Machine direction-oriented polymeric film, and method of making the machine direction-oriented polymeric film

Abstract

Machine direction-oriented polymeric films include a polyolefin and a nucleating agent. Methods for forming polymeric films and articles of manufacture prepared therefrom are described.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A machine direction-oriented polymeric film comprising
 a first skin layer comprising polyethylene,   a core layer comprising an oxygen barrier polymer,   a second skin layer comprising polyethylene,   a first tie layer interposed between the first skin layer and the core layer, the first tie layer comprising a first tie resin and   a second tie layer interposed between the second skin layer and the core layer, the second tie layer comprising a second tie resin, wherein the first tie resin and the second tie resin are the same or different,   wherein the machine direction-oriented polymeric film has a strain at break in a machine direction of less than about 100%, and a 1% secant modulus in the machine direction of greater than about 225,000 pounds per square inch.   
     
     
         22 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the first skin layer comprises medium density polyethylene, linear medium density polyethylene, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the first skin layer comprises high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         24 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the oxygen barrier polymer comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), a polyamide, a polyester, or polyvinylidene chloride. 
     
     
         25 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the oxygen barrier polymer comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). 
     
     
         26 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein each of the first tie layer and the second tie layer independently comprises an anhydride-modified polyethylene or a copolymer thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 26  further comprising a first compatibilizing layer interposed between the first skin layer and the first tie layer, the first compatibilizing layer comprising a first compatibilizing resin, and a second compatibilizing layer interposed between the second skin layer and the second tie layer, the second compatibilizing layer comprising a second compatibilizing resin, wherein the first compatibilizing resin and the second compatibilizing resin are the same or different. 
     
     
         28 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 27  wherein each of the first compatibilizing layer and the second compatibilizing layer independently comprises a maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene. 
     
     
         29 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the polyethylene of the second skin layer comprises low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, ultra-low density polyethylene, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the polyethylene of the second skin layer comprises high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         31 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the first skin layer further comprises a nucleating agent. 
     
     
         32 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 31  wherein the nucleating agent comprises from about 0.1% to about 7% by weight of the first skin layer. 
     
     
         33 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film  claim 21  wherein the strain at break in the machine direction is less than about 50%. 
     
     
         34 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the 1% secant modulus in the machine direction is greater than about 250,000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         35 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the machine direction-oriented polymeric film has a gloss of greater than about 65%. 
     
     
         36 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the machine direction-oriented polymeric film has a haze of less than about 10%. 
     
     
         37 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 21  wherein the first skin layer has a melting point that is greater than or equal to about 115° C. 
     
     
         38 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of  claim 27  further comprising a first sub-skin layer interposed between the first skin layer and the first compatibilizing layer and a second sub-skin layer interposed between the second skin layer and the second compatibilizing layer. 
     
     
         39 . The machine direction-oriented polymeric film of any one of  claim 38 , wherein each of the first sub-skin layer and the second sub-skin layer independently comprises a maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene. 
     
     
         40 . A machine direction-oriented polymeric film comprising
 a first skin layer comprising polyethylene,   a core layer comprising an oxygen barrier polymer,   a second skin layer comprising polyethylene   a first tie layer interposed between the first skin layer and the core layer, the first tie layer comprising a first tie resin, the first tie resin comprising an anhydride-modified polyethylene or a copolymer thereof,   a second tie layer interposed between the second skin layer and the core layer, the second tie layer comprising a second tie resin, the second tie resin comprising an anhydride-modified polyethylene or a copolymer thereof, wherein the first tie resin and the second tier resin are the same or different,   a first compatibilizing layer interposed between the first skin layer and the first tie layer, the first compatibilizing layer comprising a maleic anhydride-grafted polyethyelene, and   a second compatibilizing layer interposed between the second skin layer and the second tie layer, the second compatibilizing layer comprising a maleic anhydride-grafted polyethyelene,   wherein the machine direction-oriented polymeric film has a strain at break in a machine direction of less than about 100%, and a 1% secant modulus in the machine direction of greater than about 225,000 pounds per square inch.