CA1307086C

CA1307086C - Peelable barrier film for vacuum skin packages and the like

Info

Publication number: CA1307086C
Application number: CA000576727A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Henry Walker Stockley; Solomon Bekele; Kent Alan Davis
Original assignee: WR Grace and Co Conn
Current assignee: Cryovac LLC
Priority date: 1987-12-21
Filing date: 1988-09-08
Publication date: 1992-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-08
Also published as: ES2074443T3; EP0322199A3; EP0322199B1; FI97344C; US4886690A; FI97344B; ATE124652T1; EP0322199A2; FI885896A; DK171511B1; AU2737688A; DE3854116D1; GR3017180T3; DE3854116T2; NZ227233A; DK710188A; AU616719B2; DK710188D0

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A vacuum skin package for packaging fresh red meat and like articles is produced by using a composite, multilayer, oxygen barrier, vacuum skin packaging forming film in which the barrier layer can be manually separated from the non-barrier, oxygen permeable layer. After the vacuum skin package is formed to enclose a fresh red meat product in a vacuum the meat will have a purplish color. Then, after storage, the barrier layer can be removed so that the remaining permeable film can admit oxygen to impart the desirable red bloom to the fresh meat. Of importance is the "tear through" feature of the permeable inner layer which has a greater bond strength to the tray than internal strength or layer-to-layer bond strength so that a tab may be torn loose at a score line and then the barrier layer may be readily delaminated and peeled from the permeable layer.

Description

PEELABLE BAKRIER FILM POR VACUUM SKIN PACKAGæS A~D THE LIKE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

m is inNention relates generally to thermoformable barrier films and to vacuum skin packages which can be made therefrom. Particularly, the present invention relates to multi-layer gas barrier films wherein the barrier layer or layers may be peeled and separated from~ the gas permeable layer or layers.

EACKæaCUND OF THE INVENTION
.
Skin packaging can be classified as a vacuum forming process for thenmoformable polymerlc films. The product on a supporting member serves as the mold for the thermoformable filD which is for~ed about the product by meanB of differential air pressure. However, the term "vacuum skin packaging" or VSP as it,is referred to hereinafter, refers not to the fact that the thenmoformable fi~m is formed around the product by vacuum or .15 differential air pressure but to the fact that the product is packaged under vacuum and the space containing the,product is evacuated. Thus, there is a need for the fi~m formed around the product and for the support member to be a barrier to oxygen, air~ and other gases.

In conventional skin packaging, a backing board which is porous or which is perforated so that a vacuum may be drawn directly through the backing board is employed. In vacuum skin packaging processes generally a vacuum chamber with an open top i8 uset. The product on an imperviou~ backing board is placed on a platfonm within the vacuum chasber. The top of the ch~mber i8 covered by a sheet of film which is clamped tightly against the ch2mber to f ~,- ' ' " .

' ~307~86 form a vacuum tight closure. The cha~ber is evacuated while the film is heated to its forming and softening tem~erature. The platform is then raised to drive the product into the softened film and air pressure can be - used above the film to force it tightly around the produc~. A process of this type is disclosed in French Patent No. 1,258,357 which issued to Alain G. Bresson on March 6, 1961.

A variant of the process described in the Bresson patent is disclosed in French Patent No. 1,286,018 which issued on January 22, 1962 to LaRoach Freres Timited. In the the LaRoach Freres process, after the chamber has been evacuated and the product driven into the heat softened fi~m, the vacuum is released and ambient air is permitted to enter the chamber so that the thermoplastic film molds more or less onto the product since there is a vacuum on the product side of the film and anbient air pressure on the other side of the fi~m. Australian Patent No. 245,774 which issued to Colbros Proprietary Li~ited et al on July 16, 1967 discloses a vacuum skin packaging process in which an article to be packaged is Inserted within the lower half of a vacuum chamber on a backing board, a the D plastic film is placed over the open face of the lower half of the chamber, the chamber is closed and b~th halves and are brought to essentially the s~mP state of vacuum, the fi~m is heated and softened, and then atmospheric air is introduced into the upper half of the chamber 80 that it alone forces the thermoplastic fi~m down around the product and against the backing board.

