Abstract: A transparent high barrier multilayer coextruded film is useful for high-value packaging applications such as food and medical device packaging. The transparent multilayer coextruded barrier includes first and second outer layers formed using a transparent polyester or polyester copolymer; an inner nanolayer sequence including a plurality of nanolayers a) including ethylene vinyl alcohol, alternating with nanolayers b) including at least one of ethylene ethyl acrylate, low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, each of the nanolayers b) having a degree of crystallinity less than about 45%; and adhesive layers between each of the two outer layers and the inner nanolayer sequence.

Abstract: A transparent thermoformed high barrier plastic bottle is provided for use in storing food and beverages, personal care products, health care products, and other applications that require excellent transparency and barrier properties. The transparent thermoformed high barrier plastic bottle includes first and second outer layers formed using a transparent polyester or polyester copolymer; an inner nanolayer sequence including a plurality of nanolayers a) including ethylene vinyl alcohol, alternating with nanolayers b) including at least one of ethylene ethyl acrylate, low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, each of the nanolayers b) having a degree of crystallinity less than about 45%; and adhesive layers between each of the two outer layers and the inner nanolayer sequence. A method for producing a transparent thermoformed high barrier plastic bottle is also provided.

Abstract: A transparent multilayer coextruded heat shrinkable barrier film is useful for high-value packaging applications such as food and medical device packaging. The transparent multilayer coextruded heat shrinkable barrier film includes first and second outer layers formed using a transparent polyester or polyester copolymer; an inner nanolayer sequence including a plurality of nanolayers a) including ethylene vinyl alcohol, alternating with nanolayers b) including at least one of ethylene ethyl acrylate, low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, each of the nanolayers b) having a degree of crystallinity less than about 45%; and adhesive layers between each of the two outer layers and the inner nanolayer sequence. The film has a light transmittance of at least about 80% and a heat shrunk of at least about ten percent in at least one direction.

Abstract: A process for making a shrink pouch having strong shrink tension in the pouch transverse direction and minimal or no shrink tension in the pouch longitudinal direction is provided. The process includes the steps of reinflating and cold-stretch orienting a previously collapsed blown film and feeding the cold-stretch oriented blown film in a flattened configuration into a side-fed pouch making machine, whereupon the longitudinal direction of the blown film becomes the transverse direction of the pouches thus formed, and vice versa. A shrink pouch having strong transverse shrink tension and little or no longitudinal shrink tension is also provided.

Abstract: A transparent thermoformed high barrier plastic bottle is provided for use in storing food and beverages, personal care products, health care products, and other applications that require excellent transparency and barrier properties. The transparent thermoformed high barrier plastic bottle includes first and second outer layers formed using a transparent polyester or polyester copolymer; an inner nanolayer sequence including a plurality of nanolayers a) including ethylene vinyl alcohol, alternating with nanolayers b) including at least one of ethylene ethyl acrylate, low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, each of the nanolayers b) having a degree of crystallinity less than about 45%; and adhesive layers between each of the two outer layers and the inner nanolayer sequence. A method for producing a transparent thermoformed high barrier plastic bottle is also provided.

Abstract: A modular disk coextrusion die is formed of a plurality of cells stacked together. Each cell includes an arrangement of thin annular disks, including at least a first cap disk, a first distribution disk, a first transition disk and a first spreader disk. The modular disk coextrusion die includes at least one channel disk having at least one inlet opening and at least two outlet openings per inlet opening. The thin annular disks are configured so that a first of the outlet openings of the channel disk is in fluid communication with the first distribution disk in the first cell and a second of the outlet openings in the channel disk is in fluid communication with the first distribution disk in the second cell. The channel disk provides for a more efficient utilization of space at the inlet of the modular disk coextrusion die and enables the feeding of up to twenty melt streams.

