58 patents in this list

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Preserving the freshness and quality of food and beverages is an ongoing challenge in packaging. Oxygen, though essential for life, is a silent spoiler, accelerating spoilage and degrading flavors. The need for effective barriers against oxygen ingress is critical, especially as consumer demand for longer shelf life and reduced preservatives grows.

Professionals in the packaging industry face the task of creating materials that are both effective and sustainable. Balancing these requirements often means navigating complex material properties and manufacturing constraints. The challenge is to block oxygen without compromising on recyclability or adding excessive weight and cost.

This page explores a variety of solutions from recent patents and research. These include multi-layer barrier preforms, polymeric films with reduced EVOH content, and laminated materials with cellulose-based layers. Each approach aims to enhance barrier performance, reduce oxygen ingress, and extend the shelf life of products without sacrificing sustainability.

1. Multi-Layer Polymeric Film with Polypropylene Interfaces and Reduced EVOH Content for Rigid Containers

SUPERIOR PLASTICS EXTRUSION CO INC, 2024

Co-extruded multi-layer polymeric film for rigid containers like food packaging that provides improved barrier properties, toughness, and snapability compared to conventional materials. The film has stacked layers with interfaces between layers made of polypropylene and other polymers. The polypropylene layers disrupt oxygen transport and provide barrier properties. This allows using less of the expensive barrier materials like EVOH. The film structure also improves mechanical properties and recyclability. The film can be made by co-extrusion and thermoforming into containers.

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2. Laminated Packaging Material with Cellulose-Based Bulk Layer and Biaxially Oriented LLDPE Film

TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE, TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA, 2024

Laminated packaging material for liquid food products that provides improved barrier properties, strength, and openability compared to aluminum foil-based packaging. The material has a cellulose-based bulk layer, a barrier layer, and an innermost polyethylene film. The polyethylene film is a cast, biaxially oriented LLDPE film with specific properties. This unique laminate structure allows using thinner, more sustainable materials while maintaining integrity and barrier properties. The cellulose-based layers provide strength and recyclability, while the polyethylene film improves barrier properties and openability.

EP4371754A1-patent-drawing

3. Laminated Packaging Material with Cellulose-Based Bulk Layer, Gas Barrier Layer, and Preformed Polyethylene Heat-Sealable Layer

TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S A, 2024

Laminated packaging material for long-term packaging of liquid foods in aseptic cartons. The material has a cellulose-based bulk layer, a barrier layer of gas barrier material, and an inner heat-sealable layer. The inner layer is a preformed polyethylene film with specific properties. The laminated structure provides high barrier properties, puncture resistance, and sealing integrity for packaging liquids without aluminum foil. The paper-based laminate balances strength and sealing with openability for aseptic packaging of oxygen-sensitive foods.

4. Polymer Alloy Packaging Sheet with Polyethyleneimine and Polyvinyl Alcohol Barrier Coating

SONOCO DEVELOPMENT INC, 2024

Sustainable, high-barrier, food-contact packaging materials and methods that replace traditional materials like HIPS and PVdC. The packaging uses a formable sheet made from a specific alloy of polymers, coated with a barrier layer containing polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). The alloy layers have a composition of PET, HDPE, and a compatibilizer. The barrier coating provides oxygen and moisture barrier properties without compromising the sheet strength during forming. The coating composition and method involve intermixing PEI and PVOH with water to create a stretchable, formable gel. This gel-coated alloy sheet can be thermoformed into containers without rupturing the barrier layer. The coating composition and method avoid using HIPS and PVdC, which are banned in some jurisdictions due to environmental concerns.

5. Co-Extruded Metallized Barrier Films with Inner Sealant, Core Barrier, and Outer Metallized Layers

LIQUI-BOX CORP, 2024

Co-extruded metallized barrier films for flexible bags that provide improved toughness, thermal retention, barrier properties, and recyclability compared to existing bags. The films have a structure with an inner sealant layer, a core barrier layer with low EVOH content, and an outer metallized sealant layer. The core barrier layer has a thin EVOH layer for oxygen and moisture barrier, while the thicker sealant layers provide toughness and sealing. The metallized outer layer allows recycling.

6. Five-Layer Aseptic Packaging Structure with High-Barrier Film Replacing Aluminum Foil

SHANDONG BIHAI MACHINERY CO LTD, 2024

Environment-friendly liquid food aseptic packaging structure that replaces the aluminum foil layer in packaging while reducing carbon emissions and costs. The packaging structure has five layers: PE1, PE2, high-barrier film, PE3, and PE4. The high-barrier film is made from a functional film formed by evaporating materials like EVOH, PVDC, polyamine, or PET through multilayer compounding. The high-barrier film is bonded to the second PE layer using an adhesive layer. The other PE layers are regular PE. The high-barrier film replaces the aluminum foil layer while providing similar oxygen-barrier properties. The packaging structure uses less aluminum, reduces carbon emissions, and has comparable food-holding properties to packaging with aluminum foil.