Another prior art version of vacuum skin packaging is disclosed in U. S.
Patent No. 3,491,504, which issued to W. E. Young et al on January 27, 1970, heat softenet n~m is physically moved dcwn over a stationary product and, in connectlon with air pressure, th'e softened thermoplastic fi~m is lded onto the product.

In U. S. Patent No. RE.30,009, which was reissued on May 29, 1979 to Richard R. Perdue et al, a thermoformable or heat softenable fi~m sheet i8 drawn by differential air pressure against the concave interior surface of the upper portion of a vacuum chamber, the fi~m is then heated by surface contact, and then, after evacuation of the chamber, air pressure is used to blow the heat softened fi~m town over the product and against the backing board. The resulting package comprises the product positioned on the backing board which is gas impervious and the product is held there by the thermoformable . .

.

1307~86 film which has been formed around the product in the exact shape of the product so that it appears to be a "skin". The thermoformable film, as stated previously, is also gas impervious and usually will consist of a number of layers each of which performs a specific function. The product contact and backing member contact layer will be a sealing or heat sealable layer, an interior layer will typically be a barrier layer which comprises a vinylidene chloride copolymer (PVDC) or a hydrolyzed ethylene~vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVOH), and the outer surface layer will be an abuse layer to protect the barrier layer from scratches, pin holes, or from moisture attack. Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide an improved thermoformable film for use ln vacuum skin packaging processes.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,574,642 which issued on April 13, 1971 to Carl Frederick Weinke, a package for and a method of packaglng meatB 1B disclosed. The package lncludes an lnner oxygen-permeable member which may be either gas flushed or evacuated and an outer oxygen-impermeable member which may also be ga~ flu~hed or evacuated. The package preserves the freshness of the meat untll the meat iB ready to be marketed to the consumer.
For marketing, the outer wrapper is removed and the inner package 1B dlsplayed at the meat counter for the consumer. Being oxygen-permeable, the inner wrapper admits oxygen to the lnterlor of the package causing the fresh meat product to change to a brlght red color whlch the consumer associates with freshness. The inner pouch of the Weinke package may consist of polyethylene 11m and the outer pouches may be cellophane fllm wlth a coatlng of saran ,~
..

. .
... .. -: , ... . -~307~86 ~vinylldene chloride copolymer or PVDC). Another patent showing portions of fresh meat individually packaged in oxygen permeable plastic film and inserted into an outer container of impermeable film is U.S. Patent No. 3,681,092 which issued to Oliver R.
Titchness et al on August 1, 1972.
Another prior art package is described in U.S. Patent No. 3~713,849 which issued to Paul E. Grindrod et al on January 30, 1973. In the Grindrod et al patent a fresh meat package having an outer oxygen impermeable lamlna which is readily and entirely peelable from an inner oxygen-permeable lamina is dlsclosed. The package includes means for initiating the peeling separation along an edge of the package. The outer oxygen barrier malntains meats in well preserved condition in spite of the purplish color which has low consumer appeal. Shortly prior to display for sale to the consumer the outer lamina is removed by the retailer and the product develops a healthy, bright red "bloom" due to the hlgh rate of oxygen permeation through the lnner remalnlng film package. The material dlsclosed ln Grindrod et al i5 a lamlnate of PVC/Saran and EVA/Saran. ~EVA designates ethylene/vlnyl-acetate copolymer and PVC designates polyvlnyl-chlorlde). The EVA and PVC layers are the lnner layers and at the periphery of the package they are sealed together but form a weak bond. The saran layers can be readlly peeled from the respectlve EVA or PVC layers as saran does not form a strong bond between elther. Grlpping tabs are also provided.
Yet another peelable package ls shown in U.S. Patent No.
4,055,672 which issued on October 25, 1977 to Arthur Hlrsch et al.

