Patent Description:
Generally, the packaging of food items by means of a heat shrinkable bag comprises the following steps.

These films need high shrink properties and good optics to ensure an excellent appearance and excellent sealability so that there is no entrance of oxygen to the pack as this would be detrimental for the shelf life of the food.

In some cases, where the food is stored in frozen conditions for example, there is the possibility to use a non gas barrier film. The other characteristics remain the same.

Packaging films with the above properties are well known in the art.

A problem that is often found in the art is that during the packaging process the items to be packed are extremely tough or hard (e.g. bone-in meat pieces). This results in breakages of the plastic film during the packaging process. Packaging materials with high abuse and puncture resistance are desirable in order to withstand the packing of hard products with less scrap.

This problem has been addressed in the past.

Patent <CIT> proposes the use of heat shrinkable film bonded to a heat shrinkable patch which adds strength to the film. This solution is effective but very expensive.

Patent <CIT> recommends the use of styrene butadiene copolymer in the outside layer of the film. Even if this film has good processing and shrinkage properties, it lacks the necessary puncture resistance needed for a number of applications.

<CIT> relates to a heat-shrinkable laminate tubular film comprising a gas-barrier layer of a copolymer of vinylidene chloride, outer layers of a polyolefin, at least one intermediate layer of a polyamide or a thermoplastic polyester both of which show a crystal melting point of not more than <NUM> and have a specified thickness, and adhesive layers disposed between any of the above layers.

<CIT> relates to a multilayer heat shrinkable film with particular application for use in food packaging. Described are multilayer heat shrinkable films including a layer of styrene polymer or a blend of styrene polymers and an oxygen barrier polymer layer.

<CIT> relates to a cook-in film and to bags, pouches and the like made therefrom. Described is a heat shrinkable film comprising a heat sealing layer comprising a polypropylene polymer with a vicat softening point of less than <NUM>, preferably less than <NUM>, measured according to ASTM D <NUM>.

Therefore, the problem underlying the invention is to provide a heat sealable film, which has also good shrinkability, high abuse and puncture resistance and is easy to orient.

These problems are solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims.

The inventors have managed to overcome all of these problems by discovering a film combining.

This is achieved by a heat shrinkable film comprising at least one internal layer comprising a polyamide and another internal layer comprising a polyvinylidene chloride polymer (PVDC polymer), an outer layer comprising polyester, an inner sealing layer comprising at least one polyolefin, and a tie layer between the internal layer comprising a PVDC polymer and the inner sealing layer, the tie layer comprising an ethylene ester copolymer, wherein the film shrinks at least <NUM> % in at least one of the longitudinal and transverse directions when heated at <NUM> for <NUM> seconds, the shrinkability is measured according to ASTM <NUM>.

In this application the following definitions are used:
The term "film" refers to a flat or tubular flexible structure of thermoplastic material.

The term "heat shrinkable" refers to a film that shrinks at least <NUM>% in at least one of the longitudinal and transverse directions when heated at <NUM> for <NUM> seconds. The shrinkability is measured according to ASTM <NUM>.

The phrase "longitudinal direction" or "machine direction" herein abbreviated "MD" refers to a direction along the length of the film.

The term transverse direction herein abbreviated "TD" refers to a direction perpendicular to the machine direction.

The phrase "outer layer" refers to the film layer which comes in immediate contact with the outside environment (atmosphere).

The phrase "inner layer" refers to the film layer that comes in direct contact with the product packed. This is also called "sealing layer" as this layer must be hermetically sealed in order to protect the product from ingress of air.

The phrase "internal layer" refers to any film layer that is neither outer nor inner layer.

As used herein, the term "homopolymer" refers to a polymer resulting from polymerization of a single monomer.

As used herein, the term "copolymer" refers to a polymer resulting from polymerization of at least two different polymers.

As used herein, the term "polymer" includes both above types.

As used herein the term "polyethylene" identifies polymers consisting essentially of the ethylene repeating unit, i.e. more than <NUM>% of it are formed by ethylene repeating units. The ones that have a density more than <NUM> are called high density polyethylene (HDPE), the ones that are have less than <NUM> are low density polyethylene (LDPE).

