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Heat sealable polyvinyl chloride films

a polyvinyl chloride and sealable technology, applied in the field of packaging films, can solve the problems of spoilage of lettuce, enzymatic browning of the cut surface of lettuce, and the difficulty of conventional pvc packaging films in forming hermetic seals

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-05-24
PLIANT CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The film achieves a broad heat sealing temperature range, forming welded hermetic seals with high hot tack seal strength and controlled oxygen transmission rates, ensuring the freshness and appearance of packaged products.

Problems solved by technology

For example, in the packaging of lettuce, excessive oxygen in the package results in enzymatic browning of cut surfaces of the lettuce.
On the other hand, insufficient oxygen in the package results in lettuce spoilage caused by anaerobiosis.
Conventional PVC packaging films have difficulty forming hermetic seals because PVC has a narrow sealing range.
The precision required to seal conventional PVC films is too high for manufacturing with conventional packaging equipment.
However, films of olefinic materials are susceptible to surface moisture buildup in the form of small beads that obscure a consumer's view of the product contained in the package.
Reducing fog (surface moisture buildup) in olefinic films by adding standard anti-fog agents has been largely unsuccessful.
Anti-fog agents are difficult to contain on the film surface because they tend to wash off.
Anti-fog agents also interfere with other film surface properties of the olefinic film making it difficult to print and seal.
While homogenous blends of conventional PVC and conventional PVC / VA may have been achieved with these low levels of plasticizer, it has generally been believed that blending highly plasticized PVC with a copolymer such as PVC / VA was too difficult to manufacture commercially.
If the PVC / VA forms agglomerates, the PVC / VA agglomerate may discolor when exposed to heat during processing, forming black impurities in any film formed from the blend.

Method used

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  • Heat sealable polyvinyl chloride films
  • Heat sealable polyvinyl chloride films
  • Heat sealable polyvinyl chloride films

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0055] The sample films of Example 1 comprise: 54.84% by weight PVC, 12.46% by weight PVC / VA, and 28.27% by weight plasticizer. The films of Example 1 further comprise minor amounts of additives: 1.47% by weight stabilizer, 2.02% by weight antifog, 0.24% by weight slip, 0.1% by weight lubricant, 0.17% by weight slip, and 0.44% by weight antiblock.

[0056] A film of Example 1 was formed with a gauge of 1 mil. The film was tested for OTR and for heat sealing characteristics. The film had an OTR of 1025.9 cc / 100 in2 / 24 hours. The film formed a welded seal, beginning at a temperature of 328° F. and a burn through temperature of 421° F., providing a 93° F. heat sealing window.

example 2

[0063] The sample films of Example 2 comprise: 54.92% by weight PVC; 12.48% PVC / VA; and 28.31% by weight plasticizer. The sample films further comprise minor amounts of additives: 1.47% by weight of stabilizer; 2.02% by weight antifog; 0.33% by weight slip; 0.17% by weight lubricant; and 0.30% by weight antiblock.

[0064] A film of Example 2 was formed with a gauge of I mil. The film was tested for OTR and for heat sealing characteristics. The film had an OTR of 904 cc / 100 in2 / 24 hours. The film formed a welded seal beginning at a temperature of 313° F. and a burn through temperature of 398° F., providing an 85° F. heat sealing window.

[0065] Three samples of Example 2 were tested for hot tack seal strength. The data from this testing is shown in Tables E-F.

[0066]FIG. 3 is a graph of the hot tack heat seal data 250 ms following sealing as shown in Table E (Example 2) and Table C (Comparative Example 1). FIG. 4 is a graph of hot tack heat seal 500 ms following sealing, as shown in Ta...

examples 2-3

[0069] Sample films of Examples 2 and 3 were formed by the steps described above. Example 2 sample films comprise the composition disclosed above. Example 3 sample films comprise: 61.16% by weight PVC, 6.24% PVC / VA, 28.31% by weight plasticizer. The films of Example 3 further comprise minor amounts of additives: 1.48% by weight stabilizer, 2.02% by weight stabilizer, 0.33% by weight slip, 0.17% by weight lubricant, and 0.30% by weight antiblock.

[0070] A film of Example 3 was formed with a gauge of 1 mil. The film was tested for OTR and for heat sealing characteristics. The film had a OTR of 818.8 cc / 100 in2 / 24 hours. The film formed a welded seal, beginning at a temperature of 356° and a burn through temperature of 416°, providing a 60° F. heat sealing window.

[0071] Table E above and Table G below show hot tack heat seal strengths for Examples 2 and 3 over different sealing temperatures, measured 250 milliseconds following heat sealing. Table F above and Table H below, show heat s...

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Abstract

A heat sealable film for use in food packaging comprises a resin composition comprising vinyl chloride homopolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer and plasticizer in an amount greater than about 15% by weight of the resin composition. In one embodiment, the film is adapted to provide a controlled oxygen transmission of at least 500 cc / in2 / 24 hours. The embodiment is also adapted to heat seal on conventional packaging equipment.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 429,054, filed May 2, 2003, currently pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 715,874 titled Polymer Composite Packaging Film for Fresh Meat and Vegetable produce, currently pending. The disclosure of U.S. application Ser. Nos. 09 / 715,874 and 10 / 429,054 is hereby incorporated by reference. FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] [Not Applicable][MICROFICHE / COPYRIGHT REFERENCE][0003] [Not Applicable]BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] This invention relates to packaging films for fresh meat and vegetable produce and, in particular, a packaging film that is heat sealable, heat shrinkable and has a controlled gas permeability rate. [0005] Optically transparent films useful for covering food product containers and packaging food products are ideally formulated to provide consumers with a clear view of the packaged food product while maintaining its ap...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C04B24/26
CPCB32B27/08C08J5/18C08J2327/06Y10T428/1379Y10T428/1334Y10T428/1393Y10T428/1352Y10T428/24942
Inventor HOPTON, THOMAS E.SULLIVAN, CARL M.GEORGELOS, PAUL N.
Owner PLIANT CORP