WO2005026275A1

WO2005026275A1 - Coated substrates having good very low temperature sealing properties

Info

Publication number: WO2005026275A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/028623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno R. L. Gringoire
Original assignee: Exxonmobil Oil Corporation
Priority date: 2003-09-05
Filing date: 2004-09-02
Publication date: 2005-03-24

Abstract

Novel coated substrates are disclosed wherein a substrate is coated with a coating composition that forms good hermetic seals at very low temperatures and exhibits good blocking and slip characteristics. Such coating composition is comprised of an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin having less than 20 carbon atoms, and an additive selected from the group consisting of an anti-blocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof.

Description

COATED SUBSTRATES HAVING GOOD VERY LOW TEMPERATURE SEALING PROPERTIES

[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional patent application identified as U.S. Application Serial Number 60/500,473, filed on September 5, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to novel coated substrates that exhibit good very low temperature sealing characteristics. Also, this invention relates to coating compositions that exhibit good very low temperature sealing characteristics when applied to substrates such as thermoplastic films.

Background of the Related Art

[0003] Consumer packaging is used to control the air, moisture and light environments of a product. In the case of a food product, such packaging is used to preserve the freshness by providing a barrier to passage of air or water vapor. This type of consumer packaging, such as bags and packages, is commonly produced by high-speed packaging equipment from paper, aluminum foil, single and multi-layer films, and the like.

[0004] In the case of multi-layer films for consumer packaging applications, it is important that such films have optimum barrier properties and produce a hermetic seal when formed using high-speed packaging equipment, such as horizontal form/fill/seal (HFFS) packaging equipment and vertical form/fill/seal (VFFS) packaging equipment. Such multi-layer films have been developed which employ oriented polypropylene (OPP) as a core layer and include one or more additional layers, such as coatings, co-extrusions, laminations, and combinations thereof. These additional layers are added to the OPP film in an effort to improve the barrier properties and sealing characteristics over that obtained with OPP film alone. Additives may be added to these layers to further enhance other film characteristics, such as blocking, slip, and coefficient of friction. [0005] When a film is processed on high-speed packaging equipment, the blocking and slip characteristics of the film are very important. There may be undesirable adhesion between adjacent film layers, referred to as blocking, when a film is unwound from a bulk roll for processing on high-speed equipment. The coefficient of friction between the film and high-speed packaging equipment surfaces may be too high to give adequate slip between such surfaces, referred to as slip, when a film is processed on such high-speed packaging equipment. Thus, a film that exhibits good blocking characteristics and a low coefficient of friction for good processability on high-speed packaging equipment is desirable. [0006] Also, the sealing characteristics of a film processed on high-speed packaging equipment are very important. HFFS and VFFS equipment, for example, include sealing operations at various stages. In HFFS equipment, packages are formed by folding the film through a forming box and sealing along the length by hot wheels, hot bars or other devices, and then sealing at both ends in a transverse direction by sealing jaws. Cutting knives located in the sealing jaws are used to separate the individual packages. In VFFS equipment, individual packages are formed by forming the film around a forming collar and the continuous web created thereby is immediately sealed together by a longitudinal sealing jaw. In addition, there is a second sealing operation in VFFS equipment that consists of a combined top-sealing section and bottom-sealing section, with a package cut-off operation in between. The top-sealing section seals the bottom of an empty package suspended from the forming collar while the bottom section seals the top of a filled package. The package cut-off operation separates the individual packages.