7. Nested Packaging System with Semi-Permeable Inner Pouch and Oxygen-Blocking Outer Barrier for Liquid Medications

CISEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO LTD, 2024

A packaging system for liquid medications that prevents oxidation and degradation of sensitive drugs. The system uses a nested design with an inner semi-permeable pouch containing the medication and an outer barrier package around it. The inner pouch allows water vapor and solvent passage, but blocks oxygen and other gases. The outer barrier prevents oxygen ingress into the inner pouch. This prevents oxidation and degradation of the medication inside the inner pouch.

8. Barrier-Coated Packaging Material with Reduced Graphene Oxide Layer and Method of Application

TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA, 2024

Cost-effective, recyclable, barrier-coated packaging material for long-term aseptic food storage without aluminum foil. The method involves coating a thin substrate web with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to create an oxygen barrier. The rGO is dispersed in water and coated using a web coating machine. The rGO coating is dried and then the substrate is laminated into a packaging material. The rGO coating provides good gas barrier properties without foil. This enables recyclable, non-foil, aseptic cartons for long-life food packaging.

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9. Oxygen Absorbing Material Comprising Iron Powder, Titanium Oxide, Calcium Oxide, and Polyolefin Resin

MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY INC, 2024

Oxygen absorbing packaging material with improved light blocking and odor suppressing properties while maintaining oxygen absorption. The oxygen absorbing material contains a specific ratio of iron powder, titanium oxide, calcium oxide, and polyolefin resin. This composition allows the oxygen absorbing properties of iron powder to be combined with improved light blocking and odor suppression from the other components. The oxygen absorbing material can be used as a film or layer in packaging applications like food containers or cover materials to provide extended shelf life.

US20240018317A1-patent-drawing

10. Inorganic Barrier Laminate with Protective Layer and Transparent Substrate for Controlled Water Vapor Transmission Rate Stability

KOLON IND INC, KOLON INDUSTRIES INC, 2024

Moisture and oxygen barrier laminate for food packaging that maintains excellent barrier properties even after retort processing or deformation like bending. The laminate has an inorganic barrier layer sandwiched between a protective layer and a transparent substrate. The key is selecting materials and processing conditions to achieve specific changes in water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) after retort or flex testing. The WVTR increase after retort should be 1.00 g/m2*day or less, and after flex testing it should be 0.70 g/m2*day or less. The protective layer and substrate can be films like nylon or unstretched polypropylene.

US20240009978A1-patent-drawing

11. Resin Composition with Hydrophilic Resin and Metal Compound in Specific Mass Ratio for Enhanced Gas Barrier Films

MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORP, 2023

Resin composition and film with improved gas barrier properties, especially oxygen barrier, under high humidity. The composition contains a hydrophilic resin like PVA or polysaccharide and a metal compound. The key is regulating the ratio of resin to metal compound mass in terms of metal content to be 90:10 to 20:80. This allows films made from this composition to have excellent oxygen barrier at high humidity without needing a separate humidity control step. The composition can be used to coat substrates or make thin films.

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12. Layered Coating Structure on Paper Substrate via Dispersion and Vapor Deposition Techniques

TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S A, TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA, 2023

Barrier-coated paper for packaging liquids that provides improved barrier properties while maintaining recyclability. The coating process involves applying a thin base layer coating to the paper, followed by a barrier coating. The base layer coating is different from the barrier coating and is applied by dispersion coating. The barrier coating is applied by vapor deposition. This sandwich structure allows using less barrier material compared to applying a thick barrier layer directly to the paper. The base layer improves adhesion and allows thinner barrier coatings. The resulting paper has better oxygen and water vapor barrier properties suitable for packaging liquids like milk.

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13. Laminated Paper Substrate with Dual Barrier Films and Adhesive Layer

LEE JUN HYEK, 2023

Oxygen and moisture barrier paper with improved barrier properties by laminating a moisture barrier film and an oxygen barrier film onto the paper substrate. The moisture barrier film prevents water penetration while the oxygen barrier film blocks oxygen. The laminated films are adhered to the paper using an adhesive layer. The lamination and drying process enhances the barrier properties of the paper without adding coatings that impede recycling.

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14. Paper Packaging Structure with Dual-Component Barrier Layer Comprising Water-Based Oxygen Barrier and Solvent-Based Sealant Layer

SONOCO DEV INC, SONOCO DEVELOPMENT INC, 2023

Recyclable paper packaging with improved moisture and oxygen barrier properties for food packaging applications. The packaging structure consists of a paper layer with a barrier layer applied to the inside surface. The barrier layer has two components: a water-based oxygen barrier and a solvent-based sealant layer. The oxygen barrier is applied first, followed by the sealant layer. This provides a paper packaging that can effectively preserve packaged foods by blocking moisture and oxygen while being recyclable compared to laminated plastic packaging.

