EP3368301A1 - Barrier film or sheet and laminated packaging material comprising the film or sheet and packaging container made therefrom - Google Patents
Barrier film or sheet and laminated packaging material comprising the film or sheet and packaging container made therefromInfo
- Publication number
- EP3368301A1 EP3368301A1 EP16787434.6A EP16787434A EP3368301A1 EP 3368301 A1 EP3368301 A1 EP 3368301A1 EP 16787434 A EP16787434 A EP 16787434A EP 3368301 A1 EP3368301 A1 EP 3368301A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- barrier
- coating
- film
- layer
- barrier film
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 254
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 108
- 239000005022 packaging material Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 94
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 191
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 145
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 235000021056 liquid food Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 claims description 170
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 96
- 229920006254 polymer film Polymers 0.000 claims description 68
- -1 oxygen ion Chemical class 0.000 claims description 45
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 40
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 36
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 36
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 36
- 229920000098 polyolefin Polymers 0.000 claims description 36
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 33
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 33
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 31
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 31
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 27
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 27
- 239000002987 primer (paints) Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 claims description 24
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 claims description 24
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 claims description 22
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 21
- 239000011087 paperboard Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000005011 time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 229920002799 BoPET Polymers 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229920001707 polybutylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 claims description 8
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005211 surface analysis Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000002042 time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920002873 Polyethylenimine Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920003231 aliphatic polyamide Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920006233 biaxially oriented polyamide Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920006012 semi-aromatic polyamide Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- FZHAPNGMFPVSLP-UHFFFAOYSA-N silanamine Chemical class [SiH3]N FZHAPNGMFPVSLP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000386 microscopy Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004953 Aliphatic polyamide Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920002292 Nylon 6 Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920002302 Nylon 6,6 Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 241001312297 Selar Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920003365 Selar® Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000001931 aliphatic group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920000007 Nylon MXD6 Polymers 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000623 plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 abstract description 32
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 abstract description 10
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 168
- 229920001684 low density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 34
- 239000004702 low-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 34
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 34
- 238000005334 plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 31
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 description 24
- 238000003475 lamination Methods 0.000 description 23
- 239000002648 laminated material Substances 0.000 description 18
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 14
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 14
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 13
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 13
- 229910052814 silicon oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 13
- 239000005030 aluminium foil Substances 0.000 description 12
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 12
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 12
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000010030 laminating Methods 0.000 description 11
- 229920000092 linear low density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 10
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 10
- HSFWRNGVRCDJHI-UHFFFAOYSA-N alpha-acetylene Natural products C#C HSFWRNGVRCDJHI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 9
- 239000002998 adhesive polymer Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000004707 linear low-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000000178 monomer Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000009455 aseptic packaging Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 7
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 125000005677 ethinylene group Chemical group [*:2]C#C[*:1] 0.000 description 7
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 230000007774 longterm Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 238000004544 sputter deposition Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000002243 precursor Substances 0.000 description 5
- PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Alumina Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Al+3].[Al+3] PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 101000908706 Homo sapiens Dynein light chain 2, cytoplasmic Proteins 0.000 description 4
- 101000647991 Homo sapiens StAR-related lipid transfer protein 13 Proteins 0.000 description 4
- 102100025252 StAR-related lipid transfer protein 13 Human genes 0.000 description 4
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000012792 core layer Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229920006242 ethylene acrylic acid copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 229920005648 ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 4
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000005240 physical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 4
- 229920000089 Cyclic olefin copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethene Chemical compound C=C VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000005977 Ethylene Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920010126 Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920006378 biaxially oriented polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000011127 biaxially oriented polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000007765 extrusion coating Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 3
- 210000004080 milk Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 239000005026 oriented polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010998 test method Methods 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 2
- 101001053992 Homo sapiens Deleted in lung and esophageal cancer protein 1 Proteins 0.000 description 2
- 101000966403 Homo sapiens Dynein light chain 1, cytoplasmic Proteins 0.000 description 2
- 101001106322 Homo sapiens Rho GTPase-activating protein 7 Proteins 0.000 description 2
- 229920000106 Liquid crystal polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004977 Liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs) Substances 0.000 description 2
- 102100021446 Rho GTPase-activating protein 7 Human genes 0.000 description 2
- 125000002947 alkylene group Chemical group 0.000 description 2
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 150000001721 carbon Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000003575 carbonaceous material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005229 chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012153 distilled water Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000015203 fruit juice Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000011389 fruit/vegetable juice Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 2
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 230000001771 impaired effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011229 interlayer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000554 ionomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- FPYJFEHAWHCUMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N maleic anhydride Chemical compound O=C1OC(=O)C=C1 FPYJFEHAWHCUMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012968 metallocene catalyst Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000016709 nutrition Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229920000620 organic polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 235000021485 packed food Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002203 pretreatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037452 priming Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001004 secondary ion mass spectrometry Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004611 spectroscopical analysis Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004711 α-olefin Substances 0.000 description 2
- FBOUIAKEJMZPQG-AWNIVKPZSA-N (1E)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pent-1-en-3-ol Chemical group C1=NC=NN1/C(C(O)C(C)(C)C)=C/C1=CC=C(Cl)C=C1Cl FBOUIAKEJMZPQG-AWNIVKPZSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910017107 AlOx Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 1
- 101100278842 Caenorhabditis elegans dlc-1 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 101100332550 Caenorhabditis elegans dlc-2 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- CERQOIWHTDAKMF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methacrylic acid Chemical compound CC(=C)C(O)=O CERQOIWHTDAKMF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920006121 Polyxylylene adipamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000012790 adhesive layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002194 amorphous carbon material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 description 1
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007799 cork Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003869 coulometry Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001925 cycloalkenes Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005137 deposition process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910003460 diamond Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010432 diamond Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019634 flavors Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 125000000524 functional group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 125000003055 glycidyl group Chemical group C(C1CO1)* 0.000 description 1
- 229920000578 graft copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006115 industrial coating Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010884 ion-beam technique Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000155 isotopic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001465 metallisation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001526 metallocene linear low density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 244000005700 microbiome Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 125000004433 nitrogen atom Chemical group N* 0.000 description 1
- 150000001282 organosilanes Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000000704 physical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004800 polyvinyl chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000005033 polyvinylidene chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002994 raw material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002407 reforming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000015067 sauces Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000021057 semi-liquid food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000014347 soups Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000001954 sterilising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- KKEYFWRCBNTPAC-UHFFFAOYSA-L terephthalate(2-) Chemical compound [O-]C(=O)C1=CC=C(C([O-])=O)C=C1 KKEYFWRCBNTPAC-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229920002397 thermoplastic olefin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B7/00—Layered products characterised by the relation between layers; Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties; Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers
- B32B7/04—Interconnection of layers
- B32B7/12—Interconnection of layers using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/06—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
- B32B27/08—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/30—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
- B32B27/306—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers comprising vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol (co)polymers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/32—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/32—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
- B32B27/325—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins comprising polycycloolefins
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/36—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
- B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
- B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
- B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
- B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers
- B65B7/2878—Securing closures on containers by heat-sealing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
- B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
- B65B9/2049—Package shaping devices acting on filled tubes prior to sealing the filling opening
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D11/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
- B65D11/02—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material of curved cross-section
- B65D11/04—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D15/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, sections made of different materials
- B65D15/02—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, sections made of different materials of curved, or partially curved, cross-section, e.g. cans, drums
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/02—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body
- B65D5/06—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body with end-closing or contents-supporting elements formed by folding inwardly a wall extending from, and continuously around, an end of the tubular body
- B65D5/064—Rectangular containers having a body with gusset-flaps folded outwardly or adhered to the side or the top of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
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- B65D5/06—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body with end-closing or contents-supporting elements formed by folding inwardly a wall extending from, and continuously around, an end of the tubular body
- B65D5/067—Gable-top containers
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- B65D5/563—Laminated linings; Coatings
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- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/04—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks
- B65D75/06—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks in sheets or blanks initially folded to form tubes
- B65D75/12—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks in sheets or blanks initially folded to form tubes with the ends of the tube closed by flattening and heat-sealing
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- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/40—Packages formed by enclosing successive articles, or increments of material, in webs, e.g. folded or tubular webs, or by subdividing tubes filled with liquid, semi-liquid, or plastic materials
- B65D75/44—Individual packages cut from webs or tubes
- B65D75/48—Individual packages cut from webs or tubes containing liquids, semiliquids, or pastes, e.g. cushion-shaped packages
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- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
- B65B1/02—Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
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- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
- B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
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- B65D5/746—Spouts formed separately from the container
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a durable barrier film having a vapour deposited barrier coating of amorphous durable diamond-like carbon, DLC.