[0007] In hot seal packaging applications for HFFS and VFFS equipment, the seal is formed by the application of heat and pressure. In cold seal operations, the seal is formed by first applying an "adhesive" to the film area to be sealed, followed by the application of pressure by the sealing jaws. [0008] Uncoated thermoplastic films, such as coextruded OPP films, for example, have higher than desired hot seal temperatures and a narrower than desired heat-sealing ranges for very high-speed packaging applications. Such films often exhibit a tendency to disorient and shrink when they are heated to form a hermetic seal. In an effort to address these problems, film coatings have been developed that provide improved heat-sealing characteristics for such thermoplastic films. These coatings in many instances have deleterious effects on the coated substrate product, such as poor film blocking and slip characteristics. [0009] Current efforts in the hot seal packaging industry have been focused on developing thermoplastic films which form good hermetic seals at lower temperatures and exhibit good blocking and slip characteristics in order to increase the machine speed in HFFS and VFFS equipment. At increased machine speeds, hot seal packaging may compete with higher cost and more complex cold seal packaging. Innovations to date have been primarily concerned with coatings that form good hermetic seals at low temperatures when applied to thermoplastic films. While coatings based on ethylene and acrylic acid copolymers exhibit good low temperature sealing and hot tack characteristics, such coatings do not exhibit sufficiently good sealing characteristics to significantly increase machine speed to match cold seal coated film performance. While acrylic-based and polyurethane- based coatings exhibit good sealing and hot tack characteristics, such coatings often exhibit unacceptable blocking and slip characteristics. Thus, the need exists for coated substrates that form improved hermetic seals at lower temperatures while exhibiting better blocking and slip characteristics than prior art coated substrates so that such coated substrates may be processed at significantly higher machine speeds on HFFS and VFFS equipment. The present invention meets these and other needs.

[0010] The following references may be pertinent to the invention disclosed herein.

[0011] U.S. Patent 5,419,960 to Touhsaent discloses films coated with a low temperature seal coating wherein a polymer film, such as oriented isotactic polypropylene, is coated with a composition comprising a copolymer of about 65 to 95 weight percent ethylene and about 5 to 35 weight percent of acrylic or methacrylic acid, based on the weight of the polymer, in which about 2 to 80 percent of the carboxylate groups are neutralized with metal ions from Group IA, IIA or IIB of the Periodic Table, preferably sodium ions. The coated substrates exhibit good low temperature sealing properties accompanied by satisfactory hot tack and resistance of the seals to immersion in water. However, such coated substrates could benefit further from improved low temperature sealing and blocking characteristics.

[0012] U.S. Patents 4,898,782; 4,965,130; and 4,887,859 to Min disclose a semi-continuous, multi-stage polymerization process for synthesizing heat- sealable, three-layer composite latex particles. The acrylic ester seed layer is comprised of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate. The intermediate layer is comprised of a terpolymer having a high vinylidene chloride concentration, and includes methyl acrylate and methacrylic acid. The outer skin layer is comprised of a terpolymer having a low vinylidene chloride concentration and also includes methyl acrylate and methacrylic acid. An aqueous latex of these particles may be applied to thermoplastic films, oriented polypropylene films or polyethylene films. After drying, the coated substrates exhibit excellent oxygen and vapor barrier properties and acceptable high heat-sealing strength, low minimum seal temperature, and excellent machinability. Such coated substrates, however, could also benefit from improved low temperature sealing characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In this invention, a substrate is coated on at least one surface with a coating composition that enables the substrate to be sealed at very low temperatures using conventional HFFS and VFFS equipment. The substrate may be paper, aluminum foil, or thermoplastic film, such as single-layer or a multilayer film. The coating composition is an aqueous dispersion comprised of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefm having less than 20 carbon atoms in which at least one additive is added. The additive may be one or more anti-blocking and slip agents, coalescent and wetting agents, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the additive is an anti-blocking and slip agent, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles. The substantially non-polar copolymer preferably has an ethylene comonomer content of 85 to 55 weight percent and an alpha-olefin comonomer content of 15 to 45 weight percent. Preferably, the alpha olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-octene, 1- butene, 1-hexene, 1-pentene, and mixtures thereof.