~307Q86 In the Hirsch et al patent a seml-rigid tray of oxygen impermeable material ls formed, a meat product placed therein, and then the tray is sealed around its upper periphery or flange area by a composite lid which has an inner layer of oxygen permeable material, an adhesive layer, and an outer layer of oxygen impermeable material. When the package is ready for retail display so that oxygen can reach the fresh meat packaged within the tray, the outer impermeable lid is peeled away so that the oxygen can penetrate through the remaining oxygen permeable portion of the lid. Accordingly, the present invention also seeks to provide a package with a strippable or peelable barrier layer which is an improvement over prior art packages.
In a number of instances in order to preserve a meat product within an impermeable fllm, it is desirable to provide a modifled atmosphere which may include inner gases such as nitrogen or the like or an atmo~phere which has a mixture of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide to control the bacterial growth withln a package. Typical packages are di~closed in U.S. Patent No.
RE.27,872 which is~ued on January 8, 1974 to J. J. Estes; U.S.
Patent No. 2,623,826 whlch ls~ued on December 30, 1952 to Sanford R. Grinstread; U.S. Patent No. 3,360,382 was lssued on December 26, 1967 to H. V. Miller; U.S. Patent No. 4,522,835 which i~ued on June 11, 1985 to Richard E. Woodriff; U.K. Patent No.
1,199,998 which wa~ published July 22, 1970; Canadian Patent No.
890,766 which ls~ued January 18, 1972 to Charles M. Davi~on et al;
U.K. Patent No. 1,378,140 which was published December 18, 1974;
and in U.K. Patent No. 1,186,978 which wa~ publlshed April 8, . ' ~3~7~86 1970. U.S. Patent No. 2,925,346 which lssued February 16, 1360 discloses a process of packaging cured meat products and inhiblting color degradation by removing oxygen and back filling the container with a gaseous oxide of nitrogen. Accordingly, the present inventlon ~eeks to provide a vacuum skin package which is suitable for and can be used with modified atmospheres.
In order to readily open packages where plastic film layers have been sealed together to close the package, various tear tabs and easy open mechanisms have been devised. One such ea~y-to-open, delaminating seal is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,638,913 which issued on January 27, 1987 to Milton A. Howe, Jr.
In thls patent, two grippable film folds are provided and the folds when pulled apart will rupture one of the outer layers of the sealed together film and delaminate the film to its edge. In such a case, of course, the bond strength between the two ~ealed together fllms must be greater than the layer-to-layer bond of the fllm Accordlngly, the invention al~o seeks to provide a package whlch ic readlly openable.
The foregolng 1~ achleved by the pre~ent lnventlon which 1~ de~crlbed in the Summary of Inventlon below, shown ln the attached Drawlng~, and further de~crlbed in the Detailed Descrlptlon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present lnventlon iB a peelable barrler fllm for vacuum skln packaglng and the llke compri~ing a coextruded, multi-layer forming web or composlte fllm comprislng a gas permeable fllm and a gas lmpermeable film whlch can be ~ 3~7~8~i manually delaminated from each other, said gas permeable film comprising a plurality of layers including a heat sealable, polymeric layer, and, a layer comprising a linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of less than 0.915 g/cc. and, said multi-layer gas impermeable film comprising a plurality of layers including a barrier layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of hydrolyzed ethylene/vinylacetate copolymers (EVOH) and vinylldene chloride copolymeræ or terpolymers ~PV~C), said barrier layer being immedlately adjacent to and in contact with said linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer so that when delamination occurs the barrier layer wlll become a first surface layer, and, an outer or second surface layer of polymeric material, and, said heat sealable layer being capable of sealing to a polymeric surface with a bond strength greater than the force required to delaminate said permeable layer from said impermeable layer.