As used herein the phrase "ethylene alpha olefin copolymer" refers to polymers like linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE), metallocene catalyzed polymers and polyethylene plastomers and elastomers.

As used herein the phrase "styrene polymers" refers to styrene homopolymer such as polystyrene and to styrene copolymers such as styrene-butadiene copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymers, styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene copolymers, ethylene-styrene copolymers and the like.

As used herein the phrase "ethylene methacrylate copolymers" refers to copolymers of ethylene and methacrylate monomer. The total monomer content is less than <NUM>%.

As used herein the phrase "ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer" refers to copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate.

As used herein, the term EVOH refers to saponified products of ethylene vinyl ester copolymers. The ethylene content is typically in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>%.

As used herein the term PVDC refers to a vinylidene chloride copolymer wherein a major amount of the copolymer comprises vinylidene chloride and a minor amount of the copolymer comprises one or more monomers such as vinyl chloride and/or alkyl acrylates and methacrylates. A major amount is defined as one of more than <NUM>%.

As used herein the term polyamide refers to homopolymers and copolymers. A typical homopolymer is polyamide <NUM> (poly-caprolactam). Another typical homopolymer is polyamide <NUM>(poly-lauryllactam).

Typical copolymers are <NUM>/<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>/<NUM>, <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>, <NUM>/<NUM>, amorphous polyamides and others. <NUM>/<NUM> copolymamide is a copolymer of polyamide <NUM> (caprolactam) and polyamide <NUM> (hexamethylene diamine/adipic acid unit). The abbreviations of copolyamides are well known in the art.

A copolyamide <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> is a copolymer comprising polyamide <NUM> units (caprolactam), polyamide <NUM> units (hexamethylene diamine/adipic acid) and polyamide <NUM> units (lauryllactam).

As used herein the term "ionomer" refers to ethylene-acid copolymers which have been neutralized by metals such as sodium, zinc, lithium or others.

The acid used is usually methacrylic or acrylic acid.

As used herein the term "nanocomposites" refers to compositions of treated clays in polymeric base.

All measurement methods mentioned herein are readily available for the skilled person. For example, they can be obtained from the American National Standards Institute at: www.

All percentages used are per weight unless stated otherwise.

According to a first aspect the present invention is directed to a heat shrinkable film, where the film comprises at least one internal layer comprising a polyamide and one internal layer comprising a PVDC polymer, an outer layer comprising polyester, an inner sealing layer comprising at least one polyolefin, and a tie layer between the internal layer comprising a PVDC polymer and the inner sealing layer, the tie layer comprising an ethylene ester copolymer. The film has a shrinkage of at least <NUM>% measured according to ASTM <NUM> in water at <NUM> in at least one of MD, TD directions.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the polyamide has a melting point of more than <NUM>.

According to preferred embodiment of the application, the polyamide is selected from polyamide <NUM>, polyamide <NUM>, polyamide <NUM>, polyamide <NUM>, polyether block amide (PEBA), polyamide <NUM>/<NUM>, polyamide <NUM>/<NUM>, polyamide <NUM>/<NUM>, polyamide <NUM>/6I, polyamide <NUM>, polyamide <NUM>, amorphous polyamide, MXD6 polymer or copolymer and polyamide <NUM>/<NUM>.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the polyamide may be blended with any of the following: one or more other polyamides, EVOH, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene butadiene copolymer and polyester.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the polyamide is blended to a second polyamide.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the percentage ratio (per weight) of the first and the second polyamide is from <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM>.

The film comprises a sealing layer. This layer allows the film to be heat sealed to itself or to another film thus allowing it to form a hermetically closed container (e.g. a bag).

In the film according to the present invention, the heat sealing layer comprises a single polyolefin or a blend of different polyolefins. In a preferred version of the structure, the sealing layer comprises at least one homogeneous polyolefin.

In another embodiment, the sealing layer comprises heterogeneous ethylene alpha olefin copolymer with density less than <NUM>/cm<NUM>.

In a further embodiment the sealing layer comprises a homogeneous polyolefin produced with metallocene catalysts.

