JP2003265312A - Aluminum container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container made of aluminum foil which does not produce sparks even when the container is used in a microwave oven. <P>SOLUTION: The container made of the aluminum foil is formed by coating part or the whole of its surface with an insulative substance. The insulative substance is preferably a heat resistant resin, such as a silicone resin or epoxy resin. The container made of the aluminum foil is safely usable without sparking in spite of heating in the microwave oven and has advantages, such as a heat resistance, impact resistance at a low temperature, appearance, lightness in weight and hygiene. The container is preferably usable as the container for the foods which are previously cooked and merely necessitate heating, the foods which are half cooked and are to be done by heating, the foods, like, for example, hot pots, for which all materials are ready and which merely necessitate thorough boiling by heating, and the foods which are frozen foods and are to be eaten by thawing or thawing and heating. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an aluminum container. More specifically, it relates to an aluminum container that does not generate sparks even when used in a microwave oven.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Containers made of aluminum foil such as trays and cups have excellent properties such as light weight, hygiene, excellent barrier properties and heat resistance. There is. In particular, since it can be heated in an oven or a stove, it is suitable for packaging frozen foods and the like that require simple cooking by heating. However, the aluminum foil has a problem that it cannot be used in a microwave oven because microwaves are reflected and a spark is generated. In particular,
Sparks are easily generated on the outer peripheral edge and the protruding portion of the container, and there is a risk of accidents if the container is accidentally heated in a microwave oven.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an aluminum foil container which does not generate sparks even when used in a microwave oven.

[0004]

As a result of intensive studies, the present inventor has arrived at the present invention by thinking that the above object can be achieved by covering the surface of an aluminum foil with an insulator. That is, the present invention is an aluminum foil container obtained by coating or laminating the entire surface or a part of the surface with an insulating material.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The aluminum foil container of the present invention is coated or laminated on the whole or part of its surface with an insulating material. As the insulating material, polymethylpentene resin (for example, TPX manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.), C
-PET (for example, Arena manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co.), a heat resistant resin such as a silicone resin or an epoxy resin can be preferably exemplified, and a silicone resin or an epoxy resin is preferable. As the epoxy resin, epoxy phenol resin and epoxy melamine resin can be preferably used.
The coating of these insulating materials may be colored on the inner surface, the outer surface, or both. By coloring, it can be distinguished from a usual aluminum foil container and is convenient for the user. Moreover, when it is colored black, it is possible to speed up the temperature rise when heating in a microwave oven.

The aluminum container of the present invention can be manufactured by processing an aluminum foil, which is coated or laminated on the whole or a part of the surface thereof with an insulating material, into a desired shape by a known processing method such as drawing. In particular, since the outer peripheral edge of the container is likely to come into contact with each other to cause a spark when a plurality of containers are put in a microwave oven, it is preferable to coat or laminate a portion corresponding thereto. The edges of the container are preferably curled.

The aluminum foil is coated or laminated on both sides or one side or a part thereof with an insulating material by a known method. As the aluminum foil, one whose surface is treated with a coupling agent such as a silane coupling agent may be used, and in this case, the adhesive strength with the insulating substance is improved. As the coating machine, known coating machines such as a roll coater, a blade coater and a gravure coater can be used. Usually, a liquid resin raw material is coated and dried and cured by heat treatment at a temperature and time suitable for curing the resin. As a laminating method, for example, a known extrusion laminating method, a dry laminating method, or the like can be used to laminate the aluminum foil.

The thickness of the dry film of the insulating material is preferably 0.1 μm or more, particularly preferably 0.1 to 10 μm. 0.
If it is less than 1 μm, the insulating film may crack when heated in a microwave oven. If it exceeds 10 μm, the insulating film may be broken when processed into a container shape. The shape of the container of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, trays, plates, cups, pots,
Examples thereof include bowls and bowls.

[0009]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. Example 1 A silicone resin was coated on both sides of a 70 μm thick aluminum foil with a dry film to a thickness of 0.5 μm, and 1
It was treated at 80 ° C. for 20 seconds. An inverted frustoconical tray having a depth of 17 mm was formed from this aluminum foil by drawing. The edges of the tray have curled. The tray was placed in the microwave and switched on, but no sparks were produced.

Example 2 An epoxyphenol resin was coated on both sides of a 70 μm thick aluminum foil so as to have a dry thickness of 4 μm and treated at 200 ° C. for 30 seconds. An inverted frustoconical tray having a depth of 17 mm was formed from this aluminum foil by drawing. The edges of the tray have curled. The tray was placed in the microwave and switched on, but no sparks were produced.

[0011]

Since the aluminum foil container of the present invention is entirely or partially covered with an insulator, it does not spark even when heated in a microwave oven and can be safely used. Moreover, the advantages of the aluminum foil container are not lost. For example, it has advantages such as heat resistance, impact resistance at low temperature, appearance, light weight, and hygiene. The container of the present invention, in particular, is one that is only heated with pre-cooked food, one that is half-cooked and can be completed by heating, a so-called pot dish, which contains all the ingredients and is only boiled by heating. , It can be preferably used as a container for frozen foods that are thawed or thawed and heated. Therefore,
It is extremely suitable as a container for in-flight meals, hospital meals, meals, fast foods, frozen foods in convenience stores, supermarkets, etc. or households, and delicatessen.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Sakakibara             1-10-55 Takada, Chigasaki, Kanagawa Shonan Forest             Garden No. 102 F term (reference) 4B055 AA10 BA03 FA03 FB02 FB45                       FB49

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An aluminum foil container obtained by coating or laminating the whole or a part of the surface with an insulating material. 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein a part of the surface is the outer peripheral edge of the container. 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the insulating substance is a silicone resin or an epoxy resin. 4. A microwave oven for use in a microwave oven.
Container.