[0014] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and tables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 shows the operating window for a thermoplastic film coated with a coating composition of this invention as well as that of a prior art coated film, when such films are processed on high-speed HFFS equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] It has been found that when a substrate, such as a thermoplastic film, is coated with the coating compositions of this invention, the coated film forms good hermetic seals at very low temperatures and has acceptable blocking and slip characteristics. As used herein, such very low sealing temperature means a low minimum sealing temperature below about 80 °C, preferably below about 75°C, more preferably below about 70°C, and most preferably below about 60°C. When such coated film is processed on HFFS and VFFS equipment, it was found that the operating window for such a coated film was much larger than that of prior art coated films.

[0017] Referring now to Figure 1, the operating window for a thermoplastic film coated with a coating composition (coated film) of this invention when processed on HFFS equipment is shown in which the sealing jaws temperature (°C) is displayed as a function of machine speed (meters per minute of film). Also shown is the operating window for a prior art coated film (prior art film). Line 1 represents the minimum sealing temperature as a function of machine speed for the coated film of this invention. Line 2 represents the minimum sealing temperature as a function of machine speed for the prior art film. Line 3 represents the shrinkage limit for thermoplastic films and is determined by a combination of maximum sealing temperature and machine speed. Line 4 represents the maximum machine speed. Line 1, Line 3 and Line 4 generally define an operating window for the coated film of this invention when processed on high-speed HFFS equipment. Line 2, Line 3 and Line 4 generally define the operating window for the prior art film.

[0018] As can be seen in Figure 1, the operating window for the coated film of this invention is much larger than that of the prior art film. This is because the minimum sealing temperature of the coated film of this invention is at least 50°C less than that of the prior art film. This larger operating window and lower sealing temperature of the coated film of this invention provide several advantages. First, the lower sealing temperatures allow the high-speed HFFS and VFFS equipment to run at higher speeds. The machine speed may be increased to the machine limit of 80 meters per minute without reaching the shrinkage limit for thermoplastic films. Second, the larger operating window allows for more flexibility to deal with operational upsets with respect to the high-speed HFFS and VFFS equipment. For example, with prior art films, if the high-speed HFFS equipment is operated near the machine limit of 80 meters per minute (as shown by Point A), the shrinkage limit (Line 3) is reached when machine speeds drop below about 30 meters/minute (as shown by the dotted Line 5 to Point B). All packaged product produced below this speed must be discarded. For the coated film of this invention, however, if the high-speed HFFS equipment is operated at the machine limit (as shown by Point C), the shrinkage limit (Line 3) is not reached at all when the machine speed drops to zero (as shown by the dotted Line 6) and no loss of packaged product is realized. In fact, the machine speed may be increased to above 100 meters/minute with no operating window constraints. [0019] The coating compositions of this invention are comprised of an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin having less than 20 carbon atoms and at least one additive. Preferably, the ethylene comonomer content of the substantially non-polar copolymer is from about 85 to 55 weight percent and the alpha-olefin comonomer content is from about 15 to 45 weight percent. More preferably, the ethylene comonomer content of the substantially non-polar copolymer is from about 80 to 56 weight percent and the alpha-olefin comonomer content is from about 20 to 44 weight percent, or more preferably, the ethylene comonomer content of the substantially non-polar copolymer is from about 75 to 57 weight percent and the alpha-olefin comonomer content is from about 25 to 43 weight percent, or more preferably, the ethylene comonomer content of the substantially non-polar copolymer is from about 70 to 57 weight percent and the alpha-olefin comonomer content is from about 30 to 43 weight percent, or more preferably, the ethylene comonomer content of the substantially non-polar copolymer is from about 65 to 58 weight percent and the alpha-olefin comonomer content is from about 35 to 42 weight percent. Most preferably, the ethylene comonomer content is about 60 weight percent and the alpha-olefin comonomer content is about 40 weight percent. Suitable ranges also include ranges between any of the endpoints specified herein. The foregoing weight percentages of the ethylene and alpha-olefin comonomers are based on the total weight of the copolymer. Preferably, the alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-octene, 1 -butene, 1-hexene, 1-pentene, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the alpha-olefin is 1-octene.