In another aspect, the multi-layer gas impermeable film of said composite peelable film is a film wherein the barrier is EVOH and the gas permeable film includes at least two internal layers between the two surface layers, one of said layers being an adheslve layer and the other layer being a second barrier layer comprising EVOH, said adhesive layer being positioned between the two EVOH layers.
In yet another aspect, the peelable film of the present lnvention requlres that the bond strength between the heat sealable layer and the polymeric surface is greater than the force required to rupture or tear the multi-layer permeable film ~o that ~ 3~7~36 the permeable film whlch has the heat sealable layer will rupture in a predetermined fashion rather than delaminate or peel from the polymeric surface to which it has been bonded.
In another aspect, the heat sealing layer is selected from the group consisting of linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers having a density of less than 0.915 grams/cc (VLDPE) and ethylene/vinyl-acetate copolymers (EVA) having a vinyl-acetate content in the range of from 4% to 12%. In such a film preferably the gas impermeable film has a thickness in the range of 3.0 to 3.5 mils and the permeable film has a thickness in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 mlls.
In yet another aspect, the present invention is an improvement in the process of making a peelable barrier film whlch comprlses a multi-layer, heat sealable composite film for thermoforming around a product to be packaged in a vacuum skin packaglng operatlon, and the lmprovement comprises coextruding a multi-layer layer fllm having two internal layers comprlsing EVOH, one lnternal EVOH layer having an adhesive layer dlsposed on each slde thereof and the other EVOH layer havlng an adheslve layer dlspo~ed on one slde with a layer comprlslng a linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer with a denslty of less than 0.915 g/~c on the other slde whereby sald film may be readily delaminated and peeled apart between said EVOH and linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer layer~.
In still other aspects, the present invention includes a novel vacuum skin package formed from the above described films.
The invention further provides a multi-layer, gas 6b ~3~7~86 barrier packaging film comprlsing:
a) a first EVOH layer;
b) a tie layer on each side of said EVOH layer, said tie layers comprising a blend of a LDPE based adhesive with high density polyethylene;
c) a second EVOH layer; and d) said first and second EVOH layers being positioned between two outer polymeric layers.
The invention additionally provides a composite, thermoformahle web for vacuum skin packages and the like comprising:
a) a sealant layer having a thickness in the range of about 0.20 to 0.60 mils and comprising a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of VLDPE and ethylene/vinyl-acetate content ln the range of 4% to 12% by weight, said sealant layer belng one surface layer;
b) a core layer havlng a thlckness ln the range of about 1.75 to 2,50 mlls and comprlslng a polymerlc materlal ~elected from the group conslstlng of VLDPE and ethylene/vlnyl-acetate copolymer~ havlng a vlnyl acetate content ln the range of 18~ to 28% by welght, sald core layer belng ad~acent to sald sealant layer;
c) an optlcal layer havlng a thlckness ln the range of about 0.10 to 0.20 mlls and comprlslng a polymerlc material ~elected from the group conslstlng of ULDPE resln~, sald optlcal layer being ad~acent said core layer, d) a flrst EVOH layer havlng a thlcknes~ ln the order of 6c ~3~7~86 0.20 mils and belng adjacent to said optical layer e) a flrst tle layer comprlslng a blend of about 40% by weight of an LDPE based adhesive with about 60% by welght of HDPE, said tle layer having a thickness of approximately 20 mils and belng adjacent sald first EVOH layer;
f) a second EVOH layer having a thickness of approximately 0.20 mils and being adjacent said first tie layer;
g) a second tie layer having a thickness of apProximately 0.20 mils and comprlslng the same materlal as the flrst tle layer, said second tie layer being adjacent sald second EVOH layer;
h) a layer comprlslng ethylene/vlnyl-acetate copolymer (EVA) havlng a vinyl acetate content of approxlmately 18% by weight, said layer being adjacent said second tle layer and belng approxlmately 1,5 mlls ln thlckness; and 1) a layer comprising HDPE adjacent sald EVA layer, sald layer being approximately 0.20 mils thick and being an outside layer.

