Abstract: Described herein are high stiffness, snappable food contact material compositions containing at least one polypropylene, a hydrocarbon resin, and optionally one or more other additives. The disclosed compositions exhibit a combination of mechanical, chemical, and/or optical properties that enable wider use of such polypropylene-based compositions in food packaging applications, including in Form-Fill-Seal food packaging where high stiffness, snappability, thin walls, and good clarity are important factors. Also described herein are articles comprising the disclosed compositions and methods of manufacturing such articles.

Abstract: A process for thermoforming a discrete section of an amorphous pliable thermoplastic sheet in a temperature-controlled thermoforming mold to provide a discrete thermoformed section having one or more discrete shaped articles formed therein and to heat the shaped articles to a temperature below the Tm but above the Tg of the polylactic acid polymer in the sheet to induce crystallization of the polylactic acid polymer in the shaped articles. While unconstrained by the thermoforming mold, the discrete thermoformed section is tempered at a temperature such that the polylactic acid polymer in the shaped articles achieves a degree of crystallization of at least about 5% (as measured by X-ray diffraction) to thereby increase heat resistance of the shaped articles.