Between the sealing layer and the PVDC comprising layer, a tie layer is used. Materials for this tie layer are ethylene ester copolymers, such as ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene methyl acrylate copolymers and other materials well known in the art. A preferred version might include maleic anhydrite modified ethylene ester copolymers or maleic anhydrite modified LLDPE. Commercial trademarks are for example BYNEL® from Dupont® and ADMER® from Mitsui®.

The outer layer according to the present invention comprises polyester. Crystalline or amorphous polyesters are both possible to be used according to the invention.

Between the outer and the PVDC comprising layer there may be another layer incorporating a tie layer. Preferred materials for this tie layer may be ethylene ester copolymers, such as ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene methyl acrylate copolymers and other materials well known in the art. A preferred version might include maleic anhydride modified ethylene ester copolymers or maleic anhydride modified LLDPE. Commercially available materials are for example BYNEL® from Dupont® and ADMER® from Mitsui®.

Preferred polymers for the PVDC layer are PVDC copolymers. Especially preferred copolymers are:.

Any of the layers described above may also include additives well known in the art such as slip agents, antiblocking agents, polymer processing aids, antistatics, antifogging agents, acid scavengers, odor scavengers and the like. A person skilled in the art may select the right additives according to any particular needs.

In one preferred embodiment, the multilayer film is irradiated. The irradiation may be a beam, gamma radiation, UV radiation or other.

According to a further aspect, the present invention discloses a bag or pouch comprising a film according to the present invention.

In a further aspect, the invention is directed to the use of the films or the bag or pouch of the invention for packaging food. For example, the food item is putted inside the bag and the air is removed (vacuumising) with the help of a vacuum device. Subsequently, the open end of the bag is sealed and the vacuum pack is placed in a heat shrinking media such as hot water under a temperature that ensures the shrink of the pack (e.g. <NUM>). The pack than is ready and is characterized by appealing appearance and long shelf life because of the absence of oxygen.

The present invention is now described by the following structures.

STRUCTURE A (not according to the invention).

In this case it is preferred the sealing layer to comprise a maleic anhydride modified polyolefin so that there is strong bonding to the polyamide layer.

The outer layer preferably can be selected from materials such as polyolefins, styrene butadiene copolymers, polyamides and polyesters.

The internal layer <NUM> preferably can be selected from materials similar to the outer layer.

The internal layer <NUM> preferably can be selected from materials that can bond strongly to PVDC polymers. Typical examples are EVA and EMA (ethylene methyl acrylate).

The tie layer between polyamide and PVDC layers may comprise materials bonding strongly to both polymers. Typical materials are EVA, EMA or maleic anhydride modified EVA and EMA materials.

The internal layer <NUM> preferably can be selected from materials that bond strongly to both polyamide and PVDC. Examples are EVA, EMA, EBA (ethylene butyl acrylate), EEA (ethylene ethyl acrylate), maleic anhydride modified EVA, maleic anhydrite modified EMA, maleic anhydrite modified EBA, maleic anhydride modified EEA.

The internal layer <NUM> preferably can be selected from materials that can bond strongly to PVDC polymers. Typical examples are EVA and EMA.

The tie layer between polyamide and PVDC layers may comprise materials bonding strongly to both polymers. Typical materials are EVA, EMA or maleic anhydride modified EVA and EMA materials.

A <NUM> layer film is produced in a double bubble (the double bubble method is described in <CIT>) commercial line with the following recipe:.

The thickness of the structure is <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> starting from the outer and going to the inner layer.

The processability of the film was unexpectedly good. There was stable orientation and a very low percentage of bubble breakages.

The puncture resistance was measured with a Versa Test instrument from company Mecmesin.

The results are displayed in table <NUM>
The commercial films used for the comparison did not include the polyamide in the layer next to the sealing layer but instead the layer contained <NUM>% E1.

Claim 1:
A heat shrinkable film, wherein the film comprises at least one internal layer comprising a polyamide, another internal layer comprising a polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) polymer, an outer layer comprising polyester, an inner sealing layer comprising at least one polyolefin, and a tie layer between the internal layer comprising a PVDC polymer and the inner sealing layer, the tie layer comprising an ethylene ester copolymer, wherein the film shrinks at least <NUM> % in at least one of the longitudinal and transverse directions when heated at <NUM> for <NUM> seconds, the shrinkability is measured according to ASTM <NUM>.