Abstract: A modular disk coextrusion die is formed of a plurality of cells stacked together. Each cell includes an arrangement of thin annular disks, including at least a first cap disk, a first distribution disk, a first transition disk and a first spreader disk. The modular disk coextrusion die includes at least one channel disk having at least one inlet opening and at least two outlet openings per inlet opening. The thin annular disks are configured so that a first of the outlet openings of the channel disk is in fluid communication with the first distribution disk in the first cell and a second of the outlet openings in the channel disk is in fluid communication with the first distribution disk in the second cell. The channel disk provides for a more efficient utilization of space at the inlet of the modular disk coextrusion die and enables the feeding of up to twenty melt streams.

Abstract: A blown film coextrusion line includes a support frame, a plurality of extruders each mounted to the support frame and extending upward at an angle, and a downward facing blown film coextrusion die connected to distal ends of each of the plurality of extruders and receiving individual polymer streams from them. The blown film coextrusion line is compact and sturdy and eliminates much of the floor space and towered mounting structure that was required for conventional blown film coextrusion lines. A corresponding method of making a multilayer coextruded blown film is also provided.

Abstract: A transparent multilayer coextruded heat shrinkable barrier film is useful for high-value packaging applications such as food and medical device packaging. The transparent multilayer coextruded heat shrinkable barrier film includes first and second outer layers formed using a transparent polyester or polyester copolymer; an inner nanolayer sequence including a plurality of nanolayers a) including ethylene vinyl alcohol, alternating with nanolayers b) including at least one of ethylene ethyl acrylate, low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, each of the nanolayers b) having a degree of crystallinity less than about 45%; and adhesive layers between each of the two outer layers and the inner nanolayer sequence. The film has a light transmittance of at least about 80% and a heat shrunk of at least about ten percent in at least one direction.

Abstract: A transparent high barrier multilayer coextruded film is useful for high-value packaging applications such as food and medical device packaging. The transparent multilayer coextruded barrier includes first and second outer layers formed using a transparent polyester or polyester copolymer; an inner nanolayer sequence including a plurality of nanolayers a) including ethylene vinyl alcohol, alternating with nanolayers b) including at least one of ethylene ethyl acrylate, low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, each of the nanolayers b) having a degree of crystallinity less than about 45%; and adhesive layers between each of the two outer layers and the inner nanolayer sequence.

Abstract: A blown film coextrusion line includes a support frame, a plurality of extruders each mounted to the support frame and extending upward at an angle, and a downward facing blown film coextrusion die connected to distal ends of each of the plurality of extruders and receiving individual polymer streams from them. The blown film coextrusion line is compact and sturdy and eliminates much of the floor space and towered mounting structure that was required for conventional blown film coextrusion lines. A corresponding method of making a multilayer coextruded blown film is also provided.

Abstract: A blown film line and process for making blown film, including an annular extrusion or coextrusion die, a plurality of nip rollers at a location remote from the annular die, a blown film bubble extruding from the annular die and traveling toward the nip rollers along a traveling path, an air cooling apparatus in the vicinity of the annular die, and a water cooling apparatus located downstream from the air cooling apparatus along the traveling path. The water cooling apparatus includes a wet porous material in direct contact with the blown film bubble and surrounding an outer circumference of the blown film bubble. The wet porous material continuously wipes the blown film bubble with water as the blown film bubble moves along the traveling path.

Abstract: A modular disk coextrusion die is formed of a plurality of cells stacked together. Each cell includes a symmetrical arrangement of thin annular disks, including a central routing disk and two distribution disks on both sides of the central routing disk. The distribution disks are oriented so that their respective distribution inlet openings oppose each other by about 180 degrees. The symmetrical arrangement permits each cell to process the melt streams in a manner that provides enhanced layer uniformity and bubble stability. By stacking several cells, blown films having up to several hundred layers can be made using twelve, twenty-four or more polymer melt streams. Complex films made from the modular disk coextrusion die are also provided.

