least one of the inner and intermediate layers includes a carbon dioxide scavenger; and a meat product disposed in the bag. A method of packaging a meat product includes providing a bag made from the above film; putting a meat product into the bag through an open bag mouth; drawing a vacuum on the bag to provide a vacuumized bag; and heat sealing the open mouth of the bag.

Abstract: An article, such as a polymeric film, sachet, purge control pad, or label, includes a sulfur scavenger. In some embodiments, an oxygen scavenger is also included. A method includes providing an article, including a sulfur scavenger and an oxygen scavenger; and subjecting the article to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger. A method of reducing the sulfur content of a package containing a food product includes either (1) providing a film including a layer including a zinc ionomer, and a layer including an oxygen scavenger; packaging the food product in the film; and storing the package for at least 24 hours; or (2) providing the food product at a temperature of ?40° F.; providing a film including a layer including a sulfur scavenger; packaging the food product in the film; and storing the package for at least 24 hours.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenger composition includes mer units that have at least one cycloalkenyl group or functionality and, further, has mer units derived from isophthalic acid or terephthalic acid or certain derivatives thereof. The oxygen scavenger composition has been found to act as an oxygen scavenger under both ambient and refrigeration conditions, to be compatible with conventional film forming packaging materials, to inhibit undesirable oligomer formation and oxidation by-product formation, and to be readily formable and processable using conventional film forming equipment. A film and laminated product having said oxygen scavenger composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A film, laminated product, and other packaging materials are disclosed, each including an oxygen scavenger composition including mer units derived from a substituted alicyclic compound having non-aromatic, ethylenic functionality, mer units including an ionomeric group, and mer units of a di- or polyfunctional hydrocarbon compound. Certain oxygen scavenger compositions have been found to act as an oxygen scavenger under both ambient and refrigeration conditions, to be compatible with conventional film forming packaging materials, to inhibit undesirable oligomer formation and oxidation by-product formation, and to be readily formable and processable using conventional film forming equipment.

Abstract: A method of reheating a cooked food. First, an unperforated package is provided having an internal pressure of less than about 13.7 psia and enclosing a cooked meat. The package comprises a film comprising an inside film layer adjacent the internal space of the package. The inside film layer comprises one or more polymers selected from polyamide and polyester. The cooked meat is heated while enclosed in the unperforated package to an internal meat temperature of above about 100° F. The method is useful in reducing the warmed over flavor effect that may result from reheating the cooked meat.

Abstract: A film suitable for packaging medical solutions and other pH sensitive products wherein the product pH is controlled by including an ionomer resin as a core layer, strength layer, or other distinct intermediate layer positioned between a sealant layer and a vinyl carboxylate copolymer containing layer.

Abstract: An article useful for packaging oxygen-sensitive products is disclosed. The article is a single or multi-layer article capable of enveloping the oxygen sensitive product. The article has at least one layer which contains a composition composed of an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon polymer and a transition metal salt. The layer is capable of scavenging oxygen at a rate of at least 1 cc oxygen per square meter per day and has a capacity of at least 250 cc oxygen per square meter per mil thickness of the layer.

Abstract: A photopolymer useful in preparing water-developable, solid printing plates is prepared by preparing a urethane prepolymer by reacting polyoxyalkylene diols or polyester diols, or a mixture thereof, with an excess of diisocyanate, followed by chain extending the resulting prepolymer mixture with an alkyldialkanolamine, then reacting the chain-extended product with a hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate. The resulting photopolymer is suitably formulated with additional photoactive (meth)acrylate monomers or oligomers and photoinitiator for casting or extrusion on a substrate to form a flexographic printing plate. Following UV exposure of the plate through a negative, unexposed areas can be removed by washing with a slightly acidic aqueous medium, to give a plate with a desirable relief image. The use of the aqueous washout solution as opposed to organic solvents minimizes pollution problems.

Abstract: An additive is provided that comprises a single blend of an acid component and calcium stearate for simultaneously controlling both primary and secondary efflorescence in concrete, and particularly in concrete masonry units such as pavers. A preferred method comprises the steps of partially saponifying tall oil fatty acid with calcium hydroxide, and thereafter adding calcium stearate dispersion to form a stable emulsion blend. In another embodiment, potassium hydroxide is mixed with calcium stearate dispersion, then subsequently introduced into tall oil fatty acid to provide a non-emulsion TOFA/CSD blend.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a film suitable for packaging medical solutions and other pH sensitive products. Product pH is controlled by including an ionomer resin blended with a vinyl carboxylate copolymer in a film layer or adhesive. Alternatively, the ionomer may be present as either a core layer, strength layer, or other distinct layer positioned between the sealant layer and the vinyl carboxylate copolymer containing layer.

Abstract: A photopolymer useful in preparing water-developable, solid printing plates is prepared by preparing a urethane prepolymer by reacting polyoxyalkylene diols or polyester diols, or a mixture thereof, with an excess of diisocyanate, followed by chain extending the resulting prepolymer mixture with an alkyldialkanolamine, then reacting the chain-extended product with a hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate. The resulting photopolymer is suitably formulated with additional photoactive (meth)acrylate monomers or oligomers and photoinitiator for casting or extrusion on a substrate to form a flexographic printing plate. Following UV exposure of the plate through a negative, unexposed areas can be removed by washing with a slightly acidic aqueous medium, to give a plate with a desirable relief image. The use of the aqueous washout solution as opposed to organic solvents minimizes pollution problems.

Abstract: An aqueous-developable article is made from a photosensitive prepolymer made by reacting together (a) maleated alkadiene polymer or copolymer, (b) hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate or hydroxy(polycaprolactone)acrylate, (c) polybutadiene diol or polyisoprene diol, and (d) monohydroxy-terminated thermoplastic polymer, such as monohydroxy-terminated polystyrene or monohydroxy-terminated polymethylmethacrylate, followed by hydrolysis and at least partial neutralization by reaction with a base, e.g. NaOH, to form an ionomer. When formulated with photoinitiator and (optional) unsaturated monomers, the ionomer is particularly useful in making photopolymer-based flexographic printing plates.

Abstract: A composition for scavenging oxygen is disclosed. The composition comprises an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a transition metal catalyst and can be incorporated into various types of layers. It is preferable that the composition be incorporated into layers of multilayered articles used for packaging oxygen-sensitive products such as food products.