CA2265580C - High strength flexible film package - Google Patents

Abstract

An article, such as a bag (10), pouch, casing, or sheet formed from joined film pieces, comprises a non-crosslaminated film. The article has a parallel plate burst strength of at least 300 inches of water, more preferably, from about 300 to 2000 inches of water. The film comprises one or more of a wide variety of polymers, with linear low density polyethylene being a preferred polymer. The film is heat sealed to itself or another film (preferably a similar or identical film). Preferably, the film has a total thickness of from about 3 to 20 mils. The burst strength is surprising in view of the fact that the film is not cross-laminated.

Description

1015202530‘ WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/16104HIGH STRENGTH FLEXIBLE FILM PACKAGE1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to film or sheet articles which have been converted intobags, pouches, etc., which a capable of providing a high strength package for the packaging ofa wide variety of industrial and consumer products. Such products are subject to heavy risk ofabrasion and/or puncture.2. Background of the InventionThere are a wide variety of products which can benefit from being packaged in a highstrength flexible film package, ie, a flexible film package having a high tear resistance, a highburst strength, and/or other desirable characteristics which flow from high strength packaging.High strength packages can avoid package punctures, tears, seals which fail, etc. Moreover,such high strength flexible film packaging, due to the relatively small amount of material used inthe package, can result in significantly less waste, hence less environmental impact (and easierrecycling) than the more bulky alternatives such as wood crates, paper products (e.g.,corrugated paper products), foams, etc. which are the most common fonns of packaging wherea high strength, abuse-resistant package is desired. The light weight and low bulk of such highstrength flexible film packaging material also provides significant transport advantages, over themore bulky packaging materials above, while remaining tamper-resistant. Moreover, such highstrength flexible film packaging products which are not reinforced with non-therrnoplasticmaterials are more easily recycled than reinforced products, e.g., are more easily recycled than,for example, fiberglass reinforced plastic film packaging materials.One high strength flexible film packaging material which has been in use for some timeis marketed by Van Leer Flexibles, Inc. of Houston, Texas, i.e., VALERON® strength film.VALERON® strength film is made from high density oriented and cross-laminatedpolyethylene, and is stated as being puncture-resistant, tear-resistant, and chemical-resistant.VALERON® strength film is also stated as being strong, with a smooth surface, balanced tear-resistance, of uniform thickness, and is printable with solvent-based and water-based inks, andis laminatable to paper, film, and other substrates. VALERON® strength film is also stated asmaintaining its properties in harsh environments and as having a temperature operating range offrom -70°F to over 200°F, and as being usefiil in the flexible packaging, shipping, construction,1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97/16104agricultural, photographic, and tag & label industries. VALERON® strength film is stated ashaving much better tear resistance than single-ply film of the same overall thickness and of thesame polymer which has been biaxially oriented. VALERON® strength film has also beenstated to provide improvements over even other cross-laminated films because it is annealed,i.e., subjected to an elevated temperature (i.e., from 35°C to below the lowest melting point ofthe thennoplastic material present, excluding any adhesive or bonding layer). The annealingprocess reportedly provides VALERON® strength film with a higher impact strength relativeto corresponding unannealed films.However, VALERON® strength film is an expensive product relative to other films.This expense is undoubtedly due to the costs associated with both the cross-lamination and theannealing. It would be desirable to provide high strength flexible film packaging which hasperfonnance characteristics comparable to VALERON® strength film, but which is lesscomplex to manufacture.Summary of the InventionThe present invention is directed to a high strength flexible film package which hascharacteristics comparable to packages formed from the cross—laminated films discussed above,but which is substantially less complex to produce. It has surprisingly been discovered that anon—cross-laminated film having a thickness comparable to VALERON® strength film can besealed to form a package which is highly resistant to impact and burst, i.e., has a parallel plateburst strength of at least 300 inches of water. This high burst strength is unexpected in view ofthe film not being a cross—laminate, and even not necessarily being annealed. A fiirtherunexpected result is that this comparable burst-strength is obtained at a thickness approximatelythe same as the total thickness of the cross—laminated, annealed films. Thus, the film is simpleand relatively inexpensive to produce, while providing a burst strength comparable to morecomplex and expensive cross-laminated, annealed packaging materials. Moreover, it has beenfinther unexpectedly discovered that the package according to the present invention can utilizepolyethylene copolymers, and hence substantially match the chemical-resistance, operatingtemperature range, and printability associated with cross—laminated, armealed flexible films.As a first aspect, the present invention pertains to an article comprising a non-crosslaminated film. The non-crosslarninated film comprises at least one member selectedfrom the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene,l015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10wo 98/34785 PCT/US97/16104homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, polycarbonate, polyester homopolymer,polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetatecopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide, very low density polyethylene, low densitypolyethylene, polyolefin, ethylene/propylene copolymer, ethylene/norbomene copolymer, andethylene/styrene copolymer. The non-crosslaminated film is sealed to itself or a second filmcomprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low densitypolyethylene, high density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer,polycarbonate, polyester, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer,ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide, very low densitypolyethylene, low density polyethylene,polyolefin, ethylene/propylenecopolymer,ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbomene copolymer, and ethylene/styrenecopolymer. (Preferably, the film comprises LLDPE; more preferably, at least one layercomprising LLDPE in an amount of at least 80 weight percent, base on the weight of the layer;still more preferably, the film comprises a blend of LLDPE and EVA; yet still more preferably,a blend of about 80-95 weight percent LLDPE, 5-l9 percent EVA, and 1-5 percent of anantiblock masterbatch. If the film comprises LLDPE, it can be a cross-laminated film, and can,optionally, also be annealed.) The article has a parallel plate burst strength of at least 300inches of water. Preferably, the film has a total thickness of from about 3 to 20 mils, and thearticle has a parallel plate burst strength of from about 300 to 2000 inches of water. The filmcan be a monolayer film or a multilayer film.Optionally, or alternatively, the film may fi1I'tl')€f comprise a crosslinked layercomprising a polymeric crosslinking enhancer, wherein the polymeric crosslinkingenhancer comprises the reaction product of a polyene monomer and a C3 to C3 olefinicmonomer. Optionally, a third monomer, different from the C3 to C3 olefinic monomer, canalso be included in the polymeric crosslinking enhancer. This third monomer is selectedfrom the group consisting of olefinic monomer, styrene or a styrene derivative, cycloolefinsuch as norbornene, unsaturated ester such as vinyl acetate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate,and butyl acrylate, acid such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, and acid salt. Thepolymeric crosslinking enhancer can optionally be blended with another polymer.Alternatively, the polymer can be used alone. More particularly, the polymericcrosslinking enhancer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting ofethylene/propylene/ENB terpolymer, ethylene/hexene/ ENB terpolymer, ethylene/octene/1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10W0 98l34785 PCT/US97/16104ENB terpolymer, ethylene/hexene/ 5-vinylnorbornene terpolymer, and ethylene/octene/ 5-vinylnorbornene terpolymer,A preferred multilayer film comprises a first inner layer and a second inner layer,wherein each of the inner layers comprises at least one member selected from the groupconsisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, andhomogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of from about 0.87 to 0.9]g/cc; more preferably, the ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer comprises at least one memberselected from the group consisting of ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer, and ethylene/vinylacetate copolymer, and the ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer comprises ethylene/methacrylic acidcopolymer. The preferred multilayer film firrther comprise a first outer layer and a second outerlayer, wherein each of the outer layers comprises (a) at least one member selected from thegroup consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low densitypolyethylene, very low density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer,olefin homopolymer, polycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/estercopolymer, ester homopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer,ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbomene copolymer, and ethylene/styrenecopolymer, as well as (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting ofethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneousethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc. At least onemember selected fiom the group consisting of the first outer layer and the second outer layer issealed to itself or the other outer layer. Preferably, the multilayer film has a total thickness offrom about 3 to 7 mils, and wherein the article has a parallel plate burst strength of from about300 to 1000 inches of water; more preferably, a total ‘thickness of from about 4 to 5 mils, and aparallel plate burst strength of from about 400 to 700 inches of water.The film can be either heat-shrinkable or non-heat shrinkable. If heat shrinkable,preferably the film has been biaxially oriented and has a free shrink at 185°F, of from about 10to 100 percent.The film can firrther comprise an O2-barrier layer comprising at least one memberselected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl chloride,polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile; more preferably, at least onemember selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyester, and polyacrylonitrile.1015202530i WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/U S97] 16104Preferably, the film is irradiated to a level of from about 50-150 kGy; more preferably,from about 75 to l25 kGy; still more preferably, fi'om about 90-110 kGy; and, yet still morepreferably, to about 100 kGy.The article of the present invention preferably comprises at least one member selectedfrom the group consisting of end-seal bag, side-seal bag, L-seal bag, pouch, and backseamedcasing.As a second aspect, the present invention further pertains to a particularly preferredarticle according to the present invention, which comprises a first multilayer film and a secondmultilayer film, wherein the first multilayer film is not a cross-laminated film and the secondmultilayer film is not a cross-laminated film, the first multilayer film is sealed to the secondmultilayer film, the first multilayer film has a thickness of from about 3 to 20 mils, and thesecond multilayer film has a thickness of from about 3 to 20 mils, with the article having aparallel plate burst strength of from about 300 to 2000 inches of water. Preferably, the firstmultilayer film comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear lowdensity polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, very low densitypolyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha—olefin copolymer, olefin homopolymer,copolymer, copolymer,homopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer, ethylene/propylene/dienepolycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene/acid ethylene/ester esterterpolymer, ethylene/norbomene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer. Preferably, thesecond multilayer film comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting oflinear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, very lowdensity polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha—olefin copolymer, olefin homopolymer,polycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, esterhomopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer, ethylene/propylene/dieneterpolymer, ethylene/norbomene copolymer, and ethylene/ styrene copolymer.Preferably, the first multilayer film comprises a first inner layer, a second inner layer, afirst outer layer, and a second outer layer. Preferably, each of the inner layers comprises at leastone member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer,ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymerhaving a density of from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc. Preferably, each of the outer layers comprises(a) at least one member selected fi'om the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene,high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, very low density polyethylene,1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97/16104homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, olefin homopolymer, polycarbonate,polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ester homopolymer, ionomer,ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer, ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer,ethylene/norbomene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer, as well as (b) at least onemember selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinylacid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a densityof from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc. Preferably, the second multilayer film comprises first andsecond inner layers and first and second outer layers, these inner and outer layers being inaccordance with the inner and outer layers of the first multilayer film. In the article, at leastone member selected from the group consisting of the first outer layer of the first multilayer filmand the second outer layer of the first multilayer film is sealed to at least one member selectedfrom the group consisting of the first outer layer of the second multilayer film and the secondouter layer of the second multilayer film. Preferred film thicknesses, parallel plate burststrengths, irradiation level, etc., are in accordance with article according to the first aspect ofthe present invention.Preferably, the two outer layers of the first