Patent ID: 8039070

Claim:
A multilayer heat-shrinkable film for forming a bag suitable for thermal processing, the film comprising: (a) an inner heat sealing layer, (b) an outer heat sealing layer, (c) an oxygen barrier layer positioned between the inner heat sealing layer and outer heat sealing layer, (d) an inner frangible layer positioned between the inner heat sealing layer and the oxygen barrier layer, and (e) an outer frangible layer positioned between the outer heat sealing layer and the oxygen barrier layer; wherein the film has an oxygen gas transmission rate of less than about 70 cm 3 /m 2 for a 24 hour period at 1 atmosphere, 0% relative humidity, and 23° C.; wherein the film has a shrinkage value of at least 10% in both machine and transverse directions at 90° C.; wherein the film is defined by a shrink force, a lap seal having a lap seal peel strength and a lap seal shear strength, and a first end seal having a first end seal peel strength, where the lap seal connects the inner heat sealing layer and the outer heat sealing layer, and the first end seal connects the inner heat sealing layer with itself; wherein both the lap seal shear strength and the first end seal peel strength are greater than the shrink force of the film at approximately 73° C.; wherein the lap seal is peelable along a lap seal interface located between the outer heat sealing layer and the outer frangible layer, where the lap seal has a lap seal peel strength of about 250 to about 3000 grams per inch; and wherein the first end seal is peelable along a first end seal interface located between the inner heat sealing layer and the inner frangible layer, where the first end seal peel strength is about 1400 to about 3000 grams per inch.