Abstract: An inflatable cellular cushioning article has a plurality of inflatable chambers with each chamber comprising a plurality of inflatable cells connected in series with one another by connecting channels. The article is made from a first multilayer film sealed to itself or to a second film. The first film comprises a plurality of microlayers. At least 50 percent of the microlayers comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene homopolymer, ethylene copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene copolymer.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable bag has a means for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open the bag and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The bag is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil. The means for initiating tearing results in a first tear in the first side of the bag, and a second tear in the second side of the bag. The first tear and the second tear are each capable of being manually propagated through a heat seal and across the bag, or down the length of the bag, with the tear being capable of being manually propagated through and to an opposite bag edge, so that the product inside a package can be readily removed from the bag.

Abstract: A packaging article has tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having at least one layer containing an incompatible polymer blend, and/or a layer containing an inorganic filler, and/or a layer having a high Young's modulus. The film also has a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil, The tear initiators can be used to generate a manual machine direction tears to open the package, with the manual machine direction tear being capable of propagating in the machine direction to the opposite edge of the packaging article. A process for making a package and manually opening the package is also disclosed.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to a reclosable one-way valve. Particularly, the valve comprises two sheets of thermoplastic material sealed together in a face-to-face relationship to define a channel there between. At least one of the two sheets comprises a natural curl tendency such that the valve is movable between an open, uncoiled position and a closed, coiled position.

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: A packaging article has tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having at least one layer containing an incompatible polymer blend, and/or a layer containing an inorganic filler, and/or a layer having a high Young's modulus. The film also has a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil, The tear initiators can be used to generate a manual machine direction tears to open the package, with the manual machine direction tear being capable of propagating in the machine direction to the opposite edge of the packaging article. A process for making a package and manually opening the package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable bag has a means for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open the bag and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The bag is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil. The means for initiating tearing results in a first tear in the first side of the bag, and a second tear in the second side of the bag. The first tear and the second tear are each capable of being manually propagated through a heat seal and across the bag, or down the length of the bag, with the tear being capable of being manually propagated through and to an opposite bag edge, so that the product inside a package can be readily removed from the bag.

Abstract: Cycloolefinic polymer compositions exhibiting an advantageous balance of dimensional stability, improved impact resistance and superior optical properties are provided. The cycloolefinic polymer compositions of the invention generally include at least one cycloolefinic polymer and an effective amount of an elastomeric copolymer having an aromatic vinyl content of from 14 to 39 weight percent. The cycloolefinic polymer compositions may be incorporated into a variety of products, including multilayer films.

Abstract: A package includes a non-thermoformed thermoplastic pouch including a first and second panel; and an optical data storage medium disposed in the pouch; wherein the pouch comprises an oxygen barrier material, and an oxygen scavenger. Two methods of making a package include (1) providing a web; providing an optical data storage medium; forming a non-thermoformed pouch from the thermoplastic web, the pouch comprising a first and second panel; placing the optical data storage medium in the pouch; and sealing the pouch; wherein the web includes an oxygen barrier material and an oxygen scavenger; or (2) providing a first and second web; providing an optical data storage medium; forming a non-thermoformed pouch from the webs; placing the optical data storage medium in the pouch; and sealing the pouch; wherein at least one of the webs includes an oxygen barrier material, and at least one of the webs includes an oxygen scavenger.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenger film includes a layer including an oxygen scavenger, and a layer including a cyclic olefin copolymer. An oxygen scavenger film includes a layer including a blend of an oxygen scavenger, and a cyclic olefin copolymer. A method of triggering an oxygen scavenger film includes providing an oxygen scavenger film including a layer including an oxygen scavenger, and a layer including a cyclic olefin copolymer; and subjecting the oxygen scavenger film to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger. A method of triggering an oxygen scavenger film includes providing an oxygen scavenger film including a layer including a blend of an oxygen scavenger and a cyclic olefin copolymer; and subjecting the oxygen scavenger film to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger.

Abstract: A package includes a thermoformed web or support member, an optical data storage medium disposed in a cavity of the thermoformed web, or on the support member; and a covering web disposed on the optical data storage medium, and on the thermoformed web or support member, and in sealing relationship to the thermoformed web or support member; where each of the thermoformed web or support member, and the covering web, includes an oxygen barrier; and where at least one of the thermoformed web or support member, and the covering web, includes an oxygen scavenger. Methods of making the package are also disclosed. In addition to, or alternatively to including the oxygen scavenger in at least one of the thermoformed or support member, and the covering web, the oxygen scavenger can be disposed on the optical medium, e.g. in the form of a disc, coating, label, pellet, wafer, or flattened sachet.

