Packaging Film and Method of Manufacture

Abstract

A packaging film having enhanced barrier, sealability, and flex-crack resistance characteristics and is ideal for use in packaging of food products, such as cheese and meat, to increase shelf life thereof.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments, the invention is now claimed to be: 
     
         1 . A packaging film comprising:
 an innermost sealant layer disposed on a multilayer core structure, the innermost sealant layer and the multilayer core structure configured to cooperatively provide a sealant layer comprising a thickness ratio of at least 60% of a total thickness of the packaging film.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging film of  claim 1 , wherein the core structure is co-extruded and includes an outer layer and inner layer on either side of a middle barrier layer. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging film of  claim 2 , wherein the outer and inner layers contain a same material. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging film of  claim 3 , wherein the outer and inner layers contain polyolefin. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging film of  claim 2 , wherein the middle barrier layer contains one of ethylene vinyl alcohol and polyamide. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging film of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an abuse layer disposed on a side of the core structure opposite to the innermost sealant layer.   
     
     
         7 . The packaging film of  claim 8 , wherein the abuse layer contains one of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate and nylon. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging film of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adhesion layer formed within the core structure.   
     
     
         9 . The packaging film of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesion layer contains a tie resin and is formed directly between the inner layer and the middle layer. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a packaging film comprising the steps of:
 forming an innermost layer disposed on a multilayer core structure, the innermost sealant layer and the multilayer core structure configured to cooperatively provide a sealant layer comprising a thickness ratio of at least 60% of a total thickness of the packaging film.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the core structure is co-extruded and includes an outer layer and inner layer on either side of a middle sealant layer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the outer and inner layers contain a same material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the outer and inner layers contain polyolefin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the middle sealant layer contains one of ethylene vinyl alcohol and polyamide. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 forming an abuse layer on a side of the core structure opposite to the innermost sealant layer,   wherein the abuse layer contains one of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate and nylon.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 adhering the inner layer to the middle barrier layer using an adhesion layer formed within the core structure.