New Transparent HighNew Transparent High--Barrier Films for Barrier Films for Advanced Retort ApplicationsAdvanced Retort Applications

Dr Wout Luyten, Tatsuya OshitaEVAL Europe NV (Kuraray Group)

www.kurarister.com

Specialty Plastic Films 2006, October 24-25Hilton Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

• Established: June 24, 1926• Employees: ~ 7000

Representative Director and PresidentYasuaki Wakui

Our expertise:• Vinyl Acetate derivatives • Isoprene derivatives• Methacrylate derivatives • Other specialities

Our product sectors:• Fibers and Textiles• Specialty Resins & Films • High Performance Materials

• Fibers and Textiles

Clarino(man-made leather)

Sofrina / Amaretta (man-made leather)Polyester

Kuraflex (dry laid non-woven fabric)

Kuralon, Kuralon KII (PVA fiber)

Vectran(polyarelate fiber)Magic Tape

(hook and loop fasteners)

Moulded fasteners(hook and loop fasteners)

• Fibers and Textiles

Genestar(PA9T: heat-resistant PA) Opto-screens

PVA gel(liquid waste treatment)

Vecstar(liquid crystalline polymer film)

• High Performance Materials

Dental ProductsIndustrial filter membranes

• Chemicals and Resins

LIR, Isobam(liquid isoprene rubber,isobutylene polymer)

Septon, Hybrar(thermoplastic elastomer)Poval, Mowiol

Poval Film(polarised film for LCD displays)

Fine Chemicals(aromas)Thermoplastic

polyurethane elastomers

• Chemicals and Resins

Phamaceuticalintermediates

MMA resin Synthetic marble

EVOH resins

Methacrylic sheet PET resin

Pasadena Zwijndrecht Okayama

24,000T 10,000T23,000T47,000T

The World’s Leading EVOH

End 2006

Structure of KURARISTERStructure of KURARISTER™™ CC

New concept composite with excellent barrier property is coated on both sides of PET film

Barrier layer (1μm) PET film (12μm)

Stand Up Pouches:Soups, Rice, Sauses, Vegetables, ...

Lidding Films:Fruit Bowls, Ready Meals, …

Potential applications for KURARISTERPotential applications for KURARISTER™™::

Medical Packaging:Clinical (Parenteral and Enteral) Nutrition, ...

Other ...

cast PP

PET

adhesivebioriented Nylonadhesive

Aluminium

reverse printadhesive

reverse printKURARISTER™ C

A transparent alternative to aluminum foilA transparent alternative to aluminum foil

Layer removalTransparentMicrowaveableReduced weight

reverse printKURARISTER™ C

KurarayKuraray’’s technology at works technology at workAn inorganic compound is dispersed in a polymeric matrix, to create atortuous path for gas molecules (long gas diffusion path).Molecular movement of the polymer chain is restricted by the inorganiccompound (low gas diffusion rate).

Magnification of the gas barrier layer

Polymeric matrix

Less than 5nm

Inorganic compound

Features of KURARISTERFeatures of KURARISTER™™ CC

Retort resistance at least up to 135ºC, 60min. or 120ºC, 3hrs.Very high and consistent gas barrier: O2GTR < 0.5cc/m2.day.atm beforeduring and after retort.Performance independent of the retort method (steam, spray, hot water).Barrier not affected by humidity, elongation (5%), scratching nor flexing.High transparency, like PET film.Easy printing without any surface pre-treatment.Easy handling: no curling, extremely low friction, operator friendly.

Produced in Tamashima (Japan) by Kuraray.

Transparency of KURARISTERTransparency of KURARISTER™™ CC

KURARISTERTM

Ultraviolet range Visible light range

PET

0

20

40

60

80

100

200 300 400 500 600 700 800Wavelength (nm)

Ligh

t tra

nsm

ittan

ce (%

)

Items Conditions Unit KURARISTERTM C PET

89.9

3.2

Total light transmission % 93.023ºC,

50%RHHaze % 2.9

Oxygen barrier independent of retort methodOxygen barrier independent of retort method

Retort conditions: 120°C, 30min

ItemBefore / after

retort

O2GTR measurement

conditions Hot water Spray Steam

Before retort (KURARISTER™ C)

20ºC, 85%RH 0.3 0.3 0.3

Before retort(laminate*)

0.4 0.4 0.4

After retort(laminate*)

0.4 0.4 0.5

20ºC,85%RH out,100%RH in

O2GTR(cc/m2.day.atm)

* Laminate: KURARISTER™ C // 15µm OPA // 50µm CPP.