multilayer film are substantially identicalwith respect to chemical composition and thickness; the two inner layers of the first multilayerfilm are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness; the twoouter layers of the second multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemicalcomposition and thickness; and the two inner layers of the second multilayer film aresubstantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness. Preferably, the firstmultilayer film is substantially identical to the second multilayer film, with respect to chemicalcomposition and thickness. Preferably, the two outer layers of the first multilayer film aresubstantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness; the two inner layersof the first multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition andthickness; the two outer layers of the second multilayer film are substantially identical withrespect to chemical composition and thickness; and the two inner layers of the secondmultilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness.Preferably, the article comprises at least one member selected from the group consistingof a pouch and a butt-sealed backseamed casing having a butt-seal tape.Optionally, and for some uses preferably, the first multilayer film fiirther comprises an02-banier layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of1015202530’ WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/16104ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyarnide,polyester, polyacrylonitrile; and the second multilayer film fiirther comprises an O2-barrier layercomprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl alcoholcopolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyarnide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile.Preferably, the O2—barrier layer in the first multilayer film has a chemical composition which isidentical to the chemical composition in the second multilayer film.As a third aspect, the present invention pertains to a packaged product, whichcomprises a package and a product surrounded by the package. The package comprises anarticle according to the present invention, preferably a preferred article according to the presentinvention. The product comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting oftools and hardware (both civilian and military), machinery parts, appliances, marinehardware (e.g., anchors, props, etc.) corrosive metal products, industrial parts containingrust inhibitor, powdered chemicals and concentrates (especially photographic chemicals inbulk form), industrial cartridge packs, toys, bearings, dry pet food, articles currentlypackaged in buckets, especially heavy 5—gallon-type buckets, precut unassembled woodproducts, products currently packaged in woven sacks, products requiring a packagewhich is a substantial barrier to atmospheric oxygen, coffee, hops, shrimp, peanuts, parcelsbeing mailed, retortable pouches, viscous fluids, explosives, frozen products (especiallyfrozen food products, such as frozen juice, frozen juice concentrate, food puree, especiallyfrozen puree of fruits and/or vegetables), ballistic cargo, textile products (apparel andhome furnishings), furniture, products dangerous for children (i.e., child-resistant flexiblepackaging), fertilizer and grain (especially for overseas shipment), plants (especially pottedplants), insecticides and other poisonous and hazardous chemicals, for sand bagging forflood control, water, seeds, skis, antiques and works of art, firewood, lumber, tires, andhemmocult specimens.Brief Description of the DrawingsFigure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a preferred end-seal bag according to thepresent invention, in a lay-flat view.Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of a preferred side-seal bag according to thepresent invention, in a lay—flat view.1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97/16104Figure 3 illustrates a schematic View of a preferred pouch according to the presentinvention, in a lay-flat view.Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first preferred multilayer film suitable foruse in the articles illustrated in Figures 1-3.Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second preferred multilayer film suitablefor use in the articles illustrated in Figures 1-3.Figure 6 illustrates a schematic view of a preferred process for making the multilayerfilms illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.Detailed Description of the InventionAs used herein, the phrase “lay-flat film” refers to a film that has been extruded as awide, thin-walled, circular tube, usually blown, cooled, then gathered by converging sets ofrollers and wound up in flattened form. The phrase “lay-flat width”, refers to half of thecircumference of the inflated film tube.As used herein, the term "film" is used in a generic sense to include plastic web,regardless of whether it is film or sheet. Preferably, films of and used in the present inventionhave a thickness of 0.25 mm or less. As used herein, the term "package" refers to packagingmaterials configured around a product being packaged. The phrase “packaged product,” asused herein, refers to the combination of a product which is surrounded by a packagingmaterial.As used herein, the term "seal" refers to any seal of a first region of a film surface to asecond region of a film surface, wherein the seal is formed by heating the regions to at leasttheir respective seal initiation temperatures, i.e., a heat seal. The sealing can be perfonned byany one or more of a wide variety of manners, such as using a heated bar, hot air, hot wire,infrared radiation, ultrasonic sealing, radio frequency sealing, etc.Heat scaling is the process of joining two or more thermoplastic films or sheets byheating areas in contact with each other to the temperature at which fiision occurs, usuallyaided by pressure. When the heat is applied by dies or rotating wheels maintained at a constanttemperature, the process is called thermal sealing. In melt—bead sealing, a narrow strand ofmolten polymer is extruded along one surface, trailed by a wheel that presses the two surfacestogether. In impulse sealing, heat is applied by resistance elements that are applied to the workwhen relatively cool, then are rapidly heated. Simultaneous sealing and cutting can be10I5202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10wo 93/34735 PCTIUS97/16104performed in this way. Dielectric sealing is accomplished with polar materials by inducing heatwithin the films by means of radio—frequency waves. When heating is performed withultrasonic vibrations, the process is called ultrasonic sealing.As used herein, the phrases "food-contact layer" and "meat—contact layer" refer to alayer of a multilayer film which is in direct contact with the food/meat in the packagecomprising the film. In a multilayer film, a food-contact layer is always an outer film layer, asthe food-contact layer is in direct contact with the food product within the package. The food-contact layer is an inside layer in the sense that with respect to the packaged food product, thefood-contact layer is the inside layer (i.e., innermost layer) of the package, this inside layerbeing in direct contact with the food. As used herein, the phrases "food-contact surface" and"meat—contact surface" refer to an outer surface of a food contact layer, this outer surface beingin direct contact with the food within the package.As used herein, "EVOH" refers to ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. EVOH includessaponified or hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, and refers to a vinyl alcoholcopolymer having an ethylene comonomer, and prepared by, for example, hydrolysis of vinylacetate copolymers, or by chemical reactions with polyvinyl alcohol. The degree of hydrolysisis preferably from about 50 to 100 mole percent; more preferably, from about 85 to 100 molepercent.As used herein, the term "barrier", and the phrase "barrier layer", as applied to filmsand/or film layers, are used with reference to the ability of a film or film layer to serve as abarrier to one or more gases. In the packaging art, oxygen (i.e., gaseous O2) barrier layers haveincluded, for example, hydrolyzed ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer (designated by theabbreviations "EVOH" and "HEVA", and also‘ referred to as “ethylene/vinyl alcoholcopolymer”), polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, etc., as known tothose of skill in the art.As used herein, the phrase "abuse layer", as well as the phrase "puncture-resistantlayer", refer to an outer film layer and/or an inner film layer, so long as the film layer serves toresist abrasion, puncture, and other potential causes of reduction of package integrity, as well aspotential causes of reduction of package appearance quality.As used herein, the terms "lamination," "laminate," as well as the phrase "laminatedfilm," refer to the process, and resulting product, made by bonding together two or more layersof film or other materials. Lamination can be accomplished by joining layers with adhesives,1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCTlUS97/ 1610410joining with heat and pressure, with corona treatment, and even spread coating and extrusioncoating. The term laminate is also inclusive of coextruded multilayer films comprising one ormore tie layers.As used herein, the term "oriented" refers to a polymer-containing material which hasbeen elongated (generally at an elevated temperature called the orientation temperature),followed by being "set" in the elongated configuration by cooling the material whilesubstantially retaining the elongated dimensions. This combination of elongation at elevatedtemperature followed by cooling causes an alignment of the polymer chains to a moreparallel configuration, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the film. Uponsubsequently heating unrestrained, unannealed, oriented polymer—containing material to itsorientation temperature, heat shrinkage is produced almost to the original dimensions, i.e., pre-elongation dimensions. The term "oriented," is herein used with reference to oriented films,which can undergo orientation in any one or more of a variety of manners.Orienting in one direction is referred to herein as “uniaxial orientation,” whileorienting in two directions is referred to herein as “biaxial orientation.” In oriented plasticfilms, there can be internal stress remaining in the plastic sheet which can be relieved byreheating the film to a temperature above that at which it was oriented. Upon reheatingsuch a film, the film tends to shrink back to the original dimensions it had before it wasoriented. Films which shrink upon being heated are generally referred to as heat-shrinkable films.As used herein, the phrase "orientation ratio" refers to the multiplication product of theextent to which the plastic film material is oriented in several directions, usually two directionsperpendicular to one another. Orientation in the machine direction is herein referred to as"drawing", whereas orientation in the transverse direction is herein referred to as "stretching".For films extruded through an annular die, stretching is obtained by "blowing" the film toproduce a bubble. For such films, drawing is obtained by passing the film through two sets ofpowered nip rolls, with the downstream set having a higher surface speed than the upstreamset, with the resulting draw ratio being the surface speed of the downstream set of nip rollsdivided by the surface speed of the upstream set of nip rolls. The degree of orientation is alsoreferred to as the orientation ratio, also known as the "racking ratio".l015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10W0 98l34785 PCT/US97l1610411As used herein, the term "monomer" refers to a relatively simple compound, usuallycontaining carbon and of low molecular weight, which can react to form a polymer bycombining with itself or with other similar molecules or compounds.As used herein, the term "comonomer" refers to a monomer which is copolymenzedwith at least one different monomer in a copolymerization reaction, the result of which is acopolymer.As used herein, the term "polymer" refers to the product of a polymerization reaction,and is inclusive of homopolymers, copolymers, terpolymers, tetrapolymers, etc. In general, thelayers of a film can consist essentially of a single polymer, or can have additional polymerstogether therewith, i.e., blended therewith.As used herein, the term "homopolymer" is used with reference to a polymer resultingfrom the polymerization of a single monomer, i.e., a polymer consisting essentially of a singletype of repeating unit.As used herein, the term "copolymer" refers to polymers formed by the polymerizationreaction of at least two difierent monomers. For example, the term "copolymer" includes thecopolymerization reaction product of ethylene and an alpha-olefin, such as l-hexene. The term"copolymer" is also inclusive of, for example, the copolymerization of a mixture of ethylene,propylene, 1-hexene, and l—octene. As used herein, the tenn "copolymerization" refers to thesimultaneous polymerization of two or more monomers. The tenn “copolymer” is alsoinclusive of random copolymers, block copolymers, and grafi copolymers.As used herein, the term "polymerization" is inclusive of homopolymerizations,copolymerizations, terpolymerizations, etc., and includes all types of copolymerizations such asrandom, graft, block, etc. In general, the polymers,’ in the films used in accordance with thepresent invention, can be prepared in accordance with any suitable polymerization process,including slurry polymerization, gas phase polymerization, and high pressure polymerizationprocesses.As used herein, a copolymer identified in terms of a plurality of monomers, e.g.,"propylene/ethylene copolymer", refers to a copolymer in which either monomer maycopolymerize in a higher weight or molar percent than the other monomer or monomers.However, the first listed monomer preferably polymerizes in a higher weight percent than thesecond listed monomer, and, for copolymers which are terpolymers, quadripolymers, etc.,preferably the first monomer copolymerizes in a higher weight percent than the second1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCTIUS97/1610412monomer, and the second monomer copolymerizes in a higher weight percent than the thirdmonomer, etc.As used herein, terminology employing a "/" with respect to the chemical identity of acopolymer (e.g., "an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer"), identifies the comonomers which arecopolymerized to produce the copolymer. As used herein, "ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer" isthe equivalent of "ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer."As used herein, copolymers are identified, i.e, named, in terms of the monomers fromwhich the copolymers are produced. For example, the phrase "propylene/ethylene copolymer"refers to a copolymer produced by the copolymerization of both propylene and ethylene, withor without additional comonomer(s). As used herein, the phrase "mer” refers to a unit of apolymer, as derived from a monomer used in the polymerization reaction. For example, thephrase "alpha-olefin mer" refers to a ur1it in, for example, an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer,the polymerization unit being that "residue" which is derived from the alpha-olefin monomerafter it reacts to become a portion of the polymer chain, i.e., that