- the invention also relates to laminated packaging materials comprising such barrier films, in particular intended for liquid food packaging.
- the invention relates to packaging containers comprising the laminated packaging material or being made of the laminated packaging material.
- the invention relates to packaging containers intended for liquid food packaging.
- Packaging containers of the single use disposable type for liquid foods are often produced from a packaging laminate based on paperboard or carton.
- One such commonly occurring packaging container is marketed under the trademark Tetra Brik Aseptic® and is principally employed for aseptic packaging of liquid foods such as milk, fruit juices etc, sold for long term ambient storage.
- the packaging material in this known packaging container is typically a laminate comprising a bulk or core layer, of paper, paperboard or other cellulose-based material, and outer, liquid-tight layers of thermoplastics.
- the laminate in these packaging containers normally comprises at least one additional layer, most commonly an aluminium foil.
- innermost layer On the inside of the laminate, i.e. the side intended to face the filled food contents of a container produced from the laminate, there is an innermost layer, applied onto the aluminium foil, which innermost, inside layer may be composed of one or several part layers, comprising heat sealable thermoplastic polymers, such as adhesive polymers and/or polyolefins. Also on the outside of the bulk layer, there is an outermost heat sealable polymer layer.
- the packaging containers are generally produced by means of modern, high-speed packaging machines of the type that form, fill and seal packages from a web or from prefabricated blanks of packaging material.
- Packaging containers may thus be produced by reforming a web of the laminated packaging material into a tube by both of the longitudinal edges of the web being united to each other in an overlap joint by welding together the inner- and outermost heat sealable thermoplastic polymer layers.
- the tube is filled with the intended liquid food product and is thereafter divided into individual packages by repeated transversal seals of the tube at a
- the packages are separated from the tube by incisions along the transversal seals and are given the desired geometric configuration, normally parallelepipedic, by fold formation along prepared crease lines in the packaging material.
- the main advantage of this continuous tube-forming, filling and sealing packaging method concept is that the web may be sterilised continuously just before tube-forming, thus providing for the possibility of an aseptic packaging method, i.e. a method wherein the liquid content to be filled as well as the packaging material itself are reduced from bacteria and the filled packaging container is produced under clean conditions such that the filled package may be stored for a long time even at ambient temperature, without the risk of growth of micro-organisms in the filled product.
- an aseptic packaging method i.e. a method wherein the liquid content to be filled as well as the packaging material itself are reduced from bacteria and the filled packaging container is produced under clean conditions such that the filled package may be stored for a long time even at ambient temperature, without the risk of growth of micro-organisms in the filled product.
- Tetra Brik® -type packaging method is, as stated above, the possibility of continuous high-speed packaging, which has considerable impact on cost efficiency.
- Packaging containers for sensitive liquid food can also be produced from sheet-like blanks or prefabricated blanks of the laminated packaging material of the invention.
- packages are produced by first of all building the blank up to form an open tubular container capsule, of which one open end is closed off by means of folding and heat-sealing of integral end panels.
- the thus closed container capsule is filled with the food product in question, e.g. juice, through its open end, which is thereafter closed off by means of further folding and heat-sealing of corresponding integral end panels.
- An example of a packaging container produced from sheet-like and tubular blanks is the conventional so-called gable-top package.
- packages of this type which have a moulded top and/or screw cap made of plastic.
- a layer of an aluminium foil in the packaging laminate provides gas barrier properties quite superior to most polymeric gas barrier materials.
- the conventional aluminium-foil based packaging laminate for liquid food aseptic packaging is still the most cost-efficient packaging material, at its level of performance, available on the market today.
- Any other material to compete with the foil-based materials must be cost-efficient regarding raw materials, have comparable food preserving properties and have a comparably low complexity in the converting into a finished packaging laminate.
- barrier films provide insufficient barrier or mechanical strength properties to a laminated packaging material, generate too high total packaging material costs, or fail due to both said aspects.
- films having two or more consecutive layers for providing barrier properties become too expensive to be economically feasible in a packaging laminate.
- costs are added to the packaging material structure as a whole, because such multi-barrier films and packaging materials are much more expensive to manufacture.
- an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least alleviate, the above-described problems in barrier films and sheets for laminating into packaging materials.
- packaging materials for oxygen-sensitive products such as laminated packaging materials for liquid, semi-solid or wet food products, which do not contain aluminium foil but still have good gas and other barrier properties suitable for long-term, aseptic packaging at reasonable cost.
- a particular object is to provide a, relative to aluminium foil barrier materials, cost-efficient, non-foil, paper- or paperboard-based, laminated packaging material, having good gas barrier properties, and good water vapour barrier properties, for the purpose of manufacturing packages for long- term, aseptic food storage.
- Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a cost-efficient, non- foil, paper- or paperboard-based and heat-sealable packaging laminate having good gas barrier properties, good water vapour barrier properties and good internal adhesion between the layers, for the purpose of manufacturing aseptic packaging containers for long-term storage of liquid foods at maintained nutritional quality under ambient conditions.
- the barrier film in connection with the present invention, is meant that the packaging container should be able to preserve the qualities of the packed food product, i.e. nutritional value, hygienic safety and taste, at ambient conditions for at least 1 or 2 months, such as at least 3 months, preferably longer, such as 6 months, such as 12 months, or more.
- package integrity is generally meant the package durability, i.e. the resistance to leakage or breakage of a packaging container.
- a main contribution to this property is that within a packaging laminate there is provided good internal adhesion between adjacent layers of the laminated packaging material. Another contribution comes from the material resistance to defects, such as pinholes, ruptures and the like within the material layers, and yet another contribution comes from the strength of the sealing joints, by which the material is sealed together at the formation of a packaging container.
- the integrity property is thus mainly focused on the adhesion of the respective laminate layers to its adjacent layers, as well as the quality of the individual material layers.
- a durable barrier film for use in laminated packaging materials for liquid food products and for packaging of products sensitive to oxygen and other gases
- the barrier film comprising a polymer film substrate and a durable diamond-like carbon (DLC) barrier coating vapour-deposition coated thereon, providing gas barrier properties as well as water vapour barrier properties in a packaging material and packages made thereof, the coating being a single-layer gradient diamond-like coating, DLC, exhibiting from the interface with the polymer film substrate throughout the depth of the coating towards the surface thereof, a gradient of decreasing oxygen ion content to a minimum value and a subsequent increase, the decreasing gradient having a slope of from above 5- 10 4 and up to 5- 10 5 counts per nanometer coating thickness, such as from 8- 10 4 to 1 ,2- 10 5 , such as from 9- 10 4 to 1 ,1 - 10 5 , such as 10 5 , counts per nanometer, the minimum value being located at from 40 to 60 %, such as at from 45 to 55
- the coating is a single-layer gradient diamond-like coating, DLC, exhibiting mainly three zones, with gradient interfaces between them, of which zones, as observed from the polymer film substrate and outwards through the barrier coating towards the surface of the coated barrier film, and as depicted by an intensity-versus-time diagram by surface analysis by Dynamic Time of Flight Secondary ion Mass Spectroscopy, ToF-SiMS, the first zone exhibits an oxygen concentration uptake, close to the surface of the polymer film substrate C, the second zone exhibits a decreasing oxygen concentration, as a negative slope seen from right to left in the diagram, while the third zone exhibits a recovery of the oxygen concentration, at the surface of the DLC coating B, the concentrations of the carbon and hydrogen ionic groups remaining at a substantially constant level throughout the three coating zones and the depth of the coating.