6d .

, ', - ' ,, .

7~86 DESCRIPllON OF THE DRAWINGS

- In the drawings which are appended hereto and made a part of this disclosure:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a vacuum skin package which can be made using the fi~m and process of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows one embodiment of a tab arrangement for delaminating or , -, peeling apart the two films comprising the composite peelable fi~m of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows the peeling process shown in Figure 2 underway after rupture of a portion of the permeable film has taken place; and, Figure 4 is a schematic cross section of the composite film of the present invention.

DEF~ITIONS

As used herein, the following abbreviations and terms have the meanings defined below:

EVA: EVA tesignates ethylene/vinyl-acetate copolymers.

HDPE: HDPE designates high density polyethylene resins. Such resins are generally made by the low pressure process and have a density of greater than 0.940 g/cc.

DPE: T T nPE means linear low density polyethylene which generally is understood to include that group of ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers having limited side chain branching and which fall into a density range of 0.910 t,o 0.940 g/cc. Sometiues linear polye~hylene in the density range from 0~926 to 0.940 is referred to as linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE).
A 25 Typical brand names are Dowlex~fro~ Dow Chemical Company, Ultzex and Neozex from Mitsui Petro Chemical Campany, and Sclair from duPont. The alpha-olefin copolymers are typically butene-l, pentene-l, hexene-l, octene-l, etc.
... .
401/8711~3/5/7 7~J~ k i307~86 VLDPE and ULDPE: Very low density polyethylene (VLDPE) and ultra-low density polyethylene (ULDPE) mean ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers which have a density of less than about 0.915 and, more specifically, usually O.912 or below and may be below 0.89. Typical VLDPE resins are those S designated DFDA by Uhion Carbide and are believed to principally or usually have butene, or isobutene as a comonomer. me very low density polyethy-lenes as compared to LLDPE, usually have significantly higher copolymer content and distinctly different properties making them a distinct class of polymers. Typically, resins designated "ULDPE!' resins co~e from Dow and are believed to have octene as the comonomer. mere is a slight difference in properties which is thought to be attributable to the c onomer. As used herein the term "lln~ar ethylene/alpha-olefin~copolymer having a density of less than 0.915 g/cc" encompasses both VLDPE and ULDPE. (See "Plastics Technology Magazine" for Septenber, 1984 at Page .113 where an article entitled, "INTRDDUCD~G VERY LOW DENSITY PE" appears.) ,. , E~OH: EVOH means ethylene-vinyl alcohol, sometimes abbreviated "EVAL" or hydrolyzed ethylene/vinyl-acetate and sometimes abbreviated '~EVA." EVOH
resins are notet for their very good gas barrier properties but tend to be quite moisture sensitive. Typical suppliers of resins are Evalca in the Unitet States and Toya Seiken in Japan..

BARRrER or "Impermeable Material:" BARRIER, as used herein, means a gas barrier having an oxygen transmission rate, for example, of less than 40 milliliter8 of aKygen per square meter for 24 hours as set forth in the above mentionet USP 3,574,642 for packaging fresh raw meat. Oxygen penmea-tion rates considerably less than 40 can be achieved but for the purposes ofthis invention a fi~n having a permeation rate of less than 40 will be oonsidered a ~ARRIER or impermeable fi~m or material.

EEFXEAelE MAIERIAC: kn oxygen or gas permeable material will be one having an oxygen permeation rate in excess of abcut 2,000 milliliters of oxygen per square Imeter for 24 hours. Obviously it is desirable to have as high a penmeation rate as possible if the ob~ect is to introduce oxygen to the product wben the barrier fi~m is peeled away.

. D

~ 3~7~86 OPTICAL LAYER: As used herein, an optical layer of a nLlti-layer film designates a layer included to enhance the appearance characteristics or a fi~m so that a product packaged in the fi~m will have a better appearance.

LDPE: LDPE designates branched chain polyethylene made by the high pressure process and will have a density below 0.940 g/cc and, most often a density of 0.915 to 0.925 as the 0.926 to 0.939 range is often referred to as the medium density range.

