Lidstock laminate for poultry packaging

Abstract

A laminate useful as a lidstock for poultry packaging generally includes a first film capable of bonding directly to a surface comprising foamed polystyrene at a bond strength ranging from about 0.5 to about 5.0 lb f per inch, a second film bonded to the first film, and a printed image trapped between the first and second films. At least one of the first and second films may have a free shrink at 185° F. in at least one direction of at least about 10%. Further, the laminate may have a gas transmission rate greater than about 3000 cubic centimeters per square meter per day per 1 atmosphere of gas pressure differential measured at 0% relative humidity and 23° C.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A laminate, comprising: 
 a. a first film capable of bonding directly to a surface comprising foamed polystyrene at a bond strength ranging from about 0.5 to about 5.0 lb f  per inch;    b. a second film bonded to the first film; and    c. a printed image trapped between the first and second films,    wherein:    at least one of the first and second films has a free shrink at 185° F. in at least one direction of at least about 10%, and    the laminate has a gas transmission rate greater than about 3000 cubic centimeters per square meter per day per 1 atmosphere of gas pressure differential measured at 0% relative humidity and 23° C.    
     
     
         2 . The laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the second film is cross-linked to a greater degree relative to the first film.  
     
     
         3 . The laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the second film has a melt flow index of less than about 1.0 g/10 min. and the first film has a melt flow index of greater than about 1.0 g/10 min.  
     
     
         4 . The laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the laminate has a clarity of at least about 45%.  
     
     
         5 . The laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the second film has a haze of no more than about 20%, measured against an outer surface of the second film.  
     
     
         6 . A package, comprising: 
 a. a product support member for supporting a product thereon, the support member comprising foamed polystyrene; and    b. a laminate, comprising a first film and a second film bonded together with a printed image trapped therebetween,    wherein:    at least one of the first and second films has a free shrink at 185° F. in at least one direction of at least about 10%,    the laminate has a gas transmission rate greater than about 3000 cubic centimeters per square meter per day per 1 atmosphere of gas pressure differential measured at 0% relative humidity and 23° C., and    the first film is bonded to the support member in the form of a peelable, hermetic seal that extends around the product to enclose the product between the laminate and support member, the seal having a bond strength ranging from about 0.5 to about 5.0 lb f  per inch.    
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the support member has an upper surface consisting essentially of foamed polystyrene, and    the first film is bonded directly to the upper surface of the support member.    
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the bond between the first film and support member is a heat-seal.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the laminate is heat-contracted.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the laminate is in tensioned contact with at least a portion of the product.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the laminate is heat-contracted.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the second film is cross-linked to a greater degree relative to the first film.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the second film has a melt flow index of less than about 1.0 g/10 min. and the first film has a melt flow index of greater than about 1.0 g/10 min.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the laminate has a clarity of at least about 45%.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the second film has a haze of no more than about 20%, measured against an outer surface of the second film.  
     
     
         16 . A package, comprising: 
 a. a product support member for supporting a product thereon, the support member having an upper surface consisting essentially of foamed polystyrene; and    b. a film bonded directly to the upper surface of the support member in the form of a peelable, hermetic seal that extends around the product to enclose the product between the film and support member, the seal having a bond strength ranging from about 0.5 to about 5.0 lb f  per inch, the film having a free shrink at 185° F. in at least one direction of at least about 10% and a gas transmission rate greater than about 3000 cubic centimeters per square meter per day per 1 atmosphere of gas pressure differential measured at 0% relative humidity and 23° C.    
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the bond between the film and support member is a heat-seal.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the film is heat-contracted.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the film is in tensioned contact with at least a portion of the product.  
     
     
         20 . A package, comprising: 
 a. a product support member for supporting a product thereon; and    b. a laminate, comprising a first film and a second film bonded together,    wherein: 
 the first film is bonded to a surface of the support member in the form of a peripheral seal that extends around the product to enclose the product between the film and support member, and  
 the second film is cross-linked to a greater degree relative to the first film such that the second film has a melt flow index of less than about 1.0 g/10 min. and the first film has a melt flow index of greater than about 1.0 g/10 min.  
   
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the bond between the first film and support member is a heat-seal.  
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the support member has an upper surface consisting essentially of foamed polystyrene; and    the first film is bonded directly to the upper surface of the support member.    
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the bond between the first film and support member is a peelable, hermetic seal having a bond strength ranging from about 0.5 to about 5.0 lb f  per inch.  
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the first and second films has a free shrink at 185° F. in at least one direction of at least about 10%.  
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the laminate has a gas transmission rate greater than about 3000 cubic centimeters per square meter per day per 1 atmosphere of gas pressure differential measured at 0% relative humidity and 23° C.  
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 20 , further including a printed image trapped between the first and second films.