portion of the polymercontributed by an individual alpha-olefin monomer after it reacts to become a portion of thepolymer chain.As used herein, the phrase "heterogeneous polymer" refers to polymerization reactionproducts of relatively wide variation in molecular weight and relatively wide variation incomposition distribution, i.e., polymers made, for example, using conventional Ziegler-Nattacatalysts. Heterogeneous polymers are usefiil in various layers of the film used in the presentinvention. Such polymers typically contain a relatively wide variety of chain lengths andcomonomer percentages.As used herein, the phrase "heterogeneous catalyst" refers to a catalyst suitable for usein the polymerization of heterogeneous polymers, as defined above. Heterogeneous catalystsare comprised of several kinds of active sites which differ in Lewis acidity and stericenvironment. Ziegler-Natta catalysts are heterogeneous catalysts. Examples of Ziegler-Nattaheterogeneous systems include metal halides activated by an organometallic co-catalyst, such astitanium chloride, optionally containing magnesium chloride, complexed to trialkyl aluminumand may be found in patents such as U.S. Patent No. 4,302,565, to GOEKE, et. al., and US.Patent No. 4,302,566, to KAROL, et. al., both of which are hereby incorporated, in theirentireties, by reference thereto.1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10wo 93/34735 PCT/US97I 1610413As used herein, the phrase "homogeneous polymer" refers to polymerization reactionproducts of relatively narrow molecular weight distribution and relatively narrow compositiondistribution. Homogeneous polymers can be used in various layers of multilayer films usefiil inthe present invention. Homogeneous polymers are stmcturally different from heterogeneouspolymers, in that homogeneous polymers exhibit a relatively even sequencing of comonomerswithin a chain, a mirroring of sequence distribution in all chains, and a similarity of length of allchains, i.e., a narrower molecular weight distribution. Furthermore, homogeneous polymersare typically prepared using metallocene, or other single-site type catalysis, rather than usingZiegler Natta catalysts.More particularly, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers may becharacterized by one or more methods known to those of skill in the art, such as molecularweight distribution (MW/Mn), composition distribution breadth index (CDBI), narrow meltingpoint range, and single melt point behavior. The molecular weight distribution (MW/Mn), alsoknown as “polydispersity,” may be determined by gel permeation chromatography.Homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers which can be used in the present inventionpreferably have an MW/M.. of less than 2.7; more preferably from about 1.9 to 2.5; still morepreferably, from about 1.9 to 2.3. The composition distribution breadth index (CDBI) of suchhomogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers will generally be greater than about 70 percent.The CDBI is defined as the weight percent of the copolymer molecules having a comonomercontent within 50 percent (i.e., plus or minus 50%) of the median total molar comonomercontent. The CDBI of linear polyethylene, which does not contain a comonomer, is defined tobe 100%. The Composition Distribution Breadth Index (CDBI) is determined via thetechnique of Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (TREF). CDBI determination clearlydistinguishes homogeneous copolymers (i.e., narrow composition distribution as assessed byCDBI values generally above 70%) from VLDPES available commercially which generally havea broad composition distribution as assessed by CDBI values generally less than 55%. TREFdata and calculations therefrom for determination of CDBI of a copolymer is readily calculatedfi'om data obtained from techniques known in the art, such as, for example, temperature risingelution fractionation as described, for example, in Wild et. al., J. Polv. Sci. Polv. Phvs. Ed., Vol.20, p.441 ( 1982). Preferably, the homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers have a CDBIgreater than about 70%, i.e., a CDBI of from about 70% to 99%. In general, the homogeneousethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers usefiil in the present invention also exhibit a relatively narrow1015202530" WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97ll6l041 4melting point range, in comparison with "heterogeneous copolymers", i.e., polymers having aCDBI of less than 55%. Preferably, the homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers exhibitan essentially singular melting point characteristic, with a peak melting point (Tm), asdetermined by Differential Scanning Colorimetry (DSC), of from about 60°C to 105°C.Preferably the homogeneous copolymer has a DSC peak Tm of from about 80°C to 100°C. Asused herein, the phrase "essentially single melting point" means that at least about 80%, byweight, of the material corresponds to a single Tm peak at a temperature within the range offrom about 60°C to 105°C, and essentially no substantial fraction of the material has a peakmelting point in excess of about 1 15°C., as determined by DSC analysis. DSC measurementsare made on a Perkin Elmer System 7 Thennal Analysis System. Melting information reportedare second melting data, i.e., the sample is heated at a programmed rate of 10°C./min. to atemperature below its critical range. The sample is then reheated (2nd melting) at aprogrammed rate of 10°C/min.A homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer can, in general, be prepared by thecopolymerization of ethylene and any one or more alpha-olefin. Preferably, the alpha-olefin is aC3-C2‘) alpha—monoolefin, more preferably, a C4-C1; alpha—monoolefin, still more preferably, aC4-C3 alpha-monoolefin. Still more preferably, the alpha-olefin comprises at least one memberselected from the group consisting of butene-1, hexene-1, and octene—l, i.e., 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1—octene, respectively. Most preferably, the alpha-olefin comprises octene-1,and/or a blend of hexene—1 and butene-1.Processes for preparing and using homogeneous polymers are disclosed in U.S. PatentNo. 5,206,075, to HODGSON, Jr., US. Patent No. 5,241,031, to MEHTA, and PCTInternational Application WO 93/03093, each of which is hereby incorporated by referencethereto, in its entirety. Further details regarding the production and use of homogeneousethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers are disclosed in PCT International Publication Number WO90/03414, and PCT lntemational Publication Number W0 93/03093, both of which designateExxon Chemical Patents, Inc. as the Applicant, and both of which are hereby incorporated byreference thereto, in their respective entireties.Still another species of homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers is disclosed inU.S. Patent No. 5,272,236, to LAI, et. al., and U.S. Patent No. 5,278,272, to LAI, et. al., bothof which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto, in their respective entireties.1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97/1610415As used herein, the term "polyolefin" refers to any polymerized olefin, which can belinear, branched, cyclic, aliphatic, aromatic, substituted, or unsubstituted. More specifically,included in the tem polyolefin are homopolymers of olefin, copolymers of olefin, copolymersof an olefin and an non-olefinic comonomer copolymerizable with the olefin, such as vinylmonomers, modified polymers thereof, and the like. Specific examples include polyethylenehomopolymer, polypropylene homopolymer, polybutene, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer,propylene/alpha—olefin copolymer, butene/alpha—olefin copolymer,ethylene/vinyl acetatecopolymer, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene/butyl acrylate copolymer,ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene/methacrylic acidModifiedpolyolefin resin is inclusive of modified polymer prepared by copolymerizing the homopolymercopolymer, modified polyolefin resin, ionomer resin, polymethylpentene, etc.of the olefin or copolymer thereof with an unsaturated carboxylic acid, e.g., maleic acid,fiimaric acid or the like, or a derivative thereof such as the anhydride, ester or metal salt or thelike. It could also be obtained by incorporating into the olefin homopolymer or copolymer, anunsaturated carboxylic acid, e.g., maleic acid, fumaric acid or the like, or a derivative thereofsuch as the anhydride, ester or metal salt or the like.As used herein, tenns identifying polymers, such as "polyarnide", "polyester","polyurethane", etc. are inclusive of not only polymers comprising repeating units derived frommonomers known to polymerize to form a polymer of the named type, but are also inclusive ofcomonomers, derivatives, etc. which can copolymerize with monomers known to polymerize toproduce the named polymer. For example, the term "polyamide" encompasses both polymerscomprising repeating units derived from monomers, such as caprolactam, which polymerize toform a polyamide, as well as copolymers derived from the copolymerization of caprolactamwith a comonomer which when polymerized alone does not result in the formation of apolyamide. Furthermore, terms identifying polymers are also inclusive of "blends" of suchpolymers with other polymers of a different type.As used herein, the phrases "ethylene alpha—olefin copolymer", and "ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer", refer to such heterogeneous materials as low density polyethylene (LDPE),medium density polyethylene (MDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and very lowand ultra low density polyethylene (VLDPE and ULDPE); as well as to such homogeneousethylene/alpha olefin copolymers as: metallocene-catalyzed EXACT (TM) linear homogeneousethylene/alpha olefin copolymer resins obtainable from the Exxon Chemical Company, of1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98134785 PCT/US97I16l04I6Baytown, Texas, homogeneous substantially linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers havinglong chain branching (e.g., copolymers known as AFFINITY (TM) resins, and ENGAGE(TM) resins, available from the Dow Chemical Company, of Midland, Michigan), as well asTAFMER (TM) linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer resins obtainable fromthe Mitsui Petrochemical Corporation. Both the heterogeneous polymers and homogeneouspolymers referred to above generally include copolymers of ethylene with one or morecomonomers selected from C4 to C10 alpha-olefin such as butene—l (i.e., l-butene), hexene-l,octene-l, etc. While LDPE and MDPE are more highly branched than LLDPE, VLDPE,ULDPE, EXACT (TM) resin, and TAFMER (TM) resin, this latter group of resins has arelatively large number of short branches rather than the longer branches present in LDPE andMDPE. AFFINITY (TM) resins and ENGAGE (TM) resins have a relatively large number ofshort branches in combination with a relatively small number of long-chain branches. LLDPEhas a density usually in the range of from about 0.91 grams per cubic centimeter to about 0.94grams per cubic centimeter.In general, the ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer comprises a copolymer resulting fromthe copolymerization of from about 80 to 99 weight percent ethylene and from I to 20 weightpercent alpha-olefin. Preferably, the ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer comprises a copolymerresulting from the copolymerization of from about 85 to 95 weight percent ethylene and from 5to 15 weight percent alpha-olefin.As used herein, the phrases "inner layer" and "intemal layer" refer to any layer, of amultilayer film, having both of its principal surfaces directly adhered to another layer of the film.As used herein, the phrase "inside layer" refers to an outer film layer, of a multilayerfilm packaging a product, which is closest to the product, relative to the other layers of themultilayer film. "Inside layer" also is used with reference to the innermost layer of a plurality ofconcentrically arranged layers simultaneously coextruded through an annular die.As used herein, the phrase "outer layer" refers to any film layer of film having less thantwo of its principal surfaces directly adhered to another layer of the film. The phrase isinclusive of monolayer and multilayer films. All multilayer films have two, and only two, outerlayers, each of which has a principal surface adhered to only one other layer of the multilayerfilm. In monolayer films, there is only one layer, which, of course, is an outer layer in thatneither of its two principal surfaces are adhered to another layer of the film.1015202530‘ W0 98l34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97l 161041 7As used herein, the phrase "outside layer" refers to the outer layer, of a multilayer filmpackaging a product, which is furthest from the product relative to the other layers of themultilayer film. "Outside layer" also is used with reference to the outermost layer of a pluralityof concentrically arranged layers simultaneously coextruded through an annular die.As used herein, the phrase "directly adhered", as applied to film layers, is defined asadhesion of the subject film layer to the object film layer, without a tie layer, adhesive, or otherlayer therebetween. In contrast, as used herein, the word "between", as applied to a film layerexpressed as being between two other specified layers, includes both direct adherence of thesubject layer between to the two other layers it is between, as well as including a lack of directadherence to either or both of the two other layers the subject layer is between, i.e., one ormore additional layers can be imposed between the subject layer and one or more of the layersthe subject layer is between.As used herein, the term "core", and the phrase "core layer", as applied to multilayerfilms, refer to any inner film layer which has a primary function other than serving as anadhesive or compatibilizer for adhering two layers to one another. Usually, the core layer orlayers provide the multilayer film with a desired level of strength, i.e., modulus, and/or optics,and/or added abuse resistance, and/or specific impermeability.As used herein, the phrases "seal layer," "sealing layer,” "heat seal layer,” and "sealantlayer," refer to an outer film layer, or layers, involved in the sealing of the film to itself, anotherfilm layer of the same or another film, and/or another article which is not a film. It should alsobe recognized that in general, up to the outer 3 mils of a film can be involved in the sealing ofthe film to itself or another layer. With respect to packages having only fin-type seals, asopposed to lap-type seals, the phrase "sealant layer" generally refers to the inside film layer of apackage, as well as supporting layers within 3 mils of the inside surface of the sealant layer, theinside layer frequently also serving as a food contact layer in the packaging of foods. Ingeneral, sealant layers employed in the packaging art have included thermoplastic polymers,such as polyolefirt polyarnide, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride.As used herein, the phrase "tie layer" refers to any inner film layer having the primarypurpose of adhering two layers to one another. Tie layers can comprise any polymer having apolar group thereon, or any other polymer which provides sufficient interlayer adhesion toadjacent layers comprising otherwise nonadhering polymers.1015202530‘ WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97ll6l04l 