[0020] The substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and alpha-olefin has a melt flow index of less than about 50 g/10 min.@190 °C, 2.16 kg (ASTM D- 1238), preferably a melt flow index from about 1 to 40 g/10 min.@190 °C, 2.16 kg, and most preferably about 30 g/10 min.@190 °C, 2.16 kg. Such copolymer has a differential scanning calorimetry melting peak of about 33 to 103 °C at a rate of 10 °C/min., preferably from about 33 to 67 °C, and more preferably about 60 °C. Also, such copolymer has a density of about 0.86 to about 0.91 g/cm³. [0021] The term "substantially non-polar," as used in connection with the ethylene and alpha-olefin copolymer, described herein, means that at least about 95 percent of any functional groups on the backbone of the copolymer are non- polar. Preferably, the substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and alpha- olefin contains at least about 96 percent non-polar functional groups on the backbone of the copolymer. More preferably, at least about 97 percent of the functional groups on the backbone of the copolymer are non-polar, or more preferably at least about 98 percent of the functional groups on the backbone of the copolymer are non-polar, or more preferably at least about 99 percent of the functional groups on the backbone of the copolymer are non-polar. Most preferably, at least about 99.5 percent of the functional groups on the backbone of the copolymer are non-polar. A non-polar functional group does not ionize, or ionizes weakly in solution, according to Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Richard H. Lewis Sr., Fourteenth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2001, page 800, the contents of which are incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the disclosure herein.

[0022] The substantially non-polar copolymers of ethylene and alpha-olefin having less than 20 carbon atoms that are used to prepare the aqueous dispersions of this invention are well known in the art and are described in U.S. Patent 3,645,992, incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the disclosure herein. Such non-polar copolymers may be obtained from The Dow Chemical Company under the tradename of ENGAGE.

[0023] Aqueous dispersions and latexes of these copolymers are also well known in the art and are described in U. S. Patents 5,798,410 and 5,574,091 and 3,503,917, each patent incorporated herein by reference to the extent it is not inconsistent with the disclosure herein. U.S. Patent 5,798,410 discloses film- forming artificial latexes prepared from a linear copolymer of ethylene and a C₃ - C₂₀ alpha-olefin. The copolymer is characterized by having a polydispersity index not greater than 2.5; random distribution of comonomer units along the polymer backbone; and a homogeneity index of at least 75. The copolymer preferably contains no polar substituents, which are generally necessary to make useful latexes from polyethylene.

[0024] U.S. Patent 5,574,091 discloses film-forming artificial latexes prepared from a copolymer of ethylene and a C₃ - C₂₀ alpha-olefin. The copolymer preferably contains no polar substituents, which are generally necessary to make useful latexes from polyethylene, a polydispersity index from about 1.5 to 2.5, a melt flow ratio(I₁₀/l₂) of at least 6, a weight average molecular weight of at least 45,000 and a density of about 0.85 to about 0.9 g/cm . The preferred copolymer also has a critical shear rate at onset of surface melt fracture of at least 50 percent greater than the critical shear rate at the onset of surface melt fracture of a linear olefin polymer having the same I₂ and polydispersity index. [0025] U. S. Patent 3,503,917 discloses aqueous latices from solvent dispersions of elastomers and other high polymer compositions. [0026] In other embodiments of this invention, the aqueous dispersions used to prepare coating compositions of this invention may be prepared in accordance with the methods and processes taught in U.S. Patents 6,512,024 BI and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0074681 Al, each of which are incorporated herein by reference to the extent they are not inconsistent with the disclosure herein.

[0027] U.S. Patent 6,512,024 BI discloses a method of preparing stable aqueous dispersions or emulsions by merging into a mechanical disperser a stream of a molten or liquid disperse phase with a stream of a molten or liquid continuous phase to form a dispersion or emulsion. The molten or liquid dispersed phase stream contains a polymer that is preferably a solid at room temperature, but molten at some advanced temperature. The polymer is formed in a molten state or formed and melted by a continuous reaction process such as an extrusion process, including melt extrusion or compound extrusion to form low polydisperse submicron-sized dispersions.

[0028] U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0074681 Al discloses a method for preparing stable dispersions of solid, semi-solid, and liquid resins comprising the steps of continuously extruding in an extruder a polymer that is a solid at ambient temperatures under conditions of sufficient heat and shear to render the polymer molten; merging a stream of the molten polymer and a stream of a continuous phase into a mechanical disperser that is coupled to the extruder to form a dispersion or an emulsion of the molten polymer; and dispersing a pigment into any or all of the polymer in the extruder when the polymer is in a molten or semi-molten state, the stream of the continuous phase prior to merging with the stream of the molten polymer, or the merged stream containing the dispersion or emulsion of the polymer; wherein the polymer is self-dispersing or is stabilized in the continuous phase with a stabilizing amount of a surfactant that is added to the extruder or to the continuous phase.

[0029] Also, it is believed that such aqueous dispersions used to prepare the coating compositions of this invention may be prepared in accordance with the teaching in "Preparation of Colloidal Low-Density Polyethylene Latexes by Flow- Induced Phase Inversion Emulsification of Polymer Melt in Water", by G. Akay and L. Tong, published in Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 239, 342-357 (2001), the contents of which are incorporated by reference to the extent it is not inconsistent with the disclosure herein.

[0030] In one embodiment, the coating compositions of this invention comprise one or more additives to improve the end product characteristics and properties of the coated substrate. These additives include, but are not limited to, anti-blocking and slip agents, coalescent and wetting agents, and mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the coating compositions preferably contain less than about 5 weight percent solvent, based on the total weight of the coating composition. More preferably less than about 2 weight percent solvent, more preferably less than 1 weight percent solvent, or more preferably less than about 0.5 weight percent solvent, based on the total weight of the coating composition. Most preferably, the coating compositions contain less than about 0.1 weight percent solvent based on the total weight of such coating compositions.

[0031] Anti-blocking and slip agents may be added to the coating compositions in order to reduce undesirable adhesion between adjacent layers of the coated substrate that may develop while such substrates are under pressure during storage or use. Also, such agents may be added to the coating compositions to reduce the coefficient of friction and provide adequate slip between the coated substrate and surfaces of high-speed packaging equipment. Examples of suitable anti-blocking and slip agents include polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles, silicone (spherical) particles, colloidal silica, fumed silica particles, silicone gum (including high molecular weight silicone), talc, finely-divided clay, and mixtures thereof. The anti-blocking and slip agents may be present in the coating compositions in an amount from about 0.1 to 10 phr. Preferably, the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in an amount from about 0.2 to 5 phr. More preferably, the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in an amount from about 0.3 to 4 phr, or more preferably in an amount from about 0.4 to 3 phr, or more preferably in an amount from about 0.5 to 2 phr. Most preferably, the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in the coating compositions in an amount of about 1 phr. As used herein, the term "phr" means parts by weight by hundred parts of a coating composition on a dry, solids-only basis. [0032] The preferred anti-blocking and slip agent is PMMA particles that have an average particle size of from about 2 to 6 microns. Such PMMA particles may be obtained from Nippon Shokubai Co. under the tradename EPOSTAR. The silicone spherical particles have an average particle size from about 0.5 to 12 microns and may be obtained from Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd. under the tradename of TOSPEARL. The fumed silica particles have an average particle size from about 2 to 10 microns and may be obtained from Grace Davison, W.R. Grace & Co.-Connecticut.

[0033] Other suitable anti-blocking and slip agents include, but are not limited to, silicone oil, a paraffin wax, a microcrystalline wax, a beeswax, a camauba wax, a montan wax, a candelilla wax, a synthetic wax, and mixtures thereof. Such wax may be present in the coating compositions in an amount from about 0.5 to 15 phr, preferably in an amount from about 1 to 12 phr. More preferably, such wax is present in the amount of 2 to 10 phr, or more preferably in the amount of 4 to 9 phr, or more preferably 6 to 8 phr. Most preferably, such wax is present in an amount of about 7 phr

[0034] A coalescent and wetting agent may be added to the coating compositions to improve coating lay down. Suitable coalescent and wetting agents include, but are not limited to, a hexyl or benzyl ether of ethylene or propylene glycol, a hexyl ether of diethylene glycol, a butyl alcohol, a hexyl alcohol, an octyl alcohol, diacetone alcohol, a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof. Such coalescent and wetting agents may be present in an amount from about 0.5 to 12 phr, preferably in an amount from about 1 to 12 phr. More preferably, such coalescent and wetting agent is present in the amount of 2 to 10 phr, or more preferably in the amount of 4 to 9 phr, or more preferably 6 to 8 phr. Most preferably, such coalescent and wetting agent is present in an amount of about 7 phr.

[0035] One or more of the above additives are added to the aqueous dispersion to form the coating compositions of this invention. These additives may be added by any suitable means well known in the art, such as blending, stirring or mixing. The solids content of a coating composition may be adjusted to give the desired coating weight. The solids content of the coating compositions may be from about 2 to 50 weight percent, preferably from about 5 to 45 weight percent. More preferably, such solids content is from about 10 to 40 weight percent, or more preferably from about 15 to 30 weight percent, or more preferably from about 17 to 25 weight percent. Most preferably, the solids content of the coating compositions is about 20 weight percent.

[0036] The seal strength and hot tack characteristics of the coated substrate may be improved by cross-linking the coating composition of this invention. A suitable cross-linking process includes reacting the coating composition with peroxide compounds after drying of the applied coating. Another such process includes exposing the applied coating composition to an electron beam source after drying of the applied coating. An additional cross-linking process includes adding a suitable initiator to the coating composition and then exposing the applied coating to an ultra-violet light source during or after drying of the applied coating. Suitable initiators are those well known in the art for cross-linking polymers exposed to ultra-violet light sources.

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the coating compositions of this invention may be applied to at least one surface of any suitable substrate having one or more layers, such as single-layer or multi-layer thermoplastic films, aluminum foils and papers. Preferably, the substrate is a material other than glass. Examples of suitable single-layer thermoplastic film substrates include, but are not limited to, clear, cavitated and colored oriented polypropylene (OPP) films, oriented and unoriented polyethylene terephthalate films, cellophane films, polyethylene films, and oriented and unoriented polyamide films. Also, non- oriented films are contemplated as single-layer substrates, such as cast polypropylene films and blown polyethylene films. Any suitable aluminum foil or paper may be coated with the coating composition. Preferably, such aluminum foils are from about 6.5 to 50 microns in thickness and such papers have a paper weight from about 20 to 200 g/m². The coating compositions may also be applied to substrates that are laminates as well as, clear or transparent substrates and opaque or colored substrates.

[0038] In another embodiment of this invention, the coating compositions may be applied to at least one of the outermost layers of a multi-layer film substrate having two or more layers. In one embodiment, such multi-layer films may have two layers. Such outermost layers, such as skin layers, may be comprised of any suitable substantially non-polar thermoplastic material, preferably such material is a polyethylene homopolymer, a polypropylene homopolymer, an ethylene- propylene copolymer, a propylene-butylene copolymer, an ethylene-butylene copolymer, an ethylene-propylene-butylene terpolymer or any blend thereof. As used herein, polyethylene homopolymer includes high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and medium density polyethylene (MDPE); polypropylene homopolymer includes isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic polypropylene homopolymer. Such two-layer film substrate may be comprised of a first skin layer disposed on a first side of a core layer. The core layer may be comprised of any suitable thermoplastic material, preferably such material is a polypropylene copolymer, and more preferably it is a polypropylene homopolymer. The core layer may be cavitated by a suitable cavitating agent, such as polybutylene terephthalate, calcium carbonate, beta- nucleated polypropylene resin, and the like or combinations thereof. The core layer, as well as any other layer, may include a suitable pigment, as well as a suitable opacifying agent, such as titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, mixtures thereof, and the like.

[0039] The multi-layer film substrate that may be coated with the coating compositions may be comprised of three layers. Such three-layer film substrate may be comprised of a first tie layer disposed between the first side of the core layer and the first side of the first skin layer, as compared to the two-layer film substrate described above. The first tie layer may be comprised of any suitable thermoplastic material, preferably it is comprised of a polypropylene homopolymer, more preferably it is comprised of an ethylene-propylene copolymer.

[0040] The three-layer film substrate may also be comprised of a second skin layer disposed on the second side of a core layer opposite a first skin layer, as compared to the two-layer film substrate described above. The second skin layer may be comprised of any suitable thermoplastic material, preferably such material is a polyethylene homopolymer, a polypropylene homopolymer, an ethylene- propylene copolymer, a propylene-butylene copolymer, an ethylene-propylene- butylene terpolymer or any blend thereof.

[0041] The multi-layer film substrate that may be coated with the coating composition of this invention may be comprised of four layers. Such four-layer film substrate may be comprised of a core layer having a first tie layer disposed on the first side of such core layer and a first skin layer disposed on the first tie layer. A first side of a second skin layer is disposed on a second side of the core layer. The second skin layer may be comprised of any suitable thermoplastic material, preferably such material is a polyethylene homopolymer, an ethylene-propylene copolymer, an ethylene-propylene-butylene terpolymer and any blend thereof. [0042] The multi-layer film substrate that may be coated with the coating compositions of this invention may be comprised of five layers or more. In a five -layer film substrate, a second tie layer is disposed between the second side of the core layer and the first side of the second skin layer, as compared to the four-layer film substrate described above. The second tie layer may be comprised of any suitable thermoplastic material, preferably it is comprised of a polypropylene homopolymer, more preferably it is comprised of an ethylene-propylene copolymer. Other multi-layer films having any number of layers, such as five or more layers, may be coated with the coating compositions of this invention. [0043] In yet another embodiment of this invention, the coating compositions of this invention may be applied to both outermost surfaces of any suitable substrate, such as single-layer thermoplastic films, aluminum foils and papers that are described herein. Similarly, the coating compositions may be applied to both outermost surfaces of multi-layer substrates, such as the multi-layer thermoplastic film substrates that are described herein.

[0044] The substrate coated with the coating compositions of this invention has a total thickness of from about 10 microns to about 75 microns. [0045] Any layer of a thermoplastic film opposite the coated surface may be metallized. This occurs by application of a thin layer of metal. Metal deposition techniques are well known in the art. The metal layer is applied to the surface of a film to an optical density of about 1.5 to about 5.0, preferably about 2.1 to about 5.0. Preferably, vacuum deposition is the method of choice. While aluminum is the preferred metal, other metals may be employed such as zinc, gold, and silver. [0046] The surfaces of a substrate may be treated to improve wet out of the coating compositions of this invention when applied onto the substrate. Preferably, such treatment is applied to the lowest extent possible to achieve wet out of the coating. Such treatment may be accomplished by well-known prior art techniques, such as flame treatment, electronic treatment, including corona treatment and plasma treatment, chlorination treatment (i.e., exposure of the film to gaseous chlorine), and treatments with oxidizing agents (i.e., chromic acid), hot air, steam treatment and the like. In the case of a thermoplastic film substrate, corona discharge treatment is preferred in which the film surface is exposed to a high voltage between a pair of spaced electrodes.

[0047] A primer coating