- DLC Dynamic Time of Flight Secondary ion Mass Spectroscopy
- the polymer film substrate is a film selected from the group consisting of films based on polyesters or polyamides or on blends thereof, and on multilayer films having a surface layer
- the polymer film substrate is a film selected from the group consisting of films based on polyethylene
- PET mono- or biaxially oriented PET
- POPET mono- or biaxially oriented PET
- PF polyethylene furanoate
- PBT polyethylene napthanate
- PEN polyethylene napthanate
- PA polyamide
- PA non-oriented or oriented polyamide
- PA polypropylene
- PP mono- or biaxially oriented polypropylene
- PP polyethylenes
- HDPE high density polyethylene
- LLDPE linear low density polyethylene
- COC cyclo- olefin co-polymers
- the polymer film substrate is a film selected from the group consisting of films based on polyesters or polyamides or on blends or laminate combinations of such polymers.
- the polymer film substrate is a film selected from the group consisting of films based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), mono- or biaxially oriented PET (OPET, BOPET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene napthanate (PEN), non- oriented polyamide, oriented polyamide (PA, OPA, BOPA), or on blends of two or more of said polymers , or on multilayer films having a surface layer comprising such polymers or blends thereof.
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- OPET mono- or biaxially oriented PET
- PBT polybutylene terephthalate
- PEN polyethylene napthanate
- PA oriented polyamide
- PA OPA
- BOPA multilayer films having a surface layer comprising such polymers or blends thereof.
- the polyamide is selected from a the group consisting of aliphatic polyamides, such as polyamide 6 or polyamide 6,6, semi-aromatic polyamides, such as nylon-MXD6 or Selar, or blends of aliphatic and semi-aromatic polyamides.
- the polymer film substrate is an oriented PET film.
- the polymer film substrate has a thickness of 12 ⁇ or lower, such as from 8 to 12 ⁇ , such as 12 ⁇ .
- Thinner polymer film substrates do exist commercially and would be feasible within the scope of the present invention, but it is presently not realistic to go below 8 ⁇ , and films thinner than 4 ⁇ would be difficult from a web-handling point of view in industrial coating and lamination processes for packaging.
- films thicker than 12-15 ⁇ are of course feasible but less interesting for laminated packaging materials of the invention from a cost-efficiency view, and also since they add too much strength and toughness for the functionality of opening devices and
- the polymer film substrate should be 12 ⁇ or below, such as an oriented PET film of from 10 to 12 ⁇ , such as about 12 ⁇ . At higher thickness of the film substrate, the tearing and cutting properties of the laminated packaging material are impaired because of the higher strength of the material.
- the polymer film substrate has an adhesion-promoting primer coating on its other side, opposite the side coated with the single-layer gradient durable DLC barrier coating.
- the adhesion- promoting primer coating may be a composition comprising a compound selected from the group of aminosilanes and polyethyleneimines.
- the durable DLC barrier coating is deposited to a thickness of from 2 to 50 nm, such as from 5 to 40 nm, such as from 5 to 35 nm, such as from 10 to 35 nm, such as from 20 to 30 nm.
- the durable DLC barrier coating has a content of sp2 bonds from 60 to 70 %, based on the total content of sp2 and sp3 hybrid bonds in the durable DLC coating. Coatings of particularly good properties have proven to have such configuration.
- the durable barrier film obtained by the above method shows excellent properties in many respects, such as low OTR, low WVTR, good aroma and odour barrier properties as well as good chemical resistance, and proves to have good mechanical properties in subsequent handling operations such as lamination into a laminated packaging material and the fold-forming and sealing operations of such a laminated material into packages.
- the excellent mechanical properties are believe to be explainable by the durability of the DLC barrier coating being optimised by the PECVD coating method conditions, and meaning that there is good cohesion within the deposited DLC barrier layer, as well as good adhesion and bonding to the surface of the polymer film substrate.
- An important indicator of such excellent mechanical properties, as useful for liquid packaging is the crack-onset- strain, COS, i.e. the strain of the barrier film, at which the oxygen barrier properties begin to deteriorate. It has been seen that for PET-based films, the COS for the durable DLC coating is above 2 %.
- a barrier film comprising a polymer film substrate of PET, having a thickness of 12 ⁇ or lower, and a durable DLC barrier coating, vapour deposition coated onto the polymer film substrate at a thickness from 20 to 30 nm, the film having an oxygen transmission rate, OTR, lower than or equal to an upper specification limit of 3,0 cc/day/m2/atm, as measured by Mocon 2/60 at 23 °C and 50% RH, and a water vapour transmission rate, WVTR, lower than or equal to 1 g/day/m2, as measured by Mocon Permatran or Lyssy equipment, at 38 °C and 20% RH, and a crack onset strain, COS, equal to or above 2 %.
- OTR oxygen transmission rate
- WVTR water vapour transmission rate
- the oxygen barrier of the barrier film from the beginning should be better than or equal to 3,0 cc/day/m 2 /atm, at 23 °C and 50 % RH.
- the film barrier is as good as possible, but this is regarded to be a limit OTR level that is useful for some purposes of liquid food packaging.
- the polymer film substrate has an adhesion-promoting primer coating on its other side, opposite the side coated with the single-layer gradient durable DLC barrier coating.
- the purpose of the adhesion-promoting primer coating is, to create or improve the adhesion strength to an adjacent extrusion-coated polymer, such as a polyolefin-based polymer layer and the contacting surface thereof.
- the adhesion- promoting primer coating is a composition comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes and polyethyleneimines.
- the adhesion-promoting primer coating is a second coating of an amorphous diamond-like coating (DLC).
- DLC amorphous diamond-like coating
- Such an adhesion-promoting primer DLC coating is applied at a thickness from 2 to 50 nm, such as from 2 to 10 nm, such as from 2 to 5 nm.
- a laminated packaging material comprising the barrier film of the invention is provided.
- the laminated packaging material may further comprise a first outermost liquid tight, heat sealable polyolefin layer and a second innermost liquid tight, heat sealable polyolefin layer.
- the laminated packaging material comprises a bulk layer of paper or paperboard, a first outermost liquid tight, heat sealable polyolefin layer, a second innermost liquid tight, heat sealable polyolefin layer and, arranged on the inner side of the bulk layer of paper or paperboard, towards the inside of a packaging container made from the packaging material, between the bulk layer and the innermost layer, said barrier film.
- the barrier sheet or film is bonded to the bulk layer by an intermediate adhesive, or thermoplastic polymer bonding layer, thus binding the surface of the durable DLC barrier coating of the barrier film to the bulk layer.
- the bonding layer is a polyolefin layer, such as in particular a layer of a
- the bonding layer is binding the bulk layer to the barrier film by melt extrusion laminating the bonding polymer layer between a web of the bulk layer and a web of the film layer, and
- the polymer film substrate of the barrier film has an adhesion-promoting primer coating on its other side, opposite the side coated with the single-layer gradient durable DLC barrier coating, and wherein the barrier film is bonded to the second innermost liquid tight, heat sealable polyolefin layer by means of the adhesion-promoting primer coating.
- the laminated packaging material according to the invention has excellent integrity, by providing excellent adhesion between the adjacent layers within the laminated construction and by providing good quality of the barrier coating.
- the inter-layer adhesion within the laminated packaging material is maintained also under wet packaging conditions.
- this DLC type of vapour deposited barrier coatings applied by means of a plasma coating technology, such as by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition, PECVD, has excellent laminate integrity properties.
- Barrier coatings from other types of vapour deposition chemistry do not, on the other hand, show good integrity properties in a laminated material of the same kind under wet and humid conditions.
- This extraordinary adhesion compatibility of this DLC coating to organic polymers, such as in particular polyolefins, also under wet conditions was unexpected and surprising, and makes such barrier films particularly suitable for liquid packaging.