8As used herein, the phrase "skin layer" refers to an outside layer of a multilayer film inpackaging a product, this skin layer being subject to abuse.As used herein, the phrase "bulk layer" refers to any layer of a film which is present forthe purpose of increasing the abuse-resistance, toughness, modulus, etc., of a multilayer film.Bulk layers generally comprise polymers which are inexpensive relative to other polymers in thefilm which provide some specific purpose unrelated to abuse-resistance, modulus, etc.The names "first layer", "second layer", as used herein, are generally indicative of themanner in which a multilayer film structure is built up. That is, in general, the first layer can bepresent without any of the additional layers described, or the first and second layers can bepresent without any of the additional layers described, etc.As used herein, the term "extrusion" is used with reference to the process of formingcontinuous shapes by forcing a molten plastic material through a die, followed by cooling orchemical hardening. Immediately prior to extrusion through the die, the relatively high-viscosity polymeric material is fed into a rotating screw of variable pitch, i.e., an extruder,which forces the polymeric material through the die.As used herein, the term "coextrusion" refers to the process by which the outputs oftwo or more extruders are brought smoothly together in a feed block, to form a multilayerstream that is fed to a die to produce a layered extrudate. Coextrusion can be employed in filmblowing, sheet and flat film extrusion, blow molding, and extrusion coating.As used herein, the phrase "machine direction", herein abbreviated "MD", refers to adirection "along the length" of the film, i.e., in the direction of the film as the film is formedduring extrusion and/or coating. As used herein, the phrase "transverse direction", hereinabbreviated "TD", refers to a direction across the film, perpendicular to the machine orlongitudinal direction.As used herein, the phrase "free shrink" refers to the percent dimensional change in a 10cm x 10 cm specimen of film, when shrunk at l85°F, with the quantitative determination beingcarried out according to ASTM D 2732, as set forth in the 1990 Annual Book of ASTMStandards, Vol. 08.02, pp. 368-371, which is hereby incorporated, in its entirety, by referencethereto.Although the film usefirl in the article of the present invention has at least 1 layer (morepreferably, from 1 to 20 layers), more preferably the film has from 1 to 12 layers, still morepreferably, from 1-8 layers; and, yet still more preferably, from 1-4 layers. However, so longl015202530’ WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/16104l 9as the multilayer film has at least 3 layers, the multilayer film can have any fiirther number ofadditional layers desired, so long as the film provides the desired properties for the particularpackaging operation in which the film is used, e.g., O2-barrier characteristics, free shrink, shrinktension, optics, modulus, seal strength, etc. The multilayer film illustrated in Figure 2 has fourlayers. However, since the middle layer is preferably formed from the collapsing of a two-layertubing film upon itself, the middle layer is actually two distinct layers itself, so that the film, inreality, contains four layers.The film used in the present invention has a thickness of at least 1.5 mils (1 mil equals0.001 inch); preferably, a thickness of from about 1.5 to 20 mils; more preferably, from about 2to 20 mils; still more preferably, from about 3 to 7 mils; and yet still more preferably, fi'omabout 4 to 5 mils. Of course, the preferred thickness varies depending upon the desiredproperties for the particular packaging operation in which the film is used.Figure 1 is a side-view illustration of a preferred article (an end-seal bag) in accordancewith the present invention. In Figure l, end-seal bag 10 is illustrated in lay-flat position. End-seal bag 10 is made from film 12, with end-seal bag l0 having open top 14 and end-seal 16.Figure 2 is a side—view illustration of another preferred article (a side-seal bag) inaccordance with the present invention. In Figure 2, side-seal bag 20 is illustrated in lay-flatposition. Side-seal bag 20 is also made from film l2, and side seal bag has open top 22, andside seals 24 and 26.Figure 3 is a side-view illustration of another preferred article (a pouch) in accordancewith the present invention. In Figure 3, pouch 30 is illustrated in lay-flat position. Pouch 30 isalso made from film 12, has open top 32, and side seals 34 and 36 and end seal 38.Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of preferred 4-layer film 12 for use as thestock material from which the bags of Figures 1 and 2, and the pouch of Figure 3, are made.Film 12 has first layer 42, which is a first outer film layer, inner film layers 44 and 46, andsecond outer film layer 48. The cross-section of film 12 is preferably symmetrical, i.e., withrespect to both thickness and chemical composition. The outer layers are preferably muchthicker than the inner layers. Preferably, film 12 is made by collapsing a two-layer tube uponitself to result in a symmetrical 4-layer film. Since the inner film layers are actually made fromthe same layer of a tubular film which is collapsed, the two inner film layers are, for all practicalpurposes, one layer. The dotted line in Figure 4 represents the junction of the inner layer of thetube which is joined to itself.1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98134785 PCT/U S97/ 1610420Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative multilayer film 50 which canbe used as stock material for preparing an article according to the present invention. Multilayerfilm 50 is a 7-layer film, and is described in detail in Film No. 19, below. Multilayer film 50 iscomposed of outer layer 52, bulk layer 54, tie layer 56, O2-barrier layer 58, tie layer 60, bulklayer 62, and outer layer 64.Figure 6 illustrates a schematic of a preferred process for producing the multilayer filmsof Figures 4 and 5. In the process illustrated in Figure 6, solid polymer beads (not illustrated)are fed to a plurality of extruders 66 (for simplicity, only one extruder is illustrated). Insideextruders 66, the polymer beads are forwarded, melted, and degassed, following which theresulting bubble-free melt is forwarded into die head 68, and extruded through annular die,resulting in tubing 70, which is 5-40 mils thick, more preferably 20-30 mils thick, still morepreferably, about 25 mils thick.After cooling or quenching by water spray from cooling ring 72, tubing 70 is collapsedby pinch rolls 74, and is thereafier fed through irradiation vault 76 surrounded by shielding 78,where tubing 70 is irradiated with high energy electrons (i.e., ionizing radiation) from iron coretransformer accelerator 80. Tubing 70 is guided through irradiation vault 76 on rolls 82.Preferably, the irradiation of tubing 70 is at a level of from about 2 to 10 megarads (hereinafter"MR"); more preferably, from about 3.5-4 MR.After irradiation, irradiated tubing 84 is directed over guide roll 86, after whichirradiated tubing 84 passes into hot water bath tank 88 containing water 90. The now-collapsed irradiated tubing 84 is submersed in the hot water for a retention time of at leastabout 5 seconds, i.e., for a time period in order to bring the film up to the desired temperature,following which supplemental heating means (not illustrated) including a plurality of steam rollsaround which irradiated tubing 84 is partially wound, and optional hot air blowers, elevate thetemperature of irradiated tubing 84 to a desired orientation temperature of from about 240°F-250°F. Thereafter, irradiated film 84 is directed through nip rolls 92, and bubble 94 is blown,thereby transversely stretching irradiated tubing 84 to form oriented blown tubing film 96.Furthermore, while being blown, i.e., transversely stretched, irradiated tubing 84 is drawn (i.e.,in the longitudinal direction) between nip rolls 88 and nip rolls 98, as nip rolls 98 have a highersurface speed than the surface speed of nip rolls 92. As a result of the transverse stretching andlongitudinal drawing, irradiated, biaxially-oriented, blown tubing film 96 is produced, thisblown tubing preferably having been both stretched at a ratio of from about 121.5 - 1:6, and1015202530A WO 98134785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/161042 ldrawn at a ratio of from about 1115-] :6. More preferably, the stretching and drawing are eachperfonned at a ratio of from about 1:2 - 1:4. The result is a biaxial orientation of from about122.25 - 1:36, more preferably, 1:4 — 1:16.While bubble 94 is maintained between pinch rolls 92 and 98, blown tubing film 96 iscollapsed by converging rolls 100, and thereafter conveyed through pinch rolls 98 and acrossguide roll 102, and then rolled onto wind-up roller 104. Idler roll 106 assures a good wind-up.Various films suitable for use in the article of the present invention are illustrated by thefollowing examples. Unless stated otherwise, all percentages, parts, etc. are by weight.Film No. lA coextruded, two-ply tubular tape was cast, the tape having a thickness of 29 mils, thetape having an A layer making up 85 percent of the tape thickness, and a B layer making up 15percent of the tape thickness. The A Layer was composed of: (a) 87 weight percentDOWLEX 2045 (TM) linear low density polyethylene having a density of 0.920 g/cc, obtainedfrom The Dow Chemical Company, of Midland, Michigan (hereinafier "LLDPE #1"), (b) 10weight percent ELVAX 3128 (TM) ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetatecontent of 10 percent, obtained from DuPont, of Wilmington, Delaware, hereinafter "EVA #1 ",and (c) 3 weight percent TEKNOR EPE-9621C (TM) antiblock agent, obtained from TeknorApex Plastics Division, of Pawtucket, R.I., hereinafter "Antiblock #1 ". The B Layer contained100 weight percent EXACT SLP 4008 linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin plastomerhaving a density of 0.885 g/cc, obtained from the Exxon Chemical Company, of Baytown,Texas (hereinafter, "linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha olefin #1 ").The two-ply tubing was cooled to a solid phase in a water bath and then electronicallycrosslinked with a 500 Kev beam to a level of fiom about 2 to 10 MR. The resultingcrosslinked two-ply tubing was heated by steam cans and hot air at about 210—220°F, and wassubsequently oriented by being drawn and stretched approximately 350%, in each of themachine and transverse directions, respectively, using a trapped bubble of air held between twonip rolls. The orientation produced a 2.25 mil two-ply film in the fonn of a tube.Afier drawing, the resulting tube of hot—water-shrinkable flat film was passed through apair of nip rolls, causing the inside B layer to bond to itself upon tube collapse, rendering a finalfour-ply film, with the "middle" plies being the inside B layer bonded to itself (i.e., resulting in a"4-ply" film having a thickness of 45 mils), as follows:51015CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97/1610422A / B / B / ABlend A SLP 4008 SLP 4008 Blend ATable I, immediately below, includes the chemical composition and thickness of each ofthe layers, together with the function which the layer serves in the film.TABLE Ilayer location / layer chemical identity layer thickness (mils)functionoutside / puncture 87% LLDPE #1 2.0resistant 10% EVA #13% Antiblock #1core / tie homogeneous ethylene/alpha— 0.7olefin #1inside / puncture-resistant 87% LLDPE #1 2.010% EVA #13% Antiblock #1Film No. 1 was composed of the above three layers, the middle layer being composedof the inside tube layer adhered to itself Film No. 1 was determined to have a free shrink atl85°F (via ASTM 2732), and an instrumented impact, as set forth below in Table II, below.lnstrumented impact was measured by a procedure ‘substantially equivalent to ASTM D 3763.ASTM D 3763 is described in the 1990 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 8, Plastics,Vol. 08.03, pp. 174-178, which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto, in its entirety.An alternative to Film No. 1 is a two-layer film having a thickness of about 4.5 mils,with about 85 weight percent of this film having a composition corresponding to layer 38described in Table I above, and with 15 weight percent of this film having a compositioncorresponding to layer 40 above. This film could be produced using a flat die, rather than acircular die.1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10wo 93/34735 PCTIUS97/1610423Film No. 2Film No. 2 was prepared by the same process employed to produce Film No. 1, withthe exception that in Film No. 2, the A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 87 weightpercent LLDPE #1, (b) 10 weight percent EXACT 3032 (TM) linear homogeneousethylene/alpha-olefin plastomer having a density of 0.900 g/cc, also obtained from the ExxonChemical Company (hereinafter, "linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer #2), and(c) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. In Film No. 2, the B Layer remained identical to the BLayer of Film No. 1. Furthennore, as with Film No. 1, in Film No. 2 the A Layer made up 85percent of the tape thickness, and a B layer made up 15 percent of the tape thickness. The FilmNo. 