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15. Multilayer Heat-Shrinkable Film with Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer Barrier Layers and Adhesive Tie Layer

CRYOVAC LLC, 2023

Multilayer heat-shrinkable film for packaging foods and other products that provides good oxygen barrier, free shrinkage, and optical properties. The film has at least two barrier layers made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with 27-50 mol % ethylene content. The barriers are sandwiched between outer layers and a tie layer. The tie layer adheres the barrier layers and is made of polymers like modified LLDPE, grafted LDPE, grafted PP, grafted EVA, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers. The film has free shrinkage >60% at 85°C, oxygen transmission rate <20 cc/m2/day/atm at 0% RH, and haze <50 after shrinkage.

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16. Cellulosic Fiber Substrate with PVOH Oxygen Barrier and Polyolefin Moisture Barrier Layers

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK NA, 2023

Paper-based packaging with improved oxygen and moisture barrier properties for food packaging. The packaging uses a cellulosic fiber substrate with an inner PVOH oxygen barrier layer and an outer moisture barrier layer. The inner moisture barrier can be a polyolefin or functionalized polyolefin. The PVOH layer seals against the moisture barrier to create a hermetic package. The cellulosic substrate allows recyclability. The PVOH inner layer prevents oxygen degradation, while the moisture barrier prevents spoilage. The inner moisture barrier prevents delamination between the layers.

17. Adhesion-Promoter-Coated Particle Dispersion in Polyvinyl Alcohol Matrix for Enhanced Barrier Coating on Polymeric Substrates

SONOCO DEV INC, SONOCO DEVELOPMENT INC, 2023

Barrier coating for polymeric materials like packaging sheets that improves oxygen and moisture barrier properties without using excessive amounts of barrier materials. The coating contains particles coated with an adhesion promoter dispersed in a barrier solution like polyvinyl alcohol. This creates a tortuous path through the coating that forces oxygen and moisture to flow around the impermeable particles instead of through them. The coated particles also act as fillers to reduce the overall barrier material needed. The coating is applied to a polymer layer and dried, then thermoformed into containers without impairing barrier performance.

18. Multi-Layer Food Product Container with Polypropylene Copolymer and Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Barrier Layer

NYPRO INC, 2023

Food product containers with improved barrier properties to prevent oxygen and moisture ingress, especially for thin-walled containers like yogurt cups. The containers have a multi-layer structure with an inner barrier layer sandwiched between two outer skin layers. The barrier layer contains a specific composition of polypropylene copolymer, Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH), and a tie additive. The EVOH provides the barrier against oxygen and moisture, while the polypropylene copolymer and tie additive improve the container's mechanical properties and processing. The tie additive is an anhydride-modified polypropylene resin.

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19. Polypropylene Substrate Coated with Polyvinyl Alcohol Copolymer and Inorganic Lamellar Compound Layer

TOYOBO CO LTD, 2023

A gas barrier laminated film with improved gas barrier properties and adhesive strength for packaging applications. The film has a coating layer containing a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer and inorganic lamellar compound like montmorillonite. The coating layer satisfies specific conditions for thickness, roughness, and ratio of peaks in its infrared spectrum to balance barrier properties and adhesion. The film is made by coating a polypropylene substrate with this layer and drying/heat treating it. The film has good oxygen and water vapor barrier properties, low environmental impact, and recyclability.

20. Thermoformed Transparent Multilayer Plastic Bottles with Alternating EVOH and Polyethylene Nanolayers

SCHIRMER HENRY G, 2023

Crystal clear high barrier thermoformed plastic bottles for food, medical, and personal care applications that provide high moisture and oxygen barrier without compromising transparency. The bottles are made by thermoforming transparent multilayer films with optimized barrier layers and processing. The films have alternating sequences of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) and adhesive nanolayers for oxygen barrier, and polyethylene nanolayers for moisture barrier. Rapid quenching during film production helps maintain transparency. The thermoformed bottles have outer layers of amorphous polymers like polyester or cyclic olefin copolymers, and inner nanolayer sequences like EVOH/adhesive and polyethylene/polyethylene.

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21. Multilayer Film Structure with Dual Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol Layers Separated by Moisture Transmissive Layer

22. Method for Depositing Inorganic Laminated Film with Dual Metal Oxide Layers and Resin-Based Barrier Coating on Base Film

23. Polypropylene-Based Multi-Layer Barrier Packaging with Deposition and Wet Coating Techniques

24. Modified Starch-Polyvinyl Alcohol-Polyoxyalkylene Resin Composition with Optional Polyol Plasticizer for Coated Papers, Films, and Laminates

25. Layered Oxygen Absorbing Film with Oxygen Barrier, Absorbing Resin, and Stretched PET Structure

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