- the barrier film of the laminated packaging material is a double barrier film, which comprises a first barrier film being laminated and bonded to a further identical or similar second barrier film by means of an interjacent thermoplastic bonding layer.
- the barrier coatings may be facing towards each other with the interjacent thermoplastic bonding layer in between.
- the barrier coatings may be facing away from each other, such that the adhesion-promoting primer coatings are bonded to each other by the the interjacent thermoplastic bonding layer.
- a further alternative is to stack the two films to each other such that both barrier coatings are facing in the same direction.
- the double barrier film may be further laminated to a bulk layer, such as a paper or paperboard or other cellulose-based material.
- a first barrier film is laminated and bonded to a further identical or similar second barrier film by means of an interjacent thermoplastic bonding layer, the laminated packaging material further comprising a first outermost liquid tight, heat sealable polymer layer on the opposite, not laminated side of the first barrier film and a second innermost liquid tight, heat sealable polymer layer on the opposite, not laminated side of the second barrier film.
- the laminated packaging material according to the invention has excellent integrity, by providing excellent adhesion between the adjacent layers within the laminated construction and by providing good quality of the barrier coating under high humidity conditions as in liquid carton laminate packaging.
- the inter-layer adhesion within the laminated packaging material is maintained also under wet packaging conditions.
- vapour deposition barrier coatings As various types of vapour deposition barrier coatings, it has been confirmed that this DLC type of vapour deposited barrier coatings, applied by means of a plasma coating technology, such as by plasma enhanced vapour deposition, PECVD, has excellent laminate integrity properties. Barrier coatings from other types of PECVD deposition chemistry, such as SiOx or AIOx coatings, do not, on the other hand, show good integrity properties in a laminated material of the same kind under wet and humid conditions. This extraordinary adhesion compatibility of DLC coatings to organic polymers, such as in particular polyolefins and most particularly polyethylenes, also under wet conditions was unexpected and surprising, and makes such barrier films particularly suitable for liquid carton packaging.
- PECVD plasma enhanced vapour deposition
- a packaging container comprising the laminated packaging material of the invention, intended for packaging of liquid, semi-solid or wet food.
- the packaging container is manufactured from the laminated packaging material of the invention, and according to a further embodiment it is in its entirety made of the laminated packaging material.
- the packaging container may be formed from the laminated packaging material partly sealed, filled with liquid or semi-liquid food and subsequently sealed, by sealing of the
- packaging material to itself, optionally in combination with a plastic opening or top part of the package.
- various vapour deposition barrier coatings have been considered in designing packaging materials that fulfil the gas barrier criteria as well as the needs of various mechanical and other physical properties.
- Vapour deposited barrier layers may be applied by means of physical vapour deposition (PVD) or chemical vapour deposition (CVD) onto a substrate surface of a film material.
- PVD physical vapour deposition
- CVD chemical vapour deposition
- the substrate material itself may contribute with some properties as well, but should above all have appropriate surface properties, suitable for receiving a vapour deposition coating, and working efficiently in a vapour deposition process.
- Thin vapour deposited layers are normally merely nanometer-thick, i.e. have a thickness in the order of magnitude of nanometers, for example of from 1 to 500 nm (50 to 5000 A), preferably from 1 to 200 nm, more preferably from 1 to 100 nm and most preferably from 1 to 50 nm.
- vapour deposition coating often having some barrier properties, in particular water vapour barrier properties, are so called metallisation coatings, e.g. aluminium metal physical vapour deposition coatings.
- Such a vapour deposited layer substantially consisting of aluminium metal may have a thickness of from 5 to 50 nm, which corresponds to less than 1 % of the aluminium metal material present in an aluminium foil of conventional thickness for packaging, i.e. 6,3 ⁇ .
- vapour deposition metal coatings require significantly less metal material, they only provide a low level of oxygen barrier properties, at most, and need to be combined with a further gas barrier material in order to provide a final laminated material with sufficient barrier properties. On the other hand, it may complement a further gas barrier layer, which does not have water vapour barrier properties, but which is rather sensitive to moisture.
- vapour deposition coatings are aluminium oxide (AlOx, AI 2 O 3 ) and silicon oxide (SiOx) coatings.
- AlOx, AI 2 O 3 aluminium oxide
- SiOx silicon oxide
- PVD-coatings are more brittle and less suitable for incorporation into packaging materials by lamination, while metallised layers as an exception do have suitable mechanical properties for lamination material despite being made by PVD.
- Other coatings which have been studied for laminated packaging materials may be applied by means of a plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition method (PECVD), wherein a vapour of a compound is deposited onto the substrate under more or less oxidising circumstances.
- PECVD plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition method
- Silicon oxide coatings (SiOx) may, for example, also be applied by a PECVD process, and may then obtain very good barrier properties under certain coating conditions and gas recipes.
- SiOx coatings show bad adhesion properties when laminated by melt extrusion lamination to polyolefins and other adjacent polymer layers. Special expensive adhesives or adhesive polymers are needed to reach sufficient adhesion in a packaging laminate of the type intended for liquid carton packaging.
- the vapour deposition coating of the invention is a specific amorphous hydrogenated carbon barrier layer applied by a PECVD process, i.e. a specific durable diamond-like carbon (DLC).
- DLC defines a class of amorphous carbon material that displays some of the typical properties of diamond.
- a hydrocarbon gas such as e.g. acetylene or methane, is used as process gas in the plasma for producing the coating.
- the barrier film has a durable DLC barrier coating with tailor-made properties for the use in liquid carton packaging laminates.
- the durable DLC high barrier coating provides particularly good barrier properties to filled packaging containers made from a packaging laminate comprising the barrier film of the invention, by contributing with excellent mechanical properties as well as by resulting in excellent barrier properties to various substances migrating through such laminated materials in either inward or outward direction from a filled package, and in addition by excellent adhesion to adjacent polymer layers in a laminate.
- the barrier film provides a packaging laminate and a packaging container with the whole contribution of oxygen barrier properties as well as water vapour barrier properties, and there is no need to add further oxygen barrier materials in order to produce an aseptic food packaging container for long term ambient storage, such as for up to 2-6 months, such as for up to 12 months.
- the durable DLC high barrier coating provides good barrier properties to various aroma and flavour substances present in the packed food product, to low-molecular substances possibly appearing in the adjacent layers of materials, and to odours and other gases than oxygen.
- the durable DLC barrier coating exhibits very good mechanical properties, as coated on a polymer film substrate, when laminated into a carton-based packaging laminate, withstanding lamination and subsequent fold-forming of the packaging laminate and sealing it into filled packages.
- the durable DLC barrier coating has excellent gas barrier properties as well as water vapour barrier properties, along with a high crack onset strain (COS), which is a measure of how the oxygen barrier properties deteriorate with increased strain of a coated barrier film.
- COS crack onset strain
- the measurement of COS is an indirect indication of the mechanical strength and durability of the coated barrier film, including properties such as adhesion of the durable DLC barrier coating to the polymer film substrate and the cohesion within the durable DLC barrier coating, when used in lamination and conversion from laminated packaging material into foldformed, filled and sealed packaging containers.
- the COS for a biaxially oriented PET film, coated with the durable DLC barrier coating of the invention is higher than 2 %, and this can normally be related to the oxygen barrier properties of the coating not starting to deteriorate until straining the film above 2 %.
- the durable DLC barrier coating is according to an embodiment, applied by means of a PECVD process, under vacuum conditions.
- the patent publication US 7,806,981 discloses such a device and method for
- the device comprises a coating station with a vacuum chamber and within the vacuum chamber a rotating drum which supports and transports the web substrate and which forms a counter-electrode.
- a web of sheet or film substrate is thus un-wound from a roll and forwarded by travelling over a rotating drum, passing by the plasma reaction and coating zone of the reactor, and re- wound onto a roll on the other side of the drum.