Oxygen barrier after hot water retortOxygen barrier after hot water retort

Items Retort conditionsO2GTR

measurement condition

KURARISTER™ CAl2O3

coated film

Before retort(barrier film as such) 20ºC, 85%RH 0.3 0.3

Before retort (laminate*) 0.4 0.4

20ºC,85%RH out, 100%RH in

135ºC60min

0.4 1.1

0.6 ~ 1.1

O2GTR(cc/m2.day.atm)

Nodelaminationnor whitening

Hotwater

120ºC30minHot

water

120ºC30min

0.4

AppearanceAfterretort 135ºC

60min

Nodelaminationnor whitening

Afterretort

* Laminate: Barrier film // 15µm OPA // 50µm CPP

ItemRetort

conditionsMeasurement

conditionsUnit KURARISTERTM C

Al2O3

coatedfilm

Before retort (film as such)

20ºC,85%RH

4.6

4.2

4.4

0.8

Before retort(laminate*)

0.820ºC,

85%RH out, 100%RH in

cc/m2.day.atm

CO2

transmissionrate

12.5After retort

(120ºC, 30min)

COCO22 barrier after hot water retortbarrier after hot water retort

* Laminate: Barrier film // 15µm OPA // 50µm CPP

Oxygen barrier for different pouch contentsOxygen barrier for different pouch contentsPeel strength (g/15mm)

Water/Oil(wt%)

O2GTR (1)

after hot water retort(cc/m2.day.atm)

Appearanceafter hot water

retortSoon

after retort3 hours

after retort

100/0 0.4No

delaminationnor whitening

430 530

90/10 0.5 Idem 430 510

70/30 0.4 Idem 450 520

50/50 0.3 Idem 430 510

(1) OTR measurement conditions: 20ºC, 85%RH out, 100%RH in

Moisture barrierMoisture barrier

ItemRetort

conditionsMeasurement

conditionsUnit KURARISTERTM

Al2O3

coatedfilm

Before retort(film as such)

55

6.2

5.6

0.5

Before retort(laminate*)

WVTR 0.540ºC,90%RH

g/m2.day

2.5After retort

(120ºC, 30min)

* Laminate: KURARISTER™ C // 15µm OPA // 50µm CPP

Peel strength after hot water retortPeel strength after hot water retort

Item Retort conditions (1) KURARISTERTM CAl2O3

coated film

Before retort 550 280

260

250

250

280

30min 520

60min 480

120min 480

180min 500

120ºC

Peel strength(g/15mm)

(1) Retort method: Hot water retort

Oxygen barrier after elongationOxygen barrier after elongation

O2GTR (1)

(cc/m2.day.atm)Elongation

KURARISTERTM C

0.3

0.4

Al2O3 coated film

0% 0.3

5% 0.8

(1)　OTR at 20 ºC, 85%RH

0 10 20 30 40

Al2O3 coated filmKURARISTER

Oxygen barrier after Oxygen barrier after GelboGelbo flexingflexing

After retort& Gelbo (50 times)

After retort

Before retort

O2GTR (cc/m2.day.atm)

40<

40<

1.1

0.3

0.8

0.8

0.4

0.4

After retort& Gelbo (10 times)

Hot water retort(120°C, 30min)

O2GTRmeasurement

PrintabilityPrintability

Both solvent based inks and water based inkscan be directly coated onto KURARISTERTM

KURARISTERTM

(no corona treatment)PET

(corona treated)

Wetting Index >54 >54

Coefficient of FrictionCoefficient of FrictionFilm

ItemsSample

combination KURARISTERTM C PET

Film / Metal (1)

Film / Film 24 30

14 10

Film / Metal (2) 25 24

Film / Metal (3) 29 26

SlipAngle(deg)

(1) Metal(1): Ry (Metal surface roughness) = 0.66 ← Mirror Surface(2) Metal(2): Ry = 6.40(3) Metal(2): Ry = 16.91

Food regulation compliance status Food regulation compliance status

FDAKURARISTERTM C may be used as intended as a component of multilayer films for use in contact with all food types under temperatures as severe as FDA’s Condition of Use A (“High temperature heat-sterilised”) provided the KURARISTERTM C is separated from food by at least a 30 µm-thick PP layer.