DETAILED DLSCRlPTIoN

Turning now to the description of the invention reference is first made to Figure 1 where vacuum skin package 1 is shown. This package comprises a support member 3 which is a gas impermeable member. preferably formed of polyvinyl chloride material (PVC) as a substrate material coated with a barrier material and a heat sealing material; or, it can be a material such as a polystyrene foam which also is coated with a ~arrier material and a ; 15 heat sealing material. Typical heat sealing materials are branched low ~ density polyethylene (LDPE), ionomers such as the Surlyn~-brand sold by - duPont, and EVA:copolymers. me support menber 3 may be flat as shown or it may be formed in the shape of a tray.

me product 4 positioned on the support member 3 will, in general, be a food product such as fresh ret meat. Particularly,~the prime cuts of beef, pork, and lamb would be the preferred food products. When these products are vacw m skin packaged or packaged in an atmosphere in the absence of oxygen the fresh neat will tend to turn a purplish color and remain that way as long it is chilled and kept out of contact with oxygen. The bright red '~loam" is restored when the neat makes contact with oxygen again.

m e the fornELble fi~m 2 which covers the product 4 and is sealed around the perimeter of the product in a manner to assume the exact shape of the product and, thus, become a "skin" is a composite fi~m and is shown in greater detail in Flgure 4. In Figure 4, which i8 a schematic represent-ation of the layers in fi~m 2, the two films 6 and 7 which make up thecomposite 2 are 8~ n bonded at interface 8. Fi~m 2 is preferably coextruded and as shown eight layers are coextruded together. me two layers 15 and 16 which form the interface 8 are materials which do not ... , . :
401/871103/5/9 q * l;cfJe~ /k ~3~86 readily adhere one to the other and form a relatively weak bond. Preferred materials are PVDC and EVOH for layer 15 and LLDPE for layer 16. When the - barrier or gas impermeable film employs a layer of PVDC as the barrier layer usually cnly an abuse layer 11 need be added with a suitable internal adhesive layer. This abuse material can be nylon, high density polyethy-lene, EVA, polypropylene, or the like. In some instances it may be necessary to have an adhesive layer and the selection of a proper adhesive is well within the skill of those in the art.

In a preferred e~bodiment, in order to achieve very good barrier properties, two layers of EVOH are employed. The first layer 15 is the interface layer with layer 16 and the second layer 13 of EVOH is disposed between two adhesive or tie layers 12 and 14. me adhesive layer 12 is adhered to an abuse layer 11. Since the EVOH layer 13 is an .interior layer it is protected from moisture attack and will retain its low oxygen permeability.
Thus, even if isture were to penetrate the weak bond between layers 15 and 16 at interface 8 during storage under moist conditions and significantly degrade the barrier properties of layer 15, layer 13 w~uld be protected and wcult maintain the excellent barrier properties of the ccmposite film.

The gas permeable fi~m 7 comprises an interface layer 16 of ULDPE. me center or core layer 17 of the ~ermeable fi~m 7 is EVA having 18% to 28% VA
or an alternate material is VLDPE.

me specific best de o~ the forming web for vacuum skin packaging and the like which is separable into permeable and impermeable films has as the permeable skin fi~m or Layer 7 a construction as follows:

Sealant Layer (18) / Core Layer (17) / Cptical Layer (16) 0.20-0.60 ~ 1.75-2.50 0.10-0.20 mils thickness Wherein:

Sealant - VLDPE from Union Carbide, or, EVA:copolymer having 4~ to 12% VA from duPont . . . . ..

~!L3~7~8~i Core = VLDP~, or, EVA copolymer having 18% to 28% VA c~ntent Optical = ULDPE from Dox, resins 4002A or 4002B

The impermeable or peelable barrier fi~m has the following construction:

- 5 EVOH / LDPE(tie)+HDPE / EVOH / LDPE(tie)+HDPE / EVA / HDPE~Outside) / 40% 60% / / 40% 60% /
0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 1.50 0.20 Thickness (mils) Wherein:

EVOH = ethylene/vinyl-alcohol from Evalca LDPE(tie) = Adhesive, preferably Bynel from duPont EVA - EVA copolymer having 18% VA

D PE = High density PE from USI

Using the best mode web, retail shelf lives between 23 and 28 days have been achieved for T-bcne steak cuts whereas with the single layer of EVOH
only about a seven day shelf life can be expected. It has also been found that the interface of .EVOH/ULDPE between the permeable and impermeable films provides the easiest delamination or peeling of the barrier or i~permeable fi~m. Furthermore, the LDPE based tie or adhesive provides the be~t combination of adhesion to the EVOH layers plus isture protection of the EVOH.
t To ~ake the composite fikm or web, a coextrusion process similar to that described in USP 4,287,151 to Esakov et al on September 1, 1981 may be e~ployed. Suitable annular multi-layer dies must, of course, be used and these are well kncwn in the art.