- the device further comprises a plurality of magnetron electrodes on the periphery of the rotating drum. The magnetron electrodes are facing the surface of the web substrate.
- the device further comprises means for supplying a process gas to the space between the rotating drum and the magnetron electrodes.
- the magnetron electrodes are suitably powered with an alternating voltage at 40-50 kHz.
- the plasma is capacitively coupled to the power, and magnetically confined by the magnetron electrodes placed at a pre-determined distance from and around the drum electrode and its circumferential surface.
- the rotating drum is according to an embodiment cooled, in order to keep sensitive substrates at a constant temperature.
- the polymer film substrate is cooled to a constant temperature of 10 degrees Celsius or lower.
- the substrate is moved through the plasma zone at a constant speed, by being carried and transported by the drum, the speed being regulated by the drum rotational speed.
- the magnetron electrodes may be individually powered, in order to enable better control of the process and a uniform plasma across the whole plasma reaction zone.
- the gas employed for creating the plasma precursor gas of radicals, ions and molecules consists of acetylene.
- the ratio of the power to the acetylene gas flow at from 1 ,8 to 4, such as from 1 ,8 to 3,5, and by maintaining the gas pressure in the reactor at from 30 to 60 ⁇ bar, a good plasma is formed, in order to deposit the durable DLC barrier coating onto the polymer film substrate surface.
- a pre-treatment of the substrate surface, with argon, nitrogen or oxygen plasma or a mixture of one or more thereof, is preceding the plasma coating operation, in order to get the right interface between the polymer film substrate and the durable DLC coating.
- the thickness of the durable DLC high barrier coating may vary between 2 and 50 nm. When useful barrier properties are desired, the coating should better be thicker than 2 nm. Some low barrier properties may be obtainable already at 2 nm, however.
- the web substrate can be a single-layered or multi-layered film.
- a multi-layered film particularly has a substrate surface polymer layer.
- the web substrate i.e. the single layer polymer film or the substrate surface layer of the multilayer polymer film, can be of polyester, as e.g. a
- PET polyethyleneterephthalate
- PETF polyethylenefuranoate
- the web substrate or film can also be of polyalkene, as e.g. polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or cyclo-olefine (co)polymer (COC).
- the web substrate or film can also be of polyamide (PA) or liquid-crystal polymer (LCP).
- the web substrate or film can also be of halogenated plastic as e.g. polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC).
- the polymer film substrate is according to an embodiment selected from an oriented polyethyleneterephthalate (OPET, BOPET) film, an oriented polypropylene (BOPP, OPP), an oriented polyethylene (OHDPE, BOHDPE, OLLDPE) film or an oriented polyamide (OPA, BOPA) film.
- OPET oriented polyethyleneterephthalate
- BOPP oriented polypropylene
- OPDPE oriented polyethylene
- OLDPE oriented polyethylene
- OPA oriented polyamide
- the polymer film substrate is a BOPET film of a thickness of 12 ⁇ or lower, such as 8 ⁇ or lower, such as 8-12 ⁇ .
- Oriented films usually exhibit an increased strength and toughness against tearing or cutting through the film, and when included in laminated packaging materials such films can cause difficulties in opening of a package.
- the openability of a subsequently laminated packaging material will not be impaired, in
- PET films are robust and cost efficient films with good mechanical properties, and this makes them particularly suitable substrates for DLC vapour deposition coating and also due to some inherent high temperature resistance and relative resistance to chemicals and moisture.
- the surface of a PET film also has high smoothness and good affinity to vapour deposited DLC coatings and vice versa.
- the polymer film substrate is a BOPET film that has an adhesion-promoting primer coating applied to the other side of the BOPET film, in order to provide better bonding to adjacent layers on both sides of the barrier film, when laminating the film into a laminated packaging material.
- the adhesion-promoting primer coating may be applied by a composition comprising a compound selected from the group of aminosilanes and polyethyleneimines.
- a particular example of a primer suitable for the purpose of the invention is the 2DEF® primer used on the Hostaphan® RNK12 BOPET film from Mitsubishi, as used in the examples hereinafter.
- DLC barrier coatings further have the advantage of being recyclable, without leaving residues that in the recycled content that contain elements or materials that are not naturally existing in nature and our surrounding environment.
- the durable barrier film is thus included in a laminated material suitable for packaging, whereby the durable barrier film is laminated to heat sealable, liquid-tight, polyolefin layers on both sides.
- Suitable thermoplastics for the outermost and innermost heat sealable liquid-tight layers are polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene homo- or co-polymers, preferably polyethylenes and more preferably polyethylenes selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear LDPE (LLDPE), single site catalyst metallocene polyethylenes (m-LLDPE) and blends or copolymers thereof.
- LDPE low density polyethylene
- LLDPE linear LDPE
- m-LLDPE single site catalyst metallocene polyethylenes
- the outermost heat sealable and liquid-tight layer is an LDPE
- the innermost heat sealable, liquid-tight layer is a blend composition of m-LLDPE and LDPE for optimal lamination and heat sealing properties.
- thermoplastic polyolefin-based materials as listed regarding the outermost and innermost layers, and in particular
- polyehtylenese are also suitable in bonding layers interior of the laminated material, i.e. between a bulk or core layer, such as paper or paperboard, and the barrier film.
- the thermoplastic bonding layer may be a polyethylene layer, such as a low density polyethylene (LDPE) layer.
- LDPE low density polyethylene
- suitable bonding or tie layers interior of the laminated material are also so-called adhesive thermoplastic polymers, such as modified polyolefins, which are mostly based on LDPE or LLDPE co-polymers or, graft co-polymers with functional-group containing monomer units, such as carboxylic or glycidyl functional groups, e.g. (meth)acrylic acid monomers or maleic anhydride (MAH) monomers, (i.e.
- ethylene acrylic acid copolymer EAA or ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer (EMAA)
- EAA ethylene acrylic acid copolymer
- EEMAA ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer
- EAA ethylene acrylic acid copolymer
- EEMAA ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer
- EAA ethylene acrylic acid copolymer
- EEMAA ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer
- modified polyolefin is an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) or an ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer (EMAA).
- Corresponding modified polypropylene-based thermoplastic adhesives or bonding layers may also be useful, depending on the requirements of the finished packaging containers.
- Such adhesive polymer layers or tie layers are applied together with the respective outer layer in a co-extrusion coating operation.
- Adhesion measurements are performed at room temperature with a 180° degrees peel force test apparatus (Telemetric Instrument AB), 24 h after the LDPE lamination. Peeling is performed at the DLC/LDPE interface, the peel arm being the barrier film. When needed, distilled water droplets are added to the peeled interface during peeling to assess the adhesion under wet conditions, i.e. the conditions when the laminated packaging material has been saturated with migrating moisture through the material layers, from the liquid stored in a packaging container made from the laminated material, and/or by storage in a wet or highly humid environment. The given adhesion value is given in N/m and is an average of 6 measurements.
- a dry adhesion of more than 200 N/m ensures that the layers do not delaminate under normal package manufacturing conditions, e.g. when bending and fold-forming the laminated material.
- a wet adhesion of this same level ensures that the layers of the packaging laminate do not delaminate after filling and package formation, during transport, distribution and storage.
- the interior bonding polymer layer may be coated directly onto the polymer film substrate having the durable DLC barrier layer coated thereon, by using common techniques and machines, e.g. those known for the lamination of an aluminum foil, in particular hot lamination (extrusion) of the polymer layer from a molten polymer. Also, using a pre-made polymer film and binding it directly to the barrier-coated carrier film by locally melting it, e.g. by applying heat with a hot cylinder or heated roller, is possible.
- the durable DLC barrier film can be handled in a similar way to an aluminium foil barrier in the lamination and conversion methods into a laminated packaging material.
- the lamination equipment and methods do not require any modification, by for example adding specific adhesive polymers or binder/tie layers as may be required in previously known plasma coated materials.
