Multilayer materials

XRD offers unparalleled accuracy in the measurement of atomic spacings and is the technique of choice for determining strain states in thin films. XRD is noncontact and nondestructive, which makes it ideal for in situ studies. The intensities measured with XRD can provide quantitative, accurate information on the atomic arrangements at interfaces (e.g., in multilayers). Materials composed of any element can be successfully studied with XRD, but XRD is most sensitive to high-Z elements, since the diffracted intensity from these is much lar r than from low-Z elements. As a consequence, the sensitivity of XRD depends on the material of interest. With lab-based equipment, surface sensitivities down to a thickness of -50 A are achievable, but synchrotron radiation (because of its higher intensity)... 

Irradiation of Multilayered Materials for Packaging Thermoprocessed Foods... 

Materials. The single films and multilayered materials examined are listed in Tables I and II, respectively. The adhesive (10thick) between any two layers was a two-component curing, epoxy—polyester adhesive, Adcote 503A, Morton Chemical Co. Pouches (11.5 X 17.8 cm) were made from the multilayered materials by heat sealing the sides and bottom under the optimum heat sealing conditions (3). 

Irradiation Conditions. The gamma (cobalt-60) radiation facility and the source calibration are described by Holm and Jarrett (4). Irradiation temperature was 21 (initial) - 40°C (final). The gamma source was calibrated with the ferrous sulfate/cupric sulfate dosimeter for a dose rate of 8 X 102 rads per second. Pouches were fabricated from multilayered materials and then irradiated while empty. The container used to hold the multilayered materials and the empty pouches during irradiation was a large size, flexible package that was sealed under vacuum prior to the irradiation. 

The commercial polymeric films (Table I) that are used as the outside layer of multilayered materials for thermoprocessed food packaging are poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyiminocaproyl, or polypropylene. The other five films listed in Table I or polypropylene are used for the food-contacting layer. 

Multilayered materials owe their properties and behavior to the properties of and the interactions between the components (5). Each of the two or more components contributes its particular property to the total performance of the multilayered material. For example, in Pouch 1, Table II, the aluminum foil provides high oxygen and water vapor permeability resistance, poly (ethylene terephthalate) provides structural strength and stiffness, and the ethylene-butene copolymer provides a heat sealable layer. If the components of the multilayered materials interact then the whole would be something different than the sum of its parts. In other words, the properties of the components of the multilayered materials are not independent of one another but rather are interdependent. 

Each of the multilayered materials of Table II, in pouch form, met the retortability requirements. Examination of the pouches after this test showed that no delamination occurred among the layers. However, microscopic examination of specimens used for bond strength tests showed that adhesive failure rather than cohesive failure occurred be-... 

Bond strength data for four multilayered materials is shown in Table V. In each case the data is for the bond between the food-contacting layer and its adjacent layer. In Pouch 1, it is the bond between ethylene-butene copolymer and aluminum foil in Pouch 2 between ethylene-butene copolymer—polyisobutylene blend and aluminum foil in Pouch 3 between ethylene-butene copolymer and polyiminocaproyl and in Pouch 4 between ethylene-butene copolymer and poly(ethylene terephthalate). Bond strength increased in the four multilayered materials after the irradiation treatment. 

The studies of electrodeposited multilayer materials to date show clearly that electrodeposition is a feasible technique for the production of thin multilayered materials in systems that from an electrochemical standpoint are adaptable to the pulsed deposition technique. 

Multilayered materials can be readily formed using thermoforming including food packaging that may involve inclusion of layers of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, PS, polyolefins, and/or copolymers of vinylene dichloride and vinyl chloride. Microwavable food trays from (crystallized) PET are manufactured using thermoforming. 

Multilayer materials exhibiting high magnetization and permeability are undergoing considerable research and development for advanced recording... 

Figure 10. Ultrasonic pulse-echo technique for determining the thickness of layers in multilayer materials.

The variation of hardness with multilayer wavelength in a range of different types of structures. These include multilayers of (a) isostructural transition metal nitrides and carbides, which show the greatest hardening (b) nonisostructural multilayer materials, where slip cannot occur by the movement of dislocations across the planes of the composition modulation, because the slip systems are different in the two materials and (c) materials where different crystal structures are stabilized at small layer thicknesses, such as AIN deposited onto TiN. 

The completion of harmonisation of rules for plastic food contact materials and articles is within sight. The finalisation of the positive list for authorised additives is likely to happen in 2008. In 2007 the Commission will, besides the Community list of authorised additives, publish a list of additives authorised at national level for which a valid application for EU authorisation has been made to EES A. Only these substances may be used until evaluation is finalised by EES A and a decision on authorisahon is taken by the European Commission. Another project in the plastics sector is the extension of the rules to multimaterial multilayer structures where the plastic layer is in contact with the food. At this moment only plastic materials which consist entirely of plastic are covered by the plastics Directive. These materials, when they are made up from layers of plastic, constitute only about 15% of the mutilayer market. Other multilayer materials such as beverage cartons, which consist of a food contact layer of plastic and aluminium and/or paper, are not yet covered by specific legislation. Extension of the plastics mles to these materials will have to take into consideration requirements for the non-plastic layers and establish mles for migration testing of these materials. 

In multilayer materials a layer can function as a barrier to migration of... 

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