In an alternate struch~re which has fewer layers, the impermeable film 6 will be three layers, e.g., layers 11, 12, and 13 thus eliminating layers 14 and 15. Layer 13 is the barrier layer and is EVOH containing 32% to 44%
401/871103/5/ll 1 1 ~307~86 ethylene. Layer 12 would is a blend of EVA with a modified EVA which is dified to serve specifically as an adhesive. One of the EVA based Plexar~
resins from Chemplex Ccmpany is preferred. me abuse or outer layer is HDPE. The permeable fi~m 7 ccmprises branched low density polyethylene (LDPE), the core layer is EVA having 18% to 29% VA and the sealing layer comprises EVA having 2% to 4% vinyl-acetate content. In this alternate e~bodlment, the low density polyethylene (LDPE3 interface with the EVOH
layer is a weak coextruded bond which can be~readily peeled apart. While this alternate structure does not provide the sa~e moisture protection for - 10 the E~OH layer, it is nonetheless adequate for many applications.

Looklng now at Figures 2 and 3 tab 5 has been laid across one edge of the vacuum skin package as can be seen by the dotted line in Figure 1 so that in forming of upper web 2, the composite fi~m, around product 4, it does not adhere to the supporting web or film 3. m is allows for a tab to form as can be seen in Figure 2 that can be gripped and moved upwardly by the fingers to a position shown in Figure 3. In this position it can be seen that the permeable fi~m 7 has torn or ruptured rather than break loose or te1~n~n~te its bond with the support member 3. This leaves the film portion 7' firmly adhered to the support member 3. m is type of strong bond is formed between the VLDPE or EVA surface of the film 7 with the coated PVC of the support member. &races such as LDPE, EVA, and ionomers adhere strongly to each other ant their bond strength is greater than the internal cohesive strength of film 7.

Also seen in Figure 3 is the beginning of the delamination of the permeable fi~n 6 from the i~perme~ble fi~m 7. The already peeled apart por~ion 6' has separated from the bonded portion 7' 80 that the entire impermeable film 6 ~ay be peeled from the permeable fi~m 7 leaving the inner "skin" package comprising support nember 3, peeled, permeable film 7', and product 4.

When product 4 i8 a fresh red meat product, it will,1within half an hour to an hour, regain its bright red bloam and is then ready for display in a showKase.

Upon reading and beco~ng familiar with the disclosure herein, equlvalent layer co~binations and packages will likely beco~e. evident or obvious to tho~e ~killed in the art. Hbwever, the present invention i8 to be limited only by the scope of the follo~ng claims:

~ rrc~ J~ mc~ k

Claims

1. A forming web for vacuum skin packaging and the like which web is seperable into permeable and impermeable films comprising:
A) A coextruded, multi-layer composite film web comprising a gas permeable film and a gas impermeable film which can be manually delaminated from each other;
(1) said gas permeable film having a plurality of layers including;
(a) a heat sealable, polymeric layer; and, (b) a layer comprising a linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of less than 0.915 gms/cm3 and, (2) said multi-layer gas impermeable film comprising a plurality of layers including:
(a) a barrier layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVOH) and vinylidene chloride copolymers or terpolymers (PVDC), said barrier layer being immediately adjacent to and in contact with said linear ethylene/
alpha-olefin copolymer (1) (b) so that when delamination occurs the barrier layer will become a first surface layer; and, (b) an outer or second surface layer of polymeric material;
and, B) said heat sealable layer being capable of sealing to a polymeric surface with a bond strength greater than the force required to rupture and subsequently delaminate said permeable layer from said impermeable layer.