- the new barrier film including the durable DLC barrier layer coated thereon can be made as thin as an aluminium foil without adversely affecting the barrier properties in the final food package.
- the peel force strength between the durable DLC barrier coating layer and the further, laminating, bonding polymer layer as measured by a 180° peel test method under dry and wet conditions (by putting water at the peeling interface) ) (as described above) is higher than 200 N/m, such as higher than 300 N/m.
- a dry adhesion of more than 200 N/m ensures that the layers do not delaminate under normal manufacturing conditions, e.g. when bending and fold-forming the laminated material.
- a wet adhesion of the same level ensures that the layers of the packaging laminate do not delaminate after filling and package formation, during transport, distribution and storage.
- Fig. 1 a is schematically showing, a barrier film in cross-section, comprising a polymer film substrate and a durable DLC barrier coating deposited thereon, according to the invention
- Fig. 1 b shows a similar film coated on its other side with an adhesive primer
- Fig. 1 c schematically shows a similar barrier film in cross-section, comprising a polymer film substrate which has been vapour deposition coated on both sides with the durable DLC barrier coating, in two consecutive vapour deposition coating steps,
- Fig. 2a is showing a schematic, cross-sectional view of a laminated packaging material according to an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 2b is showing a schematic, cross-sectional view of a further laminated packaging material according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising the durable barrier film of Fig. 1 c,
- Fig. 3 shows schematically a method, for laminating the durable barrier film of the invention into a laminated packaging material for liquid packaging, having a core or bulk layer of paperboard or carton,
- Fig. 4 is showing a diagrammatic view of a plant for plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) coating, by means of a magnetron plasma, onto a substrate film,
- PECVD plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition
- Fig. 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are showing typical examples of packaging containers produced from the laminated packaging material according to the invention.
- Fig. 6 is showing the principle of how such packaging containers are manufactured from the packaging laminate in a continuous, roll-fed, form, fill and seal process
- Fig. 7 shows a Dynamic Time of Flight Secondary ion Mass
- Fig. 8 shows a Dynamic Time of Flight Secondary ion Mass
- Spectroscopy diagram, ToF-SiMS in which the elementary composition of the durable DLC coating is analysed through the depth of the coating, from the polymer film substrate surface C, over the interface A to the barrier coating and up to the surface of the barrier coating B, wherein the polymer film substrate is a polyamide, PA, film.
- a 12 ⁇ thick film of biaxially oriented polyethyleneterephthalate (BOPET Hostaphan RNK12 by Mitsubishi) was deposition coated in a roll-to- roll plasma reactor, by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition
- PECVD plasma under vacuum conditions.
- the plasma being capacitively coupled to the power delivered at 40 kHz frequency, and being magnetically confined by unbalanced magnetron electrodes placed at a distance from the
- the film was first pre-treated with argon gas at a flow of 3 standard litres per minute, slm, and a pre-treatment power of 5 kW. Subsequently, the film was coated by depositing an amorphous,
- the method for determining OTR identifies the amount of oxygen per surface and time unit at passing through a material at a defined temperature, given atmospheric pressure, and chosen driving force.
- Water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) measurements were carried out by a Lyssy instrument (norm: ASTM F1249-01 using a modulated Infrared sensor for relative humidity detection and WVTR measurement) at 38°C and 90% driving force. This test method is dedicated to measure Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) properties of films. The procedure is done according to ASTM F1249-01 using a modulated Infrared sensor for relative humidity detection and WVTR measurement.
- the precursor gas pressure in the plasma reaction zone during the sample test runs in Table 1 was kept at 42-52 ⁇ bar.
- the barrier film and the surface of the durable DLC coating has excellent adhesion to an adjacent polyolefin laminate layer, which has been measured to be above 200 N/m, such as above 300 N/m, in adhering to an adjacent polyethylene layer.
- the oxygen transmission rates in Table 2 were measured on Mocon 2/60 at 23 °C and 50% RH.
- the polymer film substrate was a 12 ⁇ thick film of oriented PET. All samples except F2_150205 * and F2_150128 * were made from the same polymer film substrate as used in Table 1, i.e. (BOPET Hostaphan RNK12 by
- ⁇ * is the median value of the OTR and ⁇ * is the multiplicative standard deviation.
- the USL is the upper specification limit given at 3 sigma ( ⁇ *3 ) in a lognormal distribution.
- n is the number of samples, i.e. the number of samples taken from the barrier film to do measurements on.
- silicon-containing barrier coatings were formed from organosilane pre-cursor gas compounds.
- the film samples according to the invention were coated by depositing an amorphous, hydrogenated diamond-like coating DLC from a plasma formed from pure acetylene gas.
- the plasma employed was capacitively coupled to the power delivered at 40 kHz frequency, and magnetically confined by unbalanced magnetron electrodes placed at a distance from the circumferential surface of a rotating drum, which functioned as a combined film-web transporting means and electrode.
- the polymer film substrate was cooled by cooling means within the drum web-transporting means.
- the DLC coating was in a first example applied to a thickness of about 15-30 nm, and in a second example to a thickness of only about 2-4 nm.
- the SiOx coatings were coated to a thickness of about 10 nm.
- LDPE low density polyethylene
- the adhesion between the thus extrusion coated LDPE layer and the barrier-coated substrate PET film was measured by a 180°peel test method under dry and wet conditions (by putting distilled water at the peeling interface) as described above.
- An adhesion of more than 200 N/m ensures that the layers do not delaminate under normal manufacturing conditions, e.g. when bending and fold-forming the laminated material.
- a wet adhesion of this same level ensures that the layers of the packaging laminate do not delaminate after filling and package formation, during transport, distribution and storage.
- the dry adhesion of a DLC coating to extrusion coated LDPE is slightly better than for the best of the tested SiOxCyNz coatings.
- the more important and unforeseeable difference, compared to the SiOxCyNz coatings is that the adhesion remains constant under wet or humid conditions, such as are the conditions for laminated beverage carton packaging.
- DLC adhesion-promoting layer is preferable from both environmental and cost perspective, since it only involves carbon atoms in the adhesion layer, and since it may be made very thin in order to just provide adhesion, or thicker in order to provide also barrier properties.
- the adhesion obtained is at least as good as that of a chemical primer (such as the 2 DEF® from Mitsubishi) under both dry and wet conditions. Double-sided applications of DLC coatings onto the polymer film substrate would have to be carried out in two consecutive process steps, however.
- a similar BOPET film to the one used in the above Example was coated with similar thin DLC coatings on one and two sides, as described in Table 2.
- OTR was measured as cc/m 2 /day/atm at 23 °C and 50 % RH, by the same method as in the above Example.
- the DLC-coated films were subsequently laminated into packaging material structures including a paperboard with an outer LDPE layer, by means of a bonding layer of 15 g/m 2 of LDPE, and by being further coated on the opposite side of the film with an inside layer of a blend of LDPE and mLLDPE at 25 g/m 2 .
- the OTR was measured on the laminated packaging material by the same method as described previously.
- the laminated packaging materials were reformed into 1000 ml standard Tetra Brik® Aseptic packaging containers, on which the total oxygen transmission was further measured, by a Mocon 1000 equipment at 23 °C and 50 % RH. The results from the measurements are presented in table 2.
- the oxygen barrier properties were on the same level or even improved by the film of Test B, although the film in Test B was coated with only two very thin DLC coatings, while in Test A, one of the coatings was thicker and actually intended for providing the resulting oxygen barrier properties of the film.
- the film of Test A was indeed better, but when laminated into a final laminated packaging material structure, and used in a packaging container, both the two films were performing very well, and the film of Test B was even performing better than the film of Test A.
- high-integrity packaging laminates which have maintained excellent adhesion between layers also when used in liquid packaging, i.e. at subjecting the packaging material to wet conditions, and which may consequently protect other layers of the laminate from deterioration, in order to provide as good laminated material properties as possible.
- the durable DLC coatings in accordance with the invention provide both good oxygen barrier properties and water vapour barrier properties, it is a highly valuable type of barrier coating to be used in carton package laminates for liquid food products.