EU DirectiveKURARISTERTM C used as barrier layer in a multilayer structure film complies with the Framework Regulation No.1935/2004, the Plastics Directive 2002/72/EC as amended, and applicable national legislation, with a 30µm-thick food-contact layer of PP.

Structure of KURARISTERStructure of KURARISTER™™ NN

New concept composite with excellent barrier property is coated on both sides of OPA film

Barrier layer (1μm) Nylon film (15µm)

A transparent alternative to aluminum foilA transparent alternative to aluminum foil

cast PP

PET

bioriented Nylonadhesive

adhesive

Aluminium

reverse printadhesive

KURARISTER™ Nreverse print

KURARISTER™ Nreverse printLayer removal

TransparentMicrowaveableReduced weight

Oxygen barrier of KURARISTER™ NOxygen barrier of KURARISTER™ N

Measurement item Retort conditions

O2GTRmeasurement

conditionsunit KURARISTER™ N

Before retort(film as such)

20℃,85%RH

0.5

Before retort(laminate)

0.620℃,

85%RH out,100%RH in

cc/m2.day.atm

O2GTRAfter retort(hot water

120℃, 30min)0.7

KURARISTERKURARISTER™™ N versus conventional N versus conventional nylon based barrier filmnylon based barrier film

Conventional nylon based barrier films are damaged by oxygen attacks during retort

O2

O2

O2 O2

O2

O2

O2 O2

Singlebarrierlayer

Mechanical propertiesMechanical propertiesKURARISTER™ N OPA

Item unitBefore retort After retort Before

retortAfter retort

2600 1000

820

110

140

37

46

2400

190

180

89

81

TD

MD

TD

MD

TD

3700 2400Tensile modulus

3600 2200MPa

220

260

91

100

MD

190

190

80

87

Tensile strengthat break

Elongationat break

%

Puncture resistancePuncture resistance

Item unit KURARISTER™ N OPA

Film as such

Before retort

After retort135℃，60min

NLaminate

9.3

10.0

6.9

4.4

7.2

8.5

8.6

8.3

After retort120℃，30min

KURARISTER™ N OPAItem unit

N side CPP side OPA side CPP side

- -

Before retort10.0

4.6

After retort135℃，60min

kg･cm

2.8

8.2

8.8

6.5

Film as such

Laminate

8.1

12.5

3.7

3.1

7.0

10.0

10.8

8.0

After retort120℃，30min

Impact strengthImpact strength

Heat shrinkageHeat shrinkageKURARISTER™ N OPA

Condition unitMD TD MD TD

0.1 4.0

4.5

135℃, 60min 6.0 3.3 12.9 11.4

80℃, 5min 1.6 1.6 1.0 1.0

％0.4

0.8

0.2

0.8

1.4

120℃, 60min

80℃, 10s

80℃, 30s

3.0 6.1

3.2 6.4Retort shrinkage

0.5

0.7

120℃, 30min

0.7

1.2Dry heat shrinkage

Peel strengthPeel strength

ConditionItem

Before or after retort

Unit KURARISTER™ N

500

500

OPA

Before 620

540

Soon after retort 610Peel strength

(g/15mm) kgｆ/15mm

3hr after retort 610

Slip propertiesSlip properties

Item KURARISTER™ N KURARISTER™ C

24°

ON PET

Slip angle 25° 48° 30°

Measurement condition: 23℃, 50%RH

KURARISTER™ films (www.kurarister.com) are produced by Kuraray Co. Ltd in Japan (www.kuraray.co.jp). Kuraray is also the world’s largest producer of high-barrier EVAL™ EVOH resins used in multilayer coextrusion and coinjection, and EVAL™ barrier film for lamination.

KURARISTER™ is distributed in Europe, Africa and the Middle East byEVAL Europe NV located in Antwerp, Belgium (www.eval.be).

EVAL Europe is currently Europe’s largest EVOH production site, with a Technical and new Development centre serving the region.

Technical contact: Wout Luyten (wout.luyten@eval.be)Commercial contact: Paul Verstraten (paul.verstraten@eval.be)

Tel: +32 3 250 9733