2 free shrink and instrumented impact are provided in Table III, below.Film No. 3Film No. 3 was prepared by the same process employed to produce Film No. 1, exceptthat in Film No. 3, the irradiation was carried out at 3.5 to 4 MR (about half the level of theirradiation used to make all of the other films disclosed herein; this low irradiation levelenhances the heat sealability of the outer film layers), and the A Layer was composed of a blendof: (a) 87 weight percent LLDPE #1, (b) 10 weight percent ELVAX 3128 (TM) ethylene/vinylacetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 9 percent and a density of 0.928 g/cc, and amelt index of 2.0, obtained from the DuPont Chemical Co., of Wilmington, Delaware(hereinafter referred to as EVA #2), and (c) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. In Film No. 3, theB Layer was composed of 100 weight percent ELVAX 3175 (TM) ethylene/vinyl acetatecopolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 28 percent and a density of 0.950 g/cc, and a meltindex of 6.0, obtained from the DuPont Chemical Co., of Wilmington, Delaware. Furthermore,as with Film No. 1, in Film No. 3 the A Layer madeup 85 percent of the tape thickness, and aB layer made up 15 percent of the tape thickness. The Film No. 3 free shrink and instrumentedimpact are provided in Table III, below.The film according to Example 3, above, was used to make a side-seal bag havingdimensions of about 7 inches wide by about 12 inches high. The seals were produced bysubjecting the film to a VERTROD® impulse sealer (model 84 EPCS) which utilized a ribbon-type seal element having a width of about 0.25 inch, with the upper jaw being applied to forcethe (folded-over) film against itself and seal element, for a time of about 5 seconds, and with apressure of about 50 psi. The resulting side-seal bag was filled with about 5 pounds of cornmeal, with the top of the bag thereafter being sealed in a manner similar to the manner in which1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCTIUS97/1610424the side seals were made. About 10 packages were made. Thereafter, the packages weredropped about 35 feet onto concrete. Six of the packages survived the fall without film or sealfailure. Surprisingly, the 4 packages which failed did not experience seal failure. Rather, therewas film failure at a region of the film immediately adjacent the seal. This region immediatelyadjacent the seal was actually thicker than the remainder of the bag, because during the heatsealing the film region immediately adjacent the seal was heated by the seal bar, and shrunk, i.e.,thickened. However, this region also underwent a reduction in orientation during shrinkageand thickening. This reduction in orientation is believed to be the reason for the on-impactfailure of the film in this region. That is, the orientation of the polymer in the remainder of thefilm is believed to provide stronger film than the region adjacent the seal, which regionunderwent a reduction of orientation during the sealing process. Thus, it is was discovered thata relatively thick film can be sealed in a manner which produces a seal which is stronger than aregion of the film immediately adjacent the seal. The limiting burst strength factor became thestrength of the film in the area immediately adjacent the seal, rather than the strength of the sealitself. Similar tests were conducted with 20 pounds of TRAILBLAZER® brand dry dog food,25 pounds of CLEAN PAWS® brand kitty litter (except that the seal was made with a radiuswire, as described below), and 15 pounds of FEEDERS CHOICE® brand birdseed (exceptthat the seal was made with a radius wire, as described below), which produced similar results,i.e., about 60% survived the fall.Other tests were performed by making side-seal bags, this time using a standardVERTROD® sealer modified to simulate bag making conditions with a 0.0937 inch radiuswire (instead of the ‘Ir inch ribbon described above), using a pressure of about 50 psi for atime of about 0.9 second heating period followed by a 0.3 second cooling period, with 38volts being the potential of the current passed through the heated wire. The resulting bagswere placed between parallel walls about 3-4 inches apart, i.e., a “parallel plate burst test”,with the bags thereafter being inflated until one of the side-seals failed. As with the droptest results presented above, the failure always occurred in the region adjacent the seal.The seal did not fail. The amount of pressure inside the bag at the point of failure was ameasure of strength. The bags made from the film according to Example 3, above, in theparallel plate burst test had mean burst strengths of 522 inches of water, and were fairlyconsistent in strength, i.e., ranged from a low of about 430 inches of water to a high ofabout 640 inches of water. In contrast, non-crosslaminated films of lower thickness10l5202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 93/34735 PCT/US97/ 1610425exhibited lower parallel plate burst strength, e. g., from about 100 to 150 inches of water,for a film having a total thickness of about 2 mils.Drop tests were also conducted in which eight reams of paper (each of the reamshaving been individually packaged in paper) were overwrapped in the film of Example 3,which was sealed to itself and shrunk with a heat gun. The weight of the package wasapproximately 47 pounds. The film was sealed with a Weldotron 6402® “L” bar sealer,with the tap selector set at and the compensator gap set at V4 inch. After shrinking the“master package” was dropped from a height of approximately 4 feet. Neither the film northe seal ruptured, even though the paper overwrap on the individual packages split open.Pouches were made from a folded-over film. The seals were made using theWELDOTRONTM 6402® “L” bar sealer. The resulting seals had a mean seal strength inexcess of 17 pounds per linear inch as measured by an lnstron Series IX materials testingsystem. The “excess” over 17 pounds was due to the inability of the jaws to hold thesample in the clamps.Film No. 3 was produced in three different versions, which varied only with respect tothe level of irradiation utilized. The first version was not irradiated at all. The second versionwas irradiated at a level of 25 milliamps (3.5 MR, ie, 49 kilograys). The third version wasirradiated to a level of 49.5 milliamps (7 MR 98 kGy). Each of these film versions wasconverted into side-seal bags having a lay-flat width of 5‘/r inches and a length of 13 inches,using a modified VERTROD® machine (described below).The films (and bags) from each of the three versions of Film No. 3 were then comparedwith VALERON® crosslaminated films (and similarly formed bags) produced in accordancewith U.S. Patent No. 4,355,076, to Duggan J. Gash,iand/or U.S. Patent No. 4,243,463, also toDuggan J. Gash. Two VALERONT” crosslaminated films were compared with articlesaccording to the present invention. One had a thickness of about 4 mils, while the other had athickness of about 6 mils.Three different types of comparative tests were carried out, including: (1) a parallelplate burst test; (2) a VERTROD® seal strength test; and, (3) a WELDOTRON® TransverseTrim Seal Strength Test. The Parallel Plate Burst Test was carried out by confining a 5”x13”side-seal bag (made from the material being tested, the bag being formed by sealing thematerial to itself using a VERTROD® sealing machine, and thereafter inflating the bag until1015202530' WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/1610426it ruptured. The pressure level inside the bag at the point of rupture was considered to bea measure of seal quality. Results were reported in inches of water pressure (IOWP).The VERTROD':' seal strength test was carried out on a bag having a seal made usingthe VERTROD® sealing machine (obtained from Veitrod Corporation of Brooklyn, NewYork), which had been modified to make the sealing process more precise. That is, theVERTROD‘§' sealing machine had been modified to provide a preheating period of 0.6 second,followed by a seal period of 0.6 second, followed by a cooling time of 0.2 second. Althoughvoltages of 20, 30, 35, 40, and 45 were utilized, for the sealing of the films tested, theVERTROD® sealing machine was operated at 40 and 45 volts, the voltages found to beeffective in making the desired seals (i.e., for both articles according to the invention as well asthe sealing of the VALERON® comparative films). After the seal was made, a 1.0 inch xapproximately 4 to 5 inch sample was cut from the sealed film, this sample having the heat sealthereacross. The sample was subjected to a “pulling apart” force in an INSTRON'i' tensiletesting machine (made by the Instron Corporation of Canton, MA). The two pairs of jaws ofthe INSTRONE‘ tensile testing machine were 2 inches apart. The higher the amount of forcewhich was required in order to cause the film to rupture, the stronger the seal. The results arereported in Table II, below.The WELDOTRON® Transverse Trim Seal Strength Test was conducted using aWELDOTROl\T§' 6402 heat sealing apparatus. The WELDOTRONW 6402 heat sealingapparatus formed a heat seal by heating a wire which melted through the films to be heat sealedtogether, with the result that a heat seal was formed. More particularly, the WELDOTRONfi"6402 heat sealing apparatus was operated at a tap ‘setting of 6, and a compensator gap ofabout ‘/4 inch. After the seal was formed, a 1.0 inch by approximately 4 to 5 inch sample wascut from the sealed film. As in the VERTROD® seal strength test described above, the samplecut from the sealed film had the seal transversely across the midpoint thereof This sample wasthereafter also subjected to “pulling apart” force in an INSTRONK" tensile testing machine. Thehigher the amount of force required to cause the film to rupture, the stronger the seal.Table II, below, provides the results for the various films in accordance with Film No.3, as well as results for Film No. 20, described in detail below. Film No. 20 was similar to FilmNo. 3 except that the A layers of Film No. 20 did not contain any ethylene/vinyl acetatecopolymer. In addition, Table 11 provides results for two comparative VALERONWcrosslarninated films.10CA 02265580 l999-03- l0” WO 98/34785 PCTIUS97/1610427TABLE IIFilm Identity Irradiation Parallel Plate Burst VERTROD® WELDOTRON®(Film No.)/ Level Strength (in H20) Seal Strength 6402Film (milliamp) @ 40 V / @, 45 V (lb/in.) Transverse SealThickness @ 40 V I @ Strength (lb/in)(mils) 45 VNo. 3 /4.5 0 186/229 3.9/8.4 16.8No. 3 /4.5 25 130/390 47/ 11.8 13.5No. 3 /4.5 49.5 WNS / 235 WNS / 8.8 WNS /WNCNo. 20/45 0 121/229 5.0/8.7 17.4No. 20/4.5 25 137/381 4.7/8.2 14.0No. 20 / 4.5 49.5 WNS / 251 WNS/ 11.9 WNS /WNCVALERON® / unknown :79 / 155 7.6 / 7.1 9.94.0VALERON®/ unknown WNS / 351 WNS/ 11.6 10.26.0WNS = would not sealWNC = would not cutAs is apparent from the results set forth in Table II, the Parallel Plate Burst Strength of the side-seal bags of Film No. 3 and Film No. 20 (each of which utilized a 4.5 mil, multilayer, non-crosslaminated film) compare favorably with the Parallel Plate Burst Strength of the side-sealbags made from the VALERONW crosslaminated film. Comparing the best Parallel Plate BurstTest results for the side-seal bags made according to Examples 3 and 20 with the best ParallelPlate Burst Test results of the side-seal bags made from VALERON® crosslaminated film (ie,in accordance with comparative Film No. 21), it is surprising and unexpected that the 4.5 milbags according to the present invention which were sealed at 45 volts on the VERTROD® sealmachine and irradiated at 25 Ma (milliamps), exhibited a much higher parallel plate burststrength than 4.0 VALERON® crosslaminated film (ie, 390 inches of water and 381 inches of10152025CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97/1610428water for the 4.5 mil non-crosslaminated film, vs. 179 inches of water for the 4.0 milVALERON® crosslaminated film‘). It is even more surprising and unexpected that the 4.5 milbags according to the present invention made from the non-crosslaminated Film No. 3 and FilmNo. 20 exhibited a Parallel Plate Burst Strength which was even higher than a 6.0 milVALERON® crosslaminated film (i.e., 390 inches of water and 381 inches of water for the 4.5mil bags, vs. 351 inches of water for the 6.0 mil VALERON‘fi' crosslaminated filmz).Additional surprising results are shown for the VERTROD® Seal Strength test resultspresented in Table 11. That is, upon carrying out a VERTROD® Seal Strength Test of the bagsaccording to the present invention, i.e., a VERTROD® Seal Strength Test of the side-seal bagsmade using Film No. 3 and Film No. 20, versus the side-seal bags made from VALERON®crosslaminated film, it was again surprising and unexpected that the 4.5 mil bags made fromFilm No. 3 and Film No. 20 according to the present invention, which were sealed at 45 voltson the VERTRODW" seal machine and either unirradiated or irradiated at 25 Ma or 49.5 Ma,exhibited a seal strength of 8.4, 11.8, 8.8, 8.7, 8.2, and 11.9 lbs/in, versus 7.1 and 11.6 lbs/in forseals formed using the 4.0 and 6.0 VALERON® crosslaminated film. That is, the VERTROD®Seal Strength Test results for the 4.5 mil films suitable for use in the article of the presentinvention is surprisingly high, relative to the VERTROD‘fi' Seal Strength Test results for the 4.0and 6.0 mil VALERON® crosslaminated films. The 4.5 films suitable for use in the article ofthe present invention exhibited VERTROD‘a" Seal Strength Test results which ranged from108% to 156% of the strength of the 4.0 mil VALERON® crosslaminate film, and fi’om about71% to 103% of the strength of the 6.0 mil VALEROI\T§’ crosslaminate film. Nonnalizing theVERTROD@ Seal Strength Test results from the 45 mil film for comparison with the 6.0 milVALERON® crosslaminate film, the 4.5 mil film exhibited a VERTROD® Seal Strength offrom about 94% to 137% of the seal strength of the 6.0 mil VALERON® crosslaminate film.Thus, it is apparent that the seal strengths of the noncrosslaminated films suitable for use in thearticle of the present invention are surprisingly high relative to VALERON” crosslaminate filmof the same thickness.Similarly, additional surprising results are shown for the WELDOTRON® TransverseSeal Strength test results presented in Table II. The WELDOTRON® seals were made using" WO 98/34785I015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/U S97/ 1610429Unlike the VERTROD'fi" Seal Strength Test, theWELDOTRON® Seal Strength was carried out by sealing across a film tubing to produce anthe description set forth above.end—seal bag. However, the subsequent INSTRONES’ seal strength testing was carried out as inthe VERTROD® Seal Strength Tests. The results of the WELDOTRON® Transverse SealStrength Test are provided in the right-hand colunm of Table II, above. Surprisingly andunexpectedly, the 4.5 mil films of the bags according to the present invention, i.e., made usingFilm No. 3 and Film No. 20, exhibited a WELDOTRON® seal strength of from 13.5 to 17.4lbs/in, versus the 4.0 and 6.0 VALERONE" crosslaminated films, the seals of which exhibited aWELDOTRON® seal strength of only 9.9 and 10.2, respectively. In other words, the 4.5 milsealed films in accordance with the present invention exhibited as WELDOTRON® sealstrength of from about 136% to 176% of the WELDOTRON® seal strength of the 4.0 milVALERONJ" crosslaminated film, and WELDOTRON® seal strength of from about 132% to171% of the WELDOTRON® seal strength of the 6.0 mil VALERONE crosslaminated film.Film N0. 4Film No. 4 was prepared by the same process employed to produce Film No. 1, exceptthat in Film No. 4, the A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 82 weight percent LLDPE #1,(b) 15 weight percent EVA #1, and (c) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. In Film No. 4, the BLayer was composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2. Furthermore, as with Film No. 1, in FilmNo. 