- a first embodiment of a barrier film 10a of the invention.
- the polymer film substrate 1 1 is a PET or PA or polyolefin, preferably BOPET, film substrate coated with a durable, amorphous DLC coating 12, by means of plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition, PECVD, coating, in order to improve the oxygen barrier (decrease the OTR value).
- the vapour deposited coating 12 is a carbon coating (C:H) which is evenly deposited to a brownish transparent coating colour.
- the thickness of the durable DLC coating is preferably from 5 to 50 nm, more preferably from 5 to 30 ⁇ .
- a similar polymer film substrate 1 1 as in Fig. 1 a in this case a BOPET film substrate, was vapour deposition coated on the coating side with a similar, durable, amorphous DLC coating 12, by means of plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition, PECVD, coating, in order to improve the oxygen barrier (decrease the OTR value).
- PECVD plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition
- the film substrate is coated with a thin layer of an adhesion-promoting primer 13, such as 2-DEF, a polyethyleneimine- based priming composition from Mitsubishi Chemicals.
- the OTR of the film was measured to be lower than 1 cc/day/m2/atm at 23 °C and 50 % RH.
- a laminated packaging material 20a of the invention for liquid carton packaging, is shown, in which the laminated material comprises a paperboard bulk layer 21 of paperboard, having a bending force of 320 mN, and further comprises an outer liquid tight and heat sealable layer 22 of polyolefin applied on the outside of the bulk layer 21 , which side is to be directed towards the outside of a packaging container produced from the packaging laminate.
- the polyolefin of the outer layer 22 is a conventional low density polyethylene (LDPE) of a heat sealable quality, but may include further similar polymers, including LLDPEs.
- LDPE low density polyethylene
- An innermost liquid tight and heat sealable layer 23 is arranged on the opposite side of the bulk layer 21 , which is to be directed towards the inside of a packaging container produced from the packaging laminate, i.e. the layer 23 will be in direct contact with the packaged product.
- the thus innermost heat sealable layer 23, which is to form the strongest seals of a liquid packaging container made from the laminated packaging material, comprises one or more in combination of polyethylenes selected from the groups consisting of LDPE, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and LLDPE produced by polymerising an ethylene monomer with a C4-C8, more preferably a C6-C8, alpha-olefin alkylene monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst, i.e. a so called
- m-LLDPE metallocene - LLDPE
- the bulk layer 21 is laminated to a durable barrier film 28, comprising a polymer film substrate 24, which is coated on a first side with a layer of a thin PECVD vapour deposited layer of amorphous, durable DLC barrier material, in accordance with the present invention, 25, at a thickness of from 20 to 30 nm.
- a durable barrier film 28 comprising a polymer film substrate 24, which is coated on a first side with a layer of a thin PECVD vapour deposited layer of amorphous, durable DLC barrier material, in accordance with the present invention, 25, at a thickness of from 20 to 30 nm.
- an adhesion-promoting primer 27 in this case 2-DEF®, a polyethyleneimine- based priming composition from Mitsubishi Chemicals.
- the first side of the thus durable barrier-coated film 24 is laminated to the bulk layer 21 by an intermediate layer 26 of bonding thermoplastic polymer or by a functionalised polyolefin-based adhesive polymer, in this example by a low density polyethylene (LDPE).
- the intermediate bonding layer 26 is formed by means of extrusion laminating the bulk layer and the durable barrier film to each other.
- the thickness of the intermediate bonding layer 26 is preferably from 7 to 20 ⁇ , more preferably from 12-18 ⁇ .
- the innermost heat sealable layer 23 may consist of two or several part-layers of the same or different kinds of LDPE or LLDPE or blends thereof.
- the PECVD-coated durable DLC barrier coating is containing substantial amounts of carbon material, which exhibits good adhesion compatibility with polymers, such as polyolefins, such as in particular polyethylene and polyethylene-based co-polymers.
- a laminated packaging material 20b of the invention for liquid carton packaging, is shown, in which the laminated material comprises a paperboard core layer 21 , having a bending force of 320 mN, and further comprises an outer liquid tight and heat sealable layer 22 of polyolefin applied on the outside of the bulk layer 21 , which side is to be directed towards the outside of a packaging container produced from the packaging laminate.
- the polyolefin of the outer layer 22 is a conventional low density polyethylene (LDPE) of a heat sealable quality, but may include further similar polymers, including LLDPEs.
- An innermost liquid tight and heat sealable layer 23 is arranged on the opposite side of the bulk layer 21 , which is to be directed towards the inside of a packaging container produced from the packaging laminate, i.e. the layer 23 will be in direct contact with the packaged product.
- the thus innermost heat sealable layer 23, which is to form the strongest seals of a liquid packaging container made from the laminated packaging material, comprises one or more in combination of polyethylenes selected from the groups consisting of LDPE, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and LLDPE produced by polymerising an ethylene monomer with a C4-C8, more preferably a C6-C8, alpha-olefin alkylene monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst, i.e. a so called metallocene - LLDPE (m-LLDPE).
- the bulk layer 21 is laminated to a durable barrier film 28, which is coated on both sides with a thin PECVD vapour deposited layer of
- amorphous, durable DLC barrier material in accordance with the present invention, 25a and 25b, each at a thickness of from 10 to 30 nm, in two consecutive PECVD coating operations, one per side of the substrate 24 polymer film.
- the thus durable barrier coated film 28 is laminated to the bulk layer 21 by an intermediate layer 26 of bonding thermoplastic polymer or by a functionalised polyolefin-based adhesive polymer, in this example by a low density polyethylene (LDPE).
- the intermediate bonding layer 26 is formed by means of extrusion laminating the bulk layer and the durable barrier film to each other.
- the thickness of the intermediate bonding layer 26 is preferably from 7 to 20 ⁇ , more preferably from 12-18 ⁇ .
- the innermost heat sealable layer 23 may consist of two or several part-layers of the same or different kinds of LDPE or LLDPE or blends thereof. Excellent adhesion will be obtained in the laminated material, in that the PECVD-coated durable DLC barrier coating is containing substantial amounts of carbon material, which exhibits good adhesion compatibility with polymers, such as polyolefins, such as in particular polyethylene and polyethylene-based co-polymers.
- polymers such as polyolefins, such as in particular polyethylene and polyethylene-based co-polymers.
- the lamination process 30 is shown, for the manufacturing of the packaging laminate 20, of Fig. 2, respectively, wherein the bulk layer 31 is laminated to the durable barrier film 10a or 10b (33) of Fig. 1 a and 1 b, by extruding an intermediate bonding layer of LDPE 34 from an extrusion station 35 and pressing together in a roller nip 36.
- the durable barrier film 10a; 10b; 33 has a durable DLC barrier coating, deposited on the surface of the polymer film substrate, whereby the DLC coating is to be directed towards the bulk layer when laminated at the lamination station 36.
- the laminated paper bulk and the barrier film passes a second extruder feedblock 37-2 and a lamination nip 37-1 , where an innermost heat sealable layer 23; 37-3 is coated onto the barrier-film side 10a;10b of the paper-film laminate forwarded from 36.
- the laminate, including an innermost heat sealable layer 37-3 passes a third extruder feedblock 38-2 and a lamination nip 38-1 , where an outermost heat sealable layer of LDPE 22; 38-3 is coated onto the outer side of the paper layer.
- This latter step may also be performed as a first extrusion coating operation before lamination at 36, according to an alternative embodiment.
- the finished packaging laminate 39 is finally wound onto a storage reel, not shown.
- Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an example of a plant for plasma enhanced vapour deposition coating, PECVD, of hydrogenated amorphous diamond-like carbon coatings onto a polymer film substrate.
- the film substrate 44 is subjected, on one of its surfaces, to continuous PECVD, of a plasma, 50, in a plasma reaction zone created in the space between magnetron electrodes 45, and a chilled film-transporting drum 46, which is also acting as an electrode, while the film is forwarded by the rotating drum, through the plasma reaction zone along the circumferential surface of the drum.