2. The film of claim 1 wherein the barrier film which forms the first surface layer comprises EVOH and said multi-layer gas impermeable film includes at least two internal layers between the two surface layers, one of said layers being an adhesive layer and the other layer being a second barrier layer comprising EVOH, said adhesive layer being positioned between said two EVOH layers.

3. The film of claim 2 wherein the multi-layer gas impermeable film comprises:
i) a first surface or barrier layer comprising EVOH;
ii) a second or internal barrier layer comprising EVOH;
iii) adhesive layers on each side of said second barrier layer;
iv) an outer or second surface layer of high density polyethylene:

4. The film of claim 2 wherein the multi-layer or gas permeable film comprises:
i) a heat sealing layer comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers having a density of less than 0.915 g/cc and ethylene/vinyl-acetate copolymers having a vinyl-acetate content in the range from 4% to 12%.

5. A film according to claim 4 wherein the gas impermeable film has a thickness in the range of 3.0 to 3.5 mils and the permeable film has a thickness in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 mils.

6. A film according to claim 5 wherein the adhesive layer compresses a blend of an LDPE based adhesive and HDPE.

7. A vacuum skin package wherein the forming web is a film according to claim 1.

8. In the process of making a barrier film which comprises a multi-layer, heat sealable composite film for thermoforming around a product to be packaged in a vacuum skin packaging operation or similar processes, the improvement which comprises coextruding a multi-layer film having two internal layers comprising EVOH, one internal EVOH layer having an adhesive layer disposed on each side thereof and the other EVOH layer having an adhesive layer disposed on one side thereof with a layer comprising a linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer with a density of less than 0.915 g/cc on the other side thereof whereby said film may be readily delaminated and peeled apart between said EVOH
and linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer layers.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein said adhesive layer comprises a blend of LDPE based adhesive blended with high density polyethylene.

10. A multi-layer, gas barrier packaging film comprising, a) a first EVOH layer;
b) a tie layer on each side of said EVOH layer, said tie layers comprising a blend of a LDPE based adhesive with high density polyethylene;
c) a second EVOH layer; and d) said first and second EVOH layers being positioned between two outer polymeric layers.

11. The film of claim 10 wherein a layer comprising ULDPE or VLDPE is immediately adjacent the side of the second EVOH layer which is opposite to the side on which the first EVOH layer is positioned.

12. A composite, thermoformable web for vacuum skin packages and the like comprising:
a) a sealant layer having a thickness in the range of about 0.20 to 0.60 mils and comprising a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of VLDPE and ethylene/vinyl-acetate content in the range of 4% to 12% by weight, said sealant layer being one surface layer;

15a b) a core layer having a thickness in the range of about 1.75 to 2.50 mils and comprising a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of ULDPE and ethylene/vinyl-acetate copolymers having a vinyl acetate content in the range of 18% to 28% by weight, said core layer being adjacent to said sealant layer;

c) an optical layer having a thickness in the range of about 0.10 to 0.20 mils and comprising a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of ULDPE resins, said optical layer being adjacent said core layer, d) a first EVOH layer having a thickness in the order of 0.20 mils and being adjacent to said optical layer;

e) a first tie layer comprising a blend of about 40% by weight of an LDPE based adhesive with about 60% by weight of HDPE, said tie layer having a thickness of approximately 20 mils and being adjacent said first EVOH
layer;

f) a second EVOH layer having a thickness of approximately 0.20 mils and being adjacent said first tie layer;

g) a second tie layer having a thickness of approximately 0.20 mil and comprising the same material as the first tie layer, said second tie layer being adjacent said second EVOH layer;

h) a Layer comprising ethylene/vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVA) having a vinyl acetate content of approximately 18% by weight, said layer being adjacent said second tie layer and being approximately 1.5 mils in thickness; and i) a layer comprising HDPE adjacent said EVA layer, said layer being approximately 0.20 mils thick and being an outside layer.