4 the A Layer made up 85 percent of the tape thickness, and a B layer made up 15 percentof the tape thickness. The Film No. 4 free shrink and instrumented impact are provided inTable III, below.Film No. Film No. 5 was prepared by the same process employed to produce Film No. 1, exceptthat in Film No. 5, the A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 67 weight percent LLDPE #1;(b) 30 weight percent XU 59220.01, a proprietary experimental long chain branchedhomogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer (hereinafter referred to as "homogeneousethylene/alpha—olefin #3") having a density of 0.901 g/cc and a melt index of 0.9, obtainedunder a development agreement with The Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Michigan; and,(c) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. The information concerning XU59220.01 and theevaluation results of film/bag containing the experimental polymer which are set forth in thisexample have been approved for release by Dow.101520' WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/U S97/ 161043 OIn Film No. 5, the B Layer was composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2.Furthennore, as with Film No. 1, in Film No. 5 the A Layer made up 85 percent of the tapethickness, and a B layer made up 15 percent of the tape thickness.The Film No. 5 free shrink and instrumented impact are provided in Table III, below.TABLEIIIFilm Free Shrink at Free Shrink at Impact Strength Energy to BreakNo. l85°F 205°F (lbs) (fi—lbs)%MD / %TD %MD / %TD1 11 / 16 20/30 97 4.82 11 / 18 21 /32 109 5.73 10/ 17 20/30 100 5.04 13/ 18 25/32 87 3.15 14/20 -- / -- 88 3.2As can be seen from Table III, the impact strength of various films according to thepresent invention, e.g., Film Nos. 1, 2, and 5, were found to be comparable to the impactstrength exhibited by Film No. 3 and Film No. 4, both of which utilize LLDPE as the polymerwhich provides the film with high impact strength. Thus, it has been found that the use ofhomogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, in accordance with the present invention, canresult in a film having an impact strength substantially equivalent to, and in some instances evenbetter than, the impact strength of LLDPE-based films.Film No. 6A coextruded, two-ply, tubular tape was cast, the tape having a thickness of 9 mils, thetape having an A layer making up 85 percent of the tape thickness, and a B layer making up 15percent of the tape thickness. The A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 50 weight percentof a resin composition referred to as ECD 103 linear homogeneous ethylene/hexene copolymer,1015202530W0 98l34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/ 161043 1also obtained from the Exxon Chemical Company (hereinafter referred to as "linearhomogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin #4"), (b) 37 weight percent ECD 106 linear homogeneousethylene/hexene copolymer, having a density of about 0.917g/cc, and a melt index of about 3,also obtained from the Exxon Chemical Co. (hereinafter referred to as "linear homogeneousethylene/alpha-olefin #5"), (c) 10 weight percent LD 200.48 (TM) low density polyethylenehaving a density of 0.917 g/cc and a melt index of 6.7, this low density polyethylene alsoobtained from the Exxon Chemical Co., and (d) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. In Film No. 6,the B Layer was composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2.The two-ply sheet was cooled to a solid phase using a chilled roll, and thenelectronically crosslinked with a 500 Kev beam to a level of approximately 2 to 10 MR. Theresulting crosslinked two-ply sheet was heated with hot air (at 210-220°F), and wassubsequently oriented by drawing and stretching approximately 300 percent in each of themachine and transverse directions, respectively, using a tenter frame, to produce a biaxiallyoriented film having a thickness of about 1 mil. The impact strength of the resulting Film No. 6is provided in Table IV, below.Film No. 7A coextruded, two-ply sheet is cast, the sheet having a thickness of 18 mils, the sheethaving an A layer making up 85 percent of the sheet thickness, and a B layer making up 15percent of the sheet thickness. The A Layer is composed of a blend of: (a) 97 weight percentlinear homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin #4, and (b) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. In FilmNo. 7, the B Layer is composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2.The two-ply sheet is cooled to a solid phase using a chilled roll, and then electronicallycrosslinked with a 500 Kev beam to a level of approximately 2 to 10 MR. The resultingcrosslinked two-ply sheet is heated with hot air (at 210-220°F), and is subsequently oriented bydrawing and stretching approximately 300 percent in each of the rr1achine and transversedirections, respectively, using a tenter frame, to produce a biaxially-oriented film having athickness of about 2 mils.Film No. 8A single ply sheet is cast, the sheet having a thickness of 18 mils, the sheet beingcomposed of a blend of (a) 97 weight percent linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin #4,and (b) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. After the sheet is cast, the tape is cooled to a solidphase using a chilled roll, and then electronically crosslinked with a 500 Kev beam to a level of~ W0 98l347851015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/161043 2approximately 2 to 10 MR. The resulting crosslinked two-ply sheet is heated with hot air (at210-220°F), and is subsequently oriented, using a tenter frame, to impart longitudinalorientation in an amount of about 300 percent, and transverse orientation in an amount of about300 percent, to result in a biaxially oriented film having a thickness of about 2 mils.Film No. 9A single ply tubular tape is cast, the tape having a thickness of 27 mils, the tape beingcomposed of a blend of: (a) 97 weight percent linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin #4,and (b) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. After the tape is cast, the tape is cooled to a solid phaseusing chilled air or chilled water, and then electronically crosslinked with a 500 Kev beam to alevel of approximately 2 to 10 MR. The resulting crosslinked tape is then heated with hot air(at 2lO—220°F), and is subsequently oriented by drawing and stretching approximately 300percent in each of the machine and transverse directions, respectively, using a trapped bubbleprocess, to produce a biaxially—oriented film having a thickness of about 3 mils. The tubular filmis thereafter slit to form a flat film.Film No. 10Film No. 10 was prepared by the same process employed to produce Film No. 6,except that in Film No. 10, the A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 67 weight percentLLDPE #1, (b) 30 weight percent ENGAGE EG 8100 (TM) long chain branchedhomogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, also obtained from The Dow ChemicalCompany (hereinafter referred to as "homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin #6), and (c) 3 weightpercent Antiblock #1. In Film No. 10, the B Layer was composed of 100 weight percent EVA#2. Furthermore, as with Film No. 6, in Film No. 10 the A Layer made up 85 percent of thetape thickness, and a B layer made up 15 percent ‘of the tape thickness. The Film No. 10instrumented impact is provided in Table IV, below.Film No. 11Film No. 11 was prepared by the same process employed to produce Film No. 6, except that inFilm No. 11, the A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 67 weight percent LLDPE #1, (b)30 weight percent ENGAGE EG 8150 (TM) long chain branched homogeneousethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, also obtained fiom The Dow Chemical Company (hereinafterreferred to as "homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin #7), and (c) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1.In Film No. 11, the B Layer was composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2. Furthermore, aswith Film No. 6, in Film No. 1 1 the A Layer made up 85 percent of the tape thickness, and a B1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97/1610433layer made up 15 percent of the tape thickness. The Film No. 11 instrumented impact isprovided in Table IV, below.Film No. 12Film No. 12 was prepared by the same process employed to produce Film No. 6,except that in Film No. 12, the A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 50 weight percent of aresin referred to as SLP 9042 linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha—olefin copolymer, obtainedfrom the Exxon Chemical Company (hereinafter referred to as "linear homogeneousethylene/alpha olefin #8"), (b) 47 weight percent LLDPE #1, and (c) 3 weight percentAntiblock #1. In Film No. 12, the B Layer was composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2.Furthermore, as with Film No. 6, in Film No. 12 the A Layer made up 85 percent of the tapethickness, and a B layer made up 15 percent of the tape thickness. The Film No. 12instrumented impact is provided in Table IV, below.Film No. 13Film No. 13 was prepared by the same process employed to produce Film No. 6,except Film No. 13 was a three-ply tubular film in which the A Layer made up 35 percent ofthe thickness of the film, the B Layer made up 50 percent of the thickness of the film, and the CLayer made up 15 percent of the thickness of the film. The A Layer was composed of a blendof: (a) 94 weight percent AFFINITY HF 1031 (TM) long chain branched homogeneousethylene/alpha—olefin also obtained from The Dow Chemical Company (hereinafter referred toas "long chain branched homogeneous ethylene/alpha—olefin copolymer #9"), and (b) 6 percentAntiblock #1. The B Layer was composed of 100 percent AFFINITY 1570 (TM) long chainbranched homogeneous ethylene/alpha—olefin copolymer, obtained from The Dow ChemicalCompany (hereinafter, "ethylene/alpha-olefin #10"). ‘The C Layer was composed of 100 weightpercent EVA #2. The Film No. 13 instrumented impact is provided in Table IV, below.Film No. 14Film No. 14 was a three-ply film prepared by the same process employed to produceFilm No. 13, except that in Film No. 14, the A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 67weight percent LLDPE #1, (b) 30 weight percent homogeneous ethylene/alpha—olefin #7, and(c) 3 percent Antiblock #1. The B Layer was composed of 100 percent homogeneousethylene/alpha olefin #7, and the C Layer was composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2. TheFilm No. 14 instrumented impact is provided in Table IV, below.Film No. 151015CA 02265580 l999-03- 10W0 98l34785 PCT/US97/1610434Film No. 15 was a two-ply film prepared by the same process employed to produceFilm No. 6, except that in Film No. 15, the A Layer was composed of a blend of: (a) 87 weightpercent LLDPE #1, (b) 10 weight percent EVA #1, and (c) 3 percent Antiblock #1. The BLayer was composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2. The Film No. 15 instrumented impact isprovided in Table IV, below.TABLE IVFilm No. Impact Strength (lbs)6 1910 16ll 1712 1513 1414 1315 . 19As can be seen from Table IV, the impact strength of various examples of films suitablefor use in he article of the present invention have an impact strength of from a low of about 13pounds to a high of about 19 pounds.Film No. 16Film No. 16 was prepared by a process similar to the process employed in theproduction of Film No. 1. Film No. 16 was made by coextruding a tubular film which had anA/B/C structure in the thickness ratio of 15/70/15, respectively. The A Layer was an outsidelayer composed of: (a) 87 weight percent LLDPE #1; (b) 10 weight percent EVA #1; and (c) 3weight percent Antiblock #1. The B Layer was a core layer composed of (a) 97 weight percent1015202530' WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/161043 5homogeneous ethylene/alpha—olefin copolymer #10; and, (b) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1.The C Layer was an inside layer composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2.The coextruded, three-ply tubular tape was cast, the tape having a thickness of 20 mils.The two-ply tubing was cooled to a solid phase in a water bath and then electronicallycrosslinked with a 500 Kev beam to a level of approximately 12 MR.The resulting crosslinked two-ply tubing was heated by immersion in a hot water bathhaving a temperature of about 210°F, and was subsequently oriented by being drawn andstretched approximately 370%, in each of the machine and transverse directions, respectively,using a trapped bubble of air held between two nip rolls, resulting in a three-ply film having athickness of about 1.46 mils, in the form of a tube.After drawing, the resulting tube of hot-water-shrinkable flat film was passed through apair of nip rolls, causing the inside C layer to bond to itself upon tube collapse, rendering a finalsix-ply film having a thickness of about 2.9 mils. Film No. 16 was determined to have a freeshrink at l85°F (determined using ASTM 2732) of about 48 percent, and the instrumentedimpact of Film No. 16 (determined using ASTM D 3763), was determined to be about 110pounds.Film No. 17Film No. 17 was prepared by a process similar to the process employed in theproduction of Film No. 16. Film No. 17 was made by coextruding a tubular film which had anA/B/C structure in the thickness ratio of 35/50/15, respectively. The A Layer was an outsidelayer composed of: (a) 87 weight percent LLDPE #1; (b) 10 weight percent EVA #1; and (c) 3weight percent Antiblock #1. The B Layer was a core layer composed of (a) 97 weight percentlong chain branched homogeneous ethylene/alpha¢olefin copolymer #3; and, (b) 3 weightpercent Antiblock #1. The C Layer was an inside layer composed of 100 weight percent EVA#2. The coextruded, three-ply tubular tape was cast, the tape having a thickness of 20 mils.The two-ply tubing was cooled to a solid phase in a water bath and then electronicallycrosslinked with a 500 Kev beam to a level of from about 2 to 10 MR.The resulting crosslinked two-ply tubing was heated by immersion in a hot water bathhaving a temperature of about 208°F, and was subsequently oriented by being drawnapproximately 340% in the machine direction and stretched approximately 370%, in thetransverse direction, using a trapped bubble of air held between two nip rolls, resulting in athree-ply film having a thickness of about 1.6 mils, in the form of a tube.10152025—- WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/161043 6After drawing, the resulting tube of hot—water-shrinkable flat film was passed through apair of nip rolls, causing the inside C layer to bond to itself upon tube collapse, rendering a finalsix-ply film having a thickness of about 3.2 mils. Film No. 17 was determined to have a freeshrink at l85°F (determined using ASTM 2732) of about 57 percent, and the instrumentedimpact of Film No. 17 (determined using ASTM D 3763), was determined to be about 63pounds. It is believed that Film No. 17 would have been considerably greater if the orientationhad been carried out at a temperature of about l95°F, as the homogeneous polymer's density of0.9016 permitted the lower orientation temperature.Film No. 18Film No. 18 was prepared by a process similar to the process employed in theproduction of Film Nos. 16 and 17. Film No. 18 was made by coextruding a tubular film whichhad an A/B/C structure in the thickness ratio of l5/70/ l 5, respectively. The A Layer was anoutside layer composed of: (a) 87 weight percent LLDPE #1; (b) 10 weight percent EVA #1;and (c) 3 weight percent Antiblock #1. The B Layer was identical, in chemical composition, tothe A Layer. The C Layer was an inside layer composed of 100 weight percent EVA #2. Thecoextruded, three-ply tubular tape was cast, the tape having a thickness of 20 mils. The two-ply tubing was cooled to a solid phase in a water bath and then electronically crosslinked with a500 Kev beam to a level of fiom about 2 to 10 MR.The resulting crosslinked two-ply tubing was heated by immersion in a hot water bathhaving a temperature of about 21 O°F, and was subsequently oriented by being drawnapproximately 360% in the machine direction and stretched approximately 370%, in thetransverse direction, using a trapped bubble of air held between two nip rolls, resulting in athree-ply film having a thickness of about 1.5 mils, in'the form of a tube.After drawing, the resulting tube of hot—water-shrinkable flat film was passed through apair of nip rolls, causing the inside C layer to bond to itself upon tube collapse, rendering a finalsix-ply film having a thickness of about 3.0 mils. Film No. 18 was determined to have a freeshrink at l85°F (determined using ASTM 2732) of about 50 percent, and the instrumentedimpact of Film No. 18 (determined using ASTM D 3763), was detennined to be about 100pounds1015CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97l16l0437Film No. 19A coextruded, seven—ply tubular tape was cast, the tape having a thickness of 18.6 mils,the tape having an A layer making up 85 percent of the tape thickness, and a B layer making up15 percent of the tape thickness. The three-ply tubing was cooled to a solid phase in a waterbath and then electronically crosslinked with a 500 Kev beam to a level of from about 2 to 10MR. The resulting crosslinked three-ply tubing was extrusion coated with four additionalpolymer layers extruded through an annular die, in a process as illustrated in Figure 6. Theresulting 26.5 mil extnision-coated tape was thereafter immersed in a hot water bath have atemperature of about l92°F, and was subsequently oriented by being drawn approximately300% in the machine direction, and stretched approximately 325% in the transverse direction,using a trapped bubble of air held between two nip rolls. The orientation produced anapproximately 2.7 mil two-ply film in the form of a tube. Figure 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view of Film No. 19. Table V, below, includes the chemical composition andthickness of each of the layers, together with the fimction which the layer serves in the film.TABLE Vlayer layer location / chemical composition of layer thicknessdesignation function layer (mils)202 inside / seal 90% EVA #3 0.36l0% LLDPE #1204 inner / bulk homogeneous ethylene/alpha- 1.39olefin copolymer #1 l206 inner / tie 100% EVA #4 0.15208 inner / O2-barrier PVDC Blend #1 0.18210 inner / tie 100% EVA #4 0.15212 inner / bulk homogeneous ethylene/ 0.30alpha—olefin copolymer #11015202530WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCTIU S97I16l043 892.5% EVA #57.5% LLDPE #1214 outside / abuse 0. 