Abstract: A multilayer film, which is particularly suited to packaging of cheese on a Hayssen® RT packaging machine, has a first layer comprising cyclic olefin copolymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 125° C., and a second layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of cyclic olefin copolymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 125° C., polyamide, polyester, and polystyrene. The first and second layers are on opposite sides of a tensile axis of symmetry of the film. The film exhibits from 0 to 45 degrees of transverse edge curl, a yield point of at least 1200 psi at a temperature of 85° C., and an elongation at break of from 0 to 300 percent at 85° C.

Abstract: Cycloolefinic polymer compositions exhibiting an advantageous balance of dimensional stability, improved impact resistance and superior optical properties are provided. The cycloolefinic polymer compositions of the invention generally include at least one cycloolefinic polymer and an effective amount of an elastomeric copolymer having an aromatic vinyl content of from 14 to 39 weight percent. The cycloolefinic polymer compositions may be incorporated into a variety of products, including multilayer films.

Abstract: A multilayer film, which is particularly suited to packaging of cheese on a Hayssen® RT packaging machine, has a first layer comprising cyclic olefin copolymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 125° C., and a second layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of cyclic olefin copolymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 125° C., polyamide, polyester, and polystyrene. The first and second layers are on opposite sides of a tensile axis of symmetry of the film. The film exhibits from 0 to 45 degrees of transverse edge curl, a yield point of at least 1200 psi at a temperature of 85° C., and an elongation at break of from 0 to 300 percent at 85° C.

Abstract: A package includes a thermoformed web or support member, an optical data storage medium disposed in a cavity of the thermoformed web, or on the support member; and a covering web disposed on the optical data storage medium, and on the thermoformed web or support member, and in sealing relationship to the thermoformed web or support member; where each of the thermoformed web or support member, and the covering web, includes an oxygen barrier; and where at least one of the thermoformed web or support member, and the covering web, includes an oxygen scavenger. Methods of making the package are also disclosed. In addition to, or alternatively to including the oxygen scavenger in at least one of the thermoformed or support member, and the covering web, the oxygen scavenger can be disposed on the optical medium, e.g. in the form of a disc, coating, label, pellet, wafer, or flattened sachet.

Abstract: A peelably sealed package includes a web having a peelable layer and a substrate having a surface layer. The peelable layer includes a blend of: i) from about 3 to about 15 weight parts polybutylene, ii) from about 40 to about 75 weight parts ionomer, and iii) from about 20 to about 55 weight parts ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer such as a vinyl ester of aliphatic carboxylic acid or an alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid. The surface layer of the substrate includes a polyethylene having a density of from about 0.915 to about 0.93 g/cc, an ionomer, or a mixture of these polymers. The peelable layer of the web and the surface layer of the substrate are peelably sealed to each other in one or more selected areas. The peelable layer may form a peelable seal having a peel strength that is essentially equivalent regardless of whether the contact surface of the substrate is a polyethylene or an ionomer.

Abstract: A peelably sealed package includes a web having a peelable layer and a substrate having a surface layer. The peelable layer includes a blend of: i) from about 3 to about 15 weight parts polybutylene, ii) from about 40 to about 75 weight parts ionomer, and iii) from about 20 to about 55 weight parts ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer such as a vinyl ester of aliphatic carboxylic acid or an alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid. The surface layer of the substrate includes a polyethylene having a density of from about 0.915 to about 0.93 g/cc, an ionomer, or a mixture of these polymers. The peelable layer of the web and the surface layer of the substrate are peelably sealed to each other in one or more selected areas. The peelable layer may form a peelable seal having a peel strength that is essentially equivalent regardless of whether the contact surface of the substrate is a polyethylene or an ionomer.

Abstract: A multilayer film includes:a. a first layer comprising a material having a melting point of at least 145.degree. C.;b. a second layer comprising a colorant blended with a polymer having a vicat softening point ranging from 100.degree. C. to 140.degree. C.;c. a third layer comprising a material having a melting point of at least 135.degree. C.; andd. a fourth layer comprising a material which is capable of forming a heat-seal,wherein, the second layer is positioned between the first and third layers and the fourth layer is an exterior layer.