Abstract: A disposable protective garment for positioning over a wearer's head is provided for use in airplanes, busses, trains, other mass transit and other single-use applications. The disposable protective garment includes a hood formed of tubular blown film that has an at least partly closed top that rests on a wearer's head and an open bottom that rests on a wearer's shoulders. A mask can be integrated into the hood by forming a plurality of apertures in the hood and placing a polymer fabric that acts as a filter over the plurality of apertures. The hood may alternatively be combined with a crown or air filter material positioned over its top; a tubular filter equipped with an electric fan that draws air from above, filters it and directs the clean air downward across the wearer's face; and/or headgear. A barrier film suitable for use in the protective garment as well as other barrier applications is also provided.

Abstract: A blown film coextrusion line includes a support frame, a plurality of extruders each mounted to the support frame and extending upward at an angle, and a downward facing blown film coextrusion die connected to distal ends of each of the plurality of extruders and receiving individual polymer streams from them. The blown film coextrusion line is compact and sturdy and eliminates much of the floor space and towered mounting structure that was required for conventional blown film coextrusion lines.

Abstract: A modular disk coextrusion die is formed of a plurality of cells stacked together. Each cell includes a symmetrical arrangement of thin annular disks, including a central routing disk and two distribution disks on both sides of the central routing disk. The distribution disks are oriented so that their respective distribution inlet openings oppose each other by about 180 degrees. The symmetrical arrangement permits each cell to process the melt streams in a manner that provides enhanced layer uniformity and bubble stability. By stacking several cells, blown films having up to several hundred layers can be made using twelve, twenty-four or more polymer melt streams.

Abstract: A modular disk coextrusion die is formed of a plurality of cells stacked together. Each cell includes a symmetrical arrangement of thin annular disks, including a central routing disk and two distribution disks on both sides of the central routing disk. The distribution disks are oriented so that their respective distribution inlet openings oppose each other by about 180 degrees. The symmetrical arrangement permits each cell to process the melt streams in a manner that provides enhanced layer uniformity and bubble stability. By stacking several cells, blown films having up to several hundred layers can be made using twelve, twenty-four or more polymer melt streams.

Abstract: A modular disk coextrusion die is formed of a plurality of cells stacked together. Each cell includes a symmetrical arrangement of thin annular disks, including a central routing disk and two distribution disks on both sides of the central routing disk. The distribution disks are oriented so that their respective distribution inlet openings oppose each other by about 180 degrees. The symmetrical arrangement permits each cell to process the melt streams in a manner that provides enhanced layer uniformity and bubble stability. By stacking several cells, blown films having up to several hundred layers can be made using twelve, twenty-four or more polymer melt streams. Complex films made from the modular disk coextrusion die are also provided.

Abstract: A blown film line and process for making blown film, including an annular extrusion or coextrusion die, a plurality of nip rollers at a location remote from the annular die, a blown film bubble extruding from the annular die and traveling toward the nip rollers along a traveling path, an air cooling apparatus in the vicinity of the annular die, and a water cooling apparatus located downstream from the air cooling apparatus along the traveling path. The water cooling apparatus includes a wet porous material in direct contact with the blown film bubble and surrounding an outer circumference of the blown film bubble. The wet porous material continuously wipes the blown film bubble with water as the blown film bubble moves along the traveling path.

Abstract: A method of making thin, annular multilayer coextruded films uses a layer sequence repeater module that includes a cell formed of a plurality of thin annular disks stacked on top of each other in an axial direction of the co-extrusion die. Each disk includes a plurality of openings aligned with openings in the adjacent disks, thus forming multiple inner and outer melt passages. At least one cell of the layer sequence repeater module includes at least one first cap disk, at least one second cap disk, at least one distribution disk, at least one repeater disk and at least one spreader disk. The layer sequence repeater module may be a separately assembled and individually removable module of the co-extrusion die. Alternatively or additionally, the layer sequence repeater module may be incorporated into a module of the co-extrusion die.