- PECVD plasma enhanced vapour deposition coating
- the plasma is formed from one or more gaseous organic hydrocarbon, such as acetylene or methane, and the coating is applied to a thickness of 1 - 500 nm, preferably 2-100 nm, such that a deposition coated film 1 a or 1 b is formed, respectively.
- gaseous organic hydrocarbon such as acetylene or methane
- Fig. 5a shows an embodiment of a packaging container 50a produced from the packaging laminate 20 according to the invention.
- the packaging container is particularly suitable for beverages, sauces, soups or the like.
- such a package has a volume of about 100 to 1000 ml. It may be of any configuration, but is preferably brick-shaped, having longitudinal and transversal seals 51 a and 52a, respectively, and optionally an opening device 53.
- the packaging container may be shaped as a wedge. In order to obtain such a "wedge-shape", only the bottom part of the package is fold formed such that the transversal heat seal of the bottom is hidden under the triangular corner flaps, which are folded and sealed against the bottom of the package. The top section transversal seal is left unfolded. In this way the half-folded packaging container is still is easy to handle and dimensionally stable when put on a shelf in the food store or on a table or the like.
- Fig. 5b shows an alternative, preferred example of a packaging container 50b produced from an alternative packaging laminate 20 according to the invention.
- the alternative packaging laminate is thinner by having a thinner paper bulk layer 21 , and thus it is not dimensionally stable enough to form a parallellepipedic or wedge-shaped packaging container, and is not fold formed after transversal sealing 52b. It will thus remain a pillow-shaped pouch-like container and be distributed and sold in this form.
- Fig. 5c shows a gable top package 50c, which is fold-formed from a pre-cut sheet or blank, from the laminated packaging material comprising a bulk layer of paperboard and the durable barrier film of the invention. Also flat top packages may be formed from similar blanks of material.
- Fig. 5d shows a bottle-like package 50d, which is a combination of a sleeve 54 formed from a pre-cut blanks of the laminated packaging material of the invention, and a top 55, which is formed by injection moulding plastics in combination with an opening device such as a screw cork or the like.
- This type of packages are for example marketed under the trade names of Tetra Top® and Tetra Evero®.
- Those particular packages are formed by attaching the moulded top 55 with an opening device attached in a closed position, to a tubular sleeve 54 of the laminated packaging material, sterilizing the thus formed bottle-top capsule, filling it with the food product and finally fold- forming the bottom of the package and sealing it.
- Fig. 6 shows the principle as described in the introduction of the present application, i.e. a web of packaging material is formed into a tube 61 by the longitudinal edges 62 of the web being united to one another in an overlap joint 63.
- the tube is filled 64 with the intended liquid food product and is divided into individual packages by repeated transversal seals 65 of the tube at a pre-determined distance from one another below the level of the filled contents in the tube.
- the packages 66 are separated by incisions in the transversal seals and are given the desired geometric configuration by fold formation along prepared crease lines in the material.
- Fig. 7 shows an intensity-versus-time diagram from surface analysis by Time of Flight Secondary ion Mass Spectroscopy ToF-SiMS at varying depths of the durable DLC barrier coating, deposited onto a
- PET polyethyleneterephthalate
- film substrate polyethyleneterephthalate
- Fig. 8 shows an intensity-versus-time diagram from surface analysis by Time of Flight Secondary ion Mass Spectroscopy ToF-SiMS at varying depths of the durable DLC barrier coating, deposited onto a polyamide, PA, film substrate.
- SiMS Secondary ion mass spectrometry
- the ToF-SiMS method measures the composition of solid surfaces and thin films, and can thus do this at different depths of the material, in order to determine the chemical structure of and within the coating.
- Thickness measurements were performed by Transmission Electronic Microscopy using on a Titan 80-300, FEI equipment. Samples are prepared by ultramicrotomy on an EM UC6 Microtome from Leica.
- the diagrams 7-8 show that there is a greatly decreasing gradient of oxygen ion concentration, from below the surface of the polymer film substrate C at a first zone , through a second zone at the interface A between the substrate surface and the coating, to a third zone , i.e. the zone of the coating surface B, and a rapid increase again of the oxygen concentration within this third zone, to more or less recover the level of the initial
- the PECVD coating process first modifies the surface of the polymer film at zone C, starting from below the initial polymer surface, and starts building the barrier coating at the interface A, up to the full thickness of the barrier coating, at the top surface thereof, at B.
- the concentrations of the carbon and hydrogen ions remain at a substantially constant level throughout the three coating zones.
- the durable DLC coating of the invention characteristically exhibits a relatively smaller, temporary depletion of hydrogen and triple- carbon ions, during the second zone A, while the concentrations of single- and double-carbon ions remain substantially constant throughout all three zones and the depth of the coating.
- the diagram becomes a little different when the coating is applied and analysed on a polyamide film substrate compared to a PET film substrate, it can be seen that the characteristics and change patterns regarding the ion contents in the coatings are very similar.
- the specific DLC barrier coatings made by our method provide both optimal initial oxygen barrier and water vapour barrier properties of a coated film, and excellent durability regarding said barrier properties after being exposed to mechanical strain, i.e. when the film is used in lamination and fold-forming and sealing of laminated materials comprising the films, into packages.
- the temporary depletion of the hydrogen and triple-carbon ion concentration at the interface A between the coating and the film surface indicates that there is covalent bonding between the coating and the film, which is believed to be at least a contributing factor to the good mechanical properties at strain, including adhesion of the coating to the film substrate and internal cohesion within the coating.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wrappers (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP2015192208 | 2015-10-29 | ||
EP2015192206 | 2015-10-29 | ||
EP2015192211 | 2015-10-29 | ||
PCT/EP2016/075695 WO2017072122A1 (en) | 2015-10-29 | 2016-10-25 | Barrier film or sheet and laminated packaging material comprising the film or sheet and packaging container made therefrom |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3368301A1 true EP3368301A1 (en) | 2018-09-05 |
Family
ID=63012717
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16785500.6A Active EP3368299B1 (en) | 2015-10-29 | 2016-10-25 | Laminated barrier film and edge-covering strip for packaging |
EP16787434.6A Withdrawn EP3368301A1 (en) | 2015-10-29 | 2016-10-25 | Barrier film or sheet and laminated packaging material comprising the film or sheet and packaging container made therefrom |
EP16785501.4A Active EP3368300B1 (en) | 2015-10-29 | 2016-10-25 | Laminated packaging material comprising a barrier film and packaging containers manufactured therefrom |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16785500.6A Active EP3368299B1 (en) | 2015-10-29 | 2016-10-25 | Laminated barrier film and edge-covering strip for packaging |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16785501.4A Active EP3368300B1 (en) | 2015-10-29 | 2016-10-25 | Laminated packaging material comprising a barrier film and packaging containers manufactured therefrom |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (3) | EP3368299B1 (da) |
DK (1) | DK3368300T3 (da) |
ES (1) | ES2890099T3 (da) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2023186448A1 (en) * | 2022-03-29 | 2023-10-05 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | A laminated packaging material and packaging container manufactured therefrom |
-
2016
- 2016-10-25 EP EP16785500.6A patent/EP3368299B1/en active Active
- 2016-10-25 EP EP16787434.6A patent/EP3368301A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2016-10-25 EP EP16785501.4A patent/EP3368300B1/en active Active
- 2016-10-25 DK DK16785501.4T patent/DK3368300T3/da active
- 2016-10-25 ES ES16785501T patent/ES2890099T3/es active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ES2890099T3 (es) | 2022-01-17 |
EP3368299B1 (en) | 2019-08-21 |
EP3368300B1 (en) | 2021-07-07 |
EP3368299A1 (en) | 2018-09-05 |
EP3368300A1 (en) | 2018-09-05 |
DK3368300T3 (da) | 2021-09-20 |
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