Abstract: A plastic, easy-opening closure for a retortable container and a method for sealing are provided. The closure includes a plastic membrane having an outer layer of polypropylene, a first tie layer, an intermediate layer formed of EVOH, a second tie layer, an inner layer formed of polypropylene, and a peel-seal layer. The peel-seal layer can be formed of high density polyethylene or polypropylene with a contaminant dispersed therein so that the closure can be easily removed from the container for opening.

Abstract: Sensors for determining the presence and concentration of biomolecules in a biological sample are provided in the form of polymer brushes, which comprise a substrate having a surface modified with a hydrophobic polymer segment, attached to which is a water-dispersible or water-soluble polymer segment having functional groups that bind probes. The method of synthesis of such sensors preferably includes use of controlled free radical polymerization techniques, which allows for controlled architecture polymers to modify the surface of the substrate, and the use of monomers possessing functional groups which do not require activation prior to probe attachment. In this manner functional groups in the polymer chain are removed from the surface, which allows for solution chemistry to be more realistically reproduced with the benefits of a solid bound probe.

Abstract: A non-foil mono-web liner for adhering to an inner surface of a paperboard body of a composite container, the liner comprising a polymer film web having an inner surface for facing an interior of the container and an outer surface for facing the paperboard body, a vapor-deposited coating of barrier material covering the outer surface of the polymer film web, a protective coating of polymer material covering the vapor-deposited coating of barrier material, and an inner heat seal layer covering the inner surface of the polymer film web and forming an innermost surface of the liner. The liner thus is structured and arranged so that when wrapped into a tubular shape with opposite edges of the liner overlapping each other, the edges are heat-sealable together via the inner heat seal layer.

Abstract: There is provided an overcap for a resealable container that includes a drying agent layer. The drying agent layer is included in a top portion of the overcap and is positioned below a top layer of the top portion such that the drying agent layer is exposed to the interior of the container. The overcap may be formed from a multilayered coextruded sheet having a top layer of polymer material and a drying agent layer mixed with a polymer material. The multilayered coextruded sheet may also include a barrier layer, a polymer layer, and/or additional drying agent layers. Alternatively, the drying agent layer may be joined to the overcap by an injection molding process or by an adhesive. The drying agent layer is exposed to moisture in the interior of the container such that the drying agent layer is operable to absorb moisture from the air that enters the interior of the container during the opening and resealing of the container.

Abstract: A plastic, easy-opening, retortable container for hermetic sealing is provided, and a closure for such a container. The closure includes a plastic membrane having inner and outer portions defined by a groove therebetween. The groove defines a fail portion that can be torn to open the container. A grip portion is connected to the inner portion so that a user can grasp the grip portion and pull the inner portion from the container. The fail portion is strong enough to resist failure during retort but allows the user to easily remove the inner portion to thereby open the container.

Abstract: A high-barrier liner for a composite container that is compatible with the use of RFID devices in the container includes a paper layer having an outer surface for attachment to an inner paperboard surface of a body wall of the container, and a metallized film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, the metallized film comprising a polymer film substrate having a vapor-deposited layer of metal applied to one surface of the substrate. The liner also includes a heat seal layer disposed on an opposite side of the metallized film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner. The metallized film can include a metallization-promoting material coated onto the substrate prior to metallization to improve the uniformity and continuity of the metal layer. The metal layer of the metallized film can have a protective coating applied over it.

Abstract: A non-foil-based liner for composite containers has a two-ply construction, comprising a paper outer ply adapted to be adhered to an inner surface of a body wall of a composite container, and an inner ply laminated to the paper outer ply by an intervening tie layer. The inner ply comprises a polymer film core layer having an outer surface and an inner surface, a vapor-deposited metal layer joined to the outer surface of the film core layer, and a sealant layer disposed on the inner surface of the film core layer. The tie layer can comprise a polyester urethane adhesive, or can be a coextruded layer having an outer sublayer contiguous with the outer ply and an inner sublayer contiguous with the inner ply. The outer sublayer advantageously comprises polyethylene such as low-density polyethylene. The inner sublayer advantageously comprises an acrylic acid-based polymer such as ethylene methacrylic acid.

Abstract: A mono-web film membrane is provided with high barrier properties, i.e., low oxygen transmission rates and low water vapor transmission rates. One structure that achieves such barrier properties includes a film core, a sealant on one side of the film core, a metallization-receptive coating on the other side of the film core, a metal vacuum deposited on the metallization-receptive coating, a protective coating on the metal, and an ink coating on the protective coating.

Abstract: A caulk tube is coextruded as a multi-layer laminate. In one embodiment of the invention, the inner layer of the tube is formed of polyacrylonitrile-based resin for good chemical/solvent resistance, and an outer layer is formed of polyethylene. A middle tie layer bonds the polyacrylonitrile-based and polyethylene layers together. The tie layer in some embodiments comprises a composition based on linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE); for example, an anhydride-modified LLDPE resin is a particularly preferred tie layer composition. Alternatively, the tie layer composition can be based on ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). In another embodiment of the invention, the inner layer of the tube comprises polyethylene and the outer layer comprises polyacrylonitrile.

Abstract: A retort container comprises a container body structured and arranged for holding a food product, the container body defining an opening and a sealing surface surrounding the opening, and a lid bonded to the sealing surface of the container body to close the opening, the lid being bonded to the sealing surface with a hot melt adhesive. The adhesive comprises a polyamide resin blended with a second resin that raises the glass transition temperature of the adhesive above the glass transition temperature of the polyamide resin alone, the adhesive bonding the lid to the sealing surface with a temperature-dependent bond strength that is relatively low at room temperature and substantially higher at retort temperatures of 100° C. to 120° C.

Abstract: A high-barrier liner for a composite container that is compatible with the use of RFID devices in the container includes a paper layer having an outer surface for attachment to an inner paperboard surface of a body wall of the container, and a metallized film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, the metallized film comprising a polymer film substrate having a vapor-deposited layer of metal applied to one surface of the substrate. The liner also includes a heat seal layer disposed on an opposite side of the metallized film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner. The metallized film can include a metallization-promoting material coated onto the substrate prior to metallization to improve the uniformity and continuity of the metal layer. The metal layer of the metallized film can have a protective coating applied over it.

Abstract: A high-barrier liner for a composite container for products comprises a tubular body member comprising at least one paperboard body ply having an inner surface. The composite container further comprises a liner ply adhered to the inner surface of the tubular body member. The liner ply comprises a metallized film disposed between inner and outer sealant layers. The metallized film comprises a polymer film substrate and a vapor-deposited metal layer on one surface of the substrate. The metallized film is advantageously oriented such that the metal layer of the metallized film faces towards an interior of the composite container.

Abstract: A composite container having an electromagnetic surveillance device such as an EAS or RFID device or the like, and an outer label and/or inner liner that does not contain a metal foil layer. The label in one embodiment comprises a lamination of a paper layer and at least one polymer film layer. The polymer film layer is either metallized with a vapor-deposited layer of metal, or has a metallic ink disposed thereon. The liner comprises a paper layer, a barrier-coated film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, and a sealant layer disposed on an opposite side of the barrier-coated film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner, the sealant layer comprising a heat seal material. The barrier-coated film can comprise a metallized film, an aluminum oxide-coated film, a silicon oxide-coated film, or the like.

Abstract: There is provided an overcap for a resealable container that includes a drying agent layer. The drying agent layer is included in a top portion of the overcap and is positioned below a top layer of the top portion such that the drying agent layer is exposed to the interior of the container. The overcap may be formed from a multilayered coextruded sheet having a top layer of polymer material and a drying agent layer mixed with a polymer material. The multilayered coextruded sheet may also include a barrier layer, a polymer layer, and/or additional drying agent layers. Alternatively, the drying agent layer may be joined to the overcap by an injection molding process or by an adhesive. The drying agent layer is exposed to moisture in the interior of the container such that the drying agent layer is operable to absorb moisture from the air that enters the interior of the container during the opening and resealing of the container.

Abstract: An easy-opening container and a closure and method therefor are provided. The closure is bonded to a base portion of the container by a bond that can be weakened by radiation, such as microwave radiation. The bond can be weakened after a retort process or other operation so that the bond and, hence, the container is strong enough to resist the forces associated with retort processing but easily opened by a consumer or other user. Either or both of the closure and the base portion can be formed of plastic, and the container can be hermetically sealed for containing food or for other uses.

Abstract: A plastic, easy-opening closure for a retortable container and a method for sealing are provided. The closure includes a plastic membrane having an outer layer of polypropylene, a first tie layer, an intermediate layer formed of EVOH, a second tie layer, an inner layer formed of polypropylene, and a peel-seal layer. The peel-seal layer can be formed of high density polyethylene or polypropylene with a contaminant dispersed therein so that the closure can be easily removed from the container for opening.

Abstract: A plastic, easy-opening, retortable container for hermetic sealing is provided, and a closure for such a container. The closure includes a plastic membrane having inner and outer portions defined by a groove therebetween. The groove defines a fail portion that can be torn to open the container. A grip portion is connected to the inner portion so that a user can grasp the grip portion and pull the inner portion from the container. The fail portion is strong enough to resist failure during retort but allows the user to easily remove the inner portion to thereby open the container.

Abstract: Sensors for determining the presence and concentration of biomolecules in a biological sample are provided in the form of polymer brushes, which comprise a substrate having a surface modified with a hydrophobic polymer segment, attached to which is a water-dispersible or water-soluble polymer segment having functional groups that bind probes. The method of synthesis of such sensors preferably includes use of controlled free radical polymerization techniques, which allows for controlled architecture polymers to modify the surface of the substrate, and the use of monomers possessing functional groups which do not require activation prior to probe attachment. In this manner functional groups in the polymer chain are removed from the surface, which allows for solution chemistry to be more realistically reproduced with the benefits of a solid bound probe.