1 7EVA #3 was PE 3507-2 (TM) ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate contentof 6.2%, a melt index of 2.5, and a density of 0.93 g/cc, and was obtained from DuPont. EVA#4 was EP 4062-2 (TM) ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of15%, a melt index of 2,5, and a density of 0.938 g/cc., and was also obtained from DuPont.EVA #5 was LD-318.92 (TM) ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate contentof 9%, a melt index of 2.0, and a density of 0.93 g/cc, and was obtained from Exxon. PVDCBlend #1 was a composition comprising: (a) about 96 weight percent DOW MAI34 (TM)vinylidene chloride/methyl acrylate copolymer having a methyl acrylate content of 8.5%,obtained from The Dow Chemical Company, of Midland, Michigan; (b) about 2 weight percentPLAS CHEK 775 (TM) epoxidized soybean oil, obtained from Ferro Chemicals, of Bedford,Ohio; and, (c) about 2 weight percent METABLEN L1000 (TM) acrylate blend, obtained fromElf Atochem, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. METABLEN Ll00O (TM) comprises about 53weight percent methyl methacrylate ("1VlMA"), 29 weight percent butyl methacrylate ("BMA"),and 19 weight percent butyl acrylate ("BA").For Film No. 19, which was composed of two films each of which had a thickness ofabout 2.7 mils (i.e., a total thickness of about 5.4 mils) and each of which was composed of theabove-described seven layers, the free shrink at l85°F (determined using ASTM 2732) wasabout 75 percent, and the instrumented impact was about 112 pounds of force, and an energyto break of about 5 it-lbs.Film No. 20Film No. 20 was prepared by a process otherwise similar to the process employed toproduce Film No. 3, except that in Film No. 20, except that the A Layer was composed of ablend of: (a) 95.5 weight percent LLDPE #1, (b) 4.5 weight percent of an antiblockmasterbatch similar to Antiblock #1, sold as TEKNOR 10l83ACP (TM) antiblock agent,obtained from Teknor Apex Plastics Division, of Pawtucket, R.I.; and, the B layer wascomposed of 100 weight percent ESCORENE® LD-761.36 (TM) ethylene/vinyl acetatecopolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 28 percent and a density of 0.950 g/cc, and a meltindex of 5.7, obtained from the Exxon Chemical Company, of Houston, Texas. Furthermore,as with Film No. 3, in Film No. 20 the A Layer made up 85 percent of the tape thickness, and aB layer made up 15 percent of the tape thickness. Film No. 20 was sealed as described abovel0l5202530' W0 98/318785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCTIUS97/161043 9for Film No. 3, with the resulting seals being tested for seal strength, and the resulting side-sealbags being tested for parallel plate burst strength. The results of these tests are set forth inTable II, above.Comparative Results of Films 3 and 20 Versus Comparative Example 21Other tests were performed by making side-seal bags, this time using a standardVERTROD® sealer modified to simulate bag making conditions with a 0.0937 inch radiuswire (instead of the ‘/4 inch ribbon described above), using a pressure of about 50 psi for atime of about 0.9 second heating period followed by a 0.3 second cooling period, with 38volts being the potential of the current passed through the heated wire. The resulting bagswere placed between parallel walls about 3-4 inches apart, ie., a “parallel plate burst test”,with the bags thereafter being inflated until one of the side-seals failed. As with the droptest results presented above, the failure always occurred in the region adjacent the seal.The seal itself did not fail. The amount of pressure inside the bag at the point of failurewas a measure of strength. The bags made from the film according to Example 3, above,in the parallel plate burst test had mean seal strengths of 522 inches of water, and werefairly consistent in strength, i.e., ranged from a low of about 430 inches of water to a highof about 640 inches of water. In contrast, non-crosslaminated films of lower thicknessexhibited lower parallel plate burst strength, e.g., from about 100 to ISO inches of water,for a film having a total thickness of about 2 mils.In the article according to the present invention, preferably the stock film from whichthe bag is formed has a total thickness of from about 1.5 to 5 mils; more preferably, about 2.5mils. Although the film stock from which the bag is formed can be a monolayer film, preferablythe film stock from which the bag is formed is a multilayer film having from 3 to 7 layers; morepreferably, 4 layers.The polymer components used to fabricate films usefiil in articles according to thepresent invention may also contain appropriate amounts of other additives normally included insuch compositions. These include slip agents such as talc, antioxidants, fillers, dyes, pigmentsand dyes, radiation stabilizers, antistatic agents, elastomers, and the like additives known tothose of skill in the art of packaging films.The films used to make the article of the present invention are preferably irradiated toinduce crosslinking, as well as corona treated to roughen the surface of the films which are tobe adhered to one another. In the irradiation process, the film is subjected to an energetic1015202530" WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10PCT/US97/1610440radiation treatment, such as corona discharge, plasma, flame, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma ray,beta ray, and high energy electron treatment, which induce cross-linking between molecules ofthe irradiated material. The irradiation of polymeric films is disclosed in U.S. Patent NO.4,064,296, to BORNSTEIN, et. al., which is hereby incorporated in its entirety, by referencethereto. BORNSTEIN, et. al. discloses the use of ionizing radiation for crosslinking thepolymer present in the film.To produce crosslinking, a suitable radiation dosage of high energy electrons is appliedto the film. Preferably, irradiation is carried out by an electron accelerator and the dosage levelis determined by standard dosimetry methods. Other accelerators such as a Vander Gratf orresonating transformer may be used. The radiation is not limited to electrons from anaccelerator since any ionizing radiation may be used. The ionizing radiation crosslinks thepolymers in the film. Preferably, the film is irradiated at a level of from 2-15 MR, morepreferably 2-10 MR. As can be seen from the descriptions of preferred films for use in thepresent invention, the most preferred amount of radiation is dependent upon the film and its enduse.The corona treatment of a film is performed by subjecting the surfaces of the film tocorona discharge, ie, the ionization of a gas such as air in close proximity to a film surface, theionization initiated by a high voltage passed through a nearby electrode, and causing oxidationand other changes to the film surface, such as surface roughness. Corona treatment ofpolymeric materials is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,120,716, to BONET, issued October 17,1978, herein incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto, discloses improved adherencecharacteristics of the surface of polyethylene by corona treatment, to oxidize the polyethylenesurface. U.S. Patent No. 4,879,430, to HOFFMAN, also hereby incorporated in its entirety byreference thereto, discloses the use of corona discharge for the treatment of plastic webs for usein meat cook-in packaging, with the corona treatment of the inside surface of the web toincrease the adhesion of the meat to the adhesion of the meat to the proteinaceous material.Although corona treatment is a preferred treatment of the multilayer films used to make the bagof the present invention, plasma treatment of the film may also be used.In general, sealing of film to produce a bag can be performed using a hot bar (heat seal)or a nichrome wire fixed to a chilled metal bar (impulse seal), as is known to those of skill in theart, or any other sealing means known to those of skill in the art, such as ultrasonic radiation,radio fiequency radiation, and laser. The preferred sealing means is an impulse sealer. Films1015202530‘ WO 98/34785CA 02265580 l999-03- 10I’CTIUS97/ 161044 1which are predominantly polyethylene are generally sealed using impulse sealing or hot barsealing. Both linear and shaped seals can be formed, as is known to those of skill in the art. Ingeneral, sealing and cutting of tubing to produce bags is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.3,552,090, U.S. Patent No. 3,383,746, and U.S. Serial No. 844,883, filed July 25, 1969, toOWEN, each of these two US. Patents as well as the US. Patent application, hereby beingincorporated by reference thereto, in their entireties.The article of the present invention is useful in a wide variety of packaging applicationsin a wide variety of areas, such as agricultural, industrial non-food, industrial overwrap film,medical, retail consumer, food packaging, home, industrial, and construction, among otheruses. More particularly, the article of the present invention can be used for the packaging of:tools and hardware (both civilian and military), machinery parts, appliances, marinehardware (e.g., anchors, props, etc.) corrosive metal products, industrial parts containingrust inhibitor, powdered chemicals and concentrates (especially photographic chemicals inbulk form), industrial cartridge packs, brick (especially refractory brick), toys, bearings,dry pet food, articles currently packaged in buckets, especially heavy 5-gallon—typebuckets, precut unassembled wood products, products currently packaged in woven sacks,products requiring a package which is a substantial barrier to atmospheric oxygen, coffee,hops, shrimp, peanuts, raisins, parcels being mailed, retortable pouches, viscous fluids,explosives, frozen products, ballistic cargo, textile products (apparel and homefiirnishings), furniture, products dangerous for children (i.e., child-resistant flexiblepackaging), fertilizer and grain (especially for overseas shipment), plants (especially pottedplants), insecticides and other poisonous and hazardous chemicals, insect repellent, forsand bagging for flood control, water, seeds, skis, antiques and works of art, firewood,lumber, tires, paper and plastic film and sheet goods (especially photographic paper andphotographic film, especially in 10-100 pound rolls, especially where the multilayerpackaging film has a layer of embedded carbon black, i.e., blended with polymer, toprevent the paper and/or film from being exposed to light), hemmocult specimens, child-proof pouches, and packages comprising a plurality of articles (i.e., multipaks).In addition, the article according to the present invention can be used in the packagingof fresh meat products comprising bone. Among the meat products which can be packaged inthe articles according to the present invention are poultry, pork, beef, lamb, goat, horse, andfish. More specifically, preferred meat products to be packaged in the article of the present1015202530CA 02265580 l999-03- 10WO 98/34785 PCT/US97l16l0442invention include ham, spareribs, picnic, back rib, short loin, short rib, whole turkey, and porkloin. The article of the present invention is especially usefiil for the packaging of a pair of bone-in whole pork loins.Moreover, the article of the present invention is also useful as a: liner for landfills,pools, etc., in compression packaging, as a tarp for boats (especially shrinkable), etc.,marine personal safety device, as tags/labels, in the protection of mobile homes (especiallyshrinkable), for landscaping end use (especially as a plastic grid system), in temporaryshelter, tents, greenhouse covers, as a shrinkable overwrap, in upholstery webbing, as avacuum—press bag, such as for a vacuum-bag veneer press, as a slit fence, as an automotivesubstrate, in paving and roofing applications, in handles for bags, etc., as a beveragecarrier, as an oil spill containment film, in rain apparel, as a dispenser (e. g., for adhesivessuch as epoxy, etc.), as a horizontal silo, as a solar panel cover, to be combined with acorrugated material, for pallet banding, in anti-pilfering packaging, in luggage, duffel bags,etc, in industrial vacuum packaging, as a non—sticking shrink bag, as a shrinkable mattresscover, as a dust cover (especially for cars), as an evidence bag, as a dry bag, as ashrinkable film for tray packs (especially cans), in industrial skin packaging material, as arubber sheet curing wrap-release sheet, as a ground cloth (for painting, tents, etc), as areusable envelope or pouch for photographic plates, film, etc., as a replacement forcorrugated packaging materials, as a recreational device for sliding on ice, snow, etc., as arollstock overwrap (for aluminum beverage cans, paper, etc.), as medical intravenous bags,as a shrinkable balloon, in shrink bags for packaging and storage (especially for heavyitems such as books, dishes, etc.), for use in a descent, travel, and protection apparatus asdisclosed in US. Patent No. 5,568,902, to Hurley, Jr., as a childproof wrap, a childproofpouch, for air bags, in a wide variety of medical applications, as banding material (e. g., forspiral wrap, inground pipes, for tight shrink, etc.), for use as a tape (if coated withadhesive), for compression devices (tourniquets, splints, etc.), as a reinforcing material(e.g., for concrete, fiberglass, etc.), as a cable component, as a straightjacket, as aeuthanasia chamber, in handcuffs and other restraint and fastening devices, as a body bag,in tanks (e.g., fuel tanks, solvent tanks, etc.), in pipes, as an ostomy or colostomy pouch orbag, pouch, as a kite, in water slides, in an archery target, as an emergency chute foraircraft, in a chute for hill traversing, in fabrics (especially slit, woven), in ropes for hightensile applications, as a component in road construction, as a construction underlay, inCA 02265580 l999-03- 10wo 9s/34735 PCT/US97/1610443mailboxes, as a carpet underlay, as a masking material, as a conveyor belt or sheet, and ina bandoleer.Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferredembodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized withoutdeparting from the principles and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand. Accordingly, such modifications may be practiced within the scope of thefollowing claims.

Claims (25)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An article comprising a non-crosslaminated film, wherein:
the non-crosslaminated film comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, polycarbonate, polyester homopolymer, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide, very low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyolefin, ethylene/propylene copolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer; and the non-crosslaminated film is sealed to itself or a second film comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, polycarbonate, polyester, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide, very low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyolefin, ethylene/propylene copolymer, ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer; and the article has a parallel plate burst strength of at least 300 inches of water.

2. The article according to Claim 1, wherein the film has a total thickness of from about 3 to 20 mils, and the article has a parallel plate burst strength of from about 300 to 2000 inches of water.

3. The article according to Claim 2, wherein the film is a monolayer film.

4. The article according to Claim 2, wherein the film is a multilayer film comprising:

(A) a first inner layer and a second inner layer, wherein each of the inner layers comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc; and (B) a first outer layer and a second outer layer, wherein each of the outer layers comprises (a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, very low density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, olefin homopolymer, polycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ester homopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer, ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer, as well as (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc, and wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first outer layer and the second outer layer is sealed to itself or the other outer layer.

5. The article according to Claim 4, wherein the multilayer film has a total thickness of from about 3 to 7 mils, and wherein the article has a parallel plate burst strength of from about 300 to 1000 inches of water.

6. The article according to Claim 5, wherein the multilayer film has a total thickness of from about 4 to 5 mils, and wherein the article has a parallel plate burst strength of from about 400 to 700 inches of water.

7. The article according to Claim 4, wherein the multilayer film is heat-shrinkable.

8. The article according to Claim 7, wherein the multilayer film is biaxially oriented and has a free shrink, at 185°F, of from about 10 to 100 percent.

9. The article according to Claim 4, wherein the multilayer film further comprises an O2-barrier layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile.

10. The article according to Claim 1, wherein the film is irradiated to a level of from about 50 to 150 kilograysGy.

11. The article according to Claim 1, wherein the article comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of end-seal bag, side-seal bag, L-seal bag, pouch, and backseamed casing.

12. An article comprising:
(A) a first multilayer film comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, very low density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, olefin homopolymer, polycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ester homopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer, ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer; and (B) a second multilayer film comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, very low density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, olefin homopolymer, polycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ester homopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer, ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer; and wherein the first multilayer film is not a cross-laminated film and the second multilayer film is not a cross-laminated film, and the first multilayer film is sealed to the second multilayer film, the first multilayer film has a thickness of from about 3 to 20 mils and the second multilayer film has a thickness of from about 3 to 20 mils, and wherein the article has a parallel plate burst strength of from about 300 to 2000 inches of water.

13. The article according to Claim 12, wherein:
(A) the first multilayer film comprises:
(i) a first inner layer and a second inner layer, wherein each of the inner layers comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc; and (ii) a first outer layer and a second outer layer, wherein each of the outer layers comprises (a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, very low density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, olefin homopolymer, polycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ester homopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer, ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer, as well as (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc; and (B) the second multilayer film comprises:

(i) a first inner layer and a second inner layer, wherein each of the inner layers comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc copolymer; and (ii) a first outer layer and a second outer layer, wherein each of the outer layers comprises: (a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, very low density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, olefin homopolymer, polycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ester homopolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymer, ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer, as well as (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acid copolymer, ionomer, and homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of from about 0.87 to 0.91 g/cc; and wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first outer layer of the first multilayer film and the second outer layer of the first multilayer film is sealed to at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first outer layer of the second multilayer film and the second outer layer of the second multilayer film.

14. The article according to Claim 13, wherein the first multilayer film has a total thickness of from about 3 to 7 mils, the second multilayer film has a total thickness of from about 3 to 7 mils, and the article has a parallel plate burst strength of from about 300 to 1000 inches of water.

15. The article according to Claim 14, wherein:

the two outer layers of the first multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness;
the two inner layers of the first multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness, the two outer layers of the second multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness; and the two inner layers of the second multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness.

16. The article according to Claim 13, wherein the first multilayer film is substantially identical to the second multilayer film, with respect to chemical composition and thickness.

17. The article according to Claim 16, wherein:
the two outer layers of the first multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness;
the two inner layers of the first multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness;
the two outer layers of the second multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness; and the two inner layers of the second multilayer film are substantially identical with respect to chemical composition and thickness.

18. The article according to Claim 13, wherein the article comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a pouch and a butt-sealed backseamed casing having a butt-seal tape.

19. The article according to Claim 13, wherein:
the first multilayer film further comprises an 0 2-barrier layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile;
and the second multilayer film further comprises an 0 2-barrier layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile.

20. The article according to Claim 19, wherein the 0 2-barrier layer in the first multilayer film has a chemical composition which is identical to the chemical composition in the second multilayer film.

21. The article according to Claim 13, wherein the multilayer film is heat-shrinkable.

22. The article according to Claim 21, wherein the multilayer film is biaxially oriented and has a free shrink, at 185°F, of from about 10 to 100 percent.

23. The article according to Claim 13, wherein the film is irradiated to a level of from about 50-150 kGy.

24. A packaged product comprising a package and a product surrounded by the package, wherein:
(A) the package comprises a non-crosslaminated film comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, polycarbonate, polyester homopolymer, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide, very low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyolefin, ethylene/propylene copolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer, and the non-crosslaminated film is sealed to itself or a second film comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, polycarbonate, polyester, polyamide, ethylene/acid copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer, ethylene/carbon monoxide, very low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyolefin, ethylene/propylene copolymer, ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, ethylene/norbornene copolymer, and ethylene/styrene copolymer, and the article has a parallel plate burst strength of at least 300 inches of water; and (B) wherein the product comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of tool, hardware, machinery parts, appliances, marine hardware, corrosive metal products, industrial parts containing rust inhibitor, aerosol spray can, wax, powdered chemicals, liquid chemical concentrate, industrial cartridge packs, toys, bearings, bricks, dry pet food, adhesive, caulk, plaster mix, precut unassembled wood products, coffee, hops, shrimp, peanuts, retortable pouches, viscous fluids, explosives, frozen products, ballistic cargo, textile products, furniture, cars, boats, products dangerous for children, fertilizer and grain, plants, insecticide, sand bags water, seeds, skis, works of art, unmilled wood lumber, tires, and hemmocult specimens.

25. The packaged product according to Claim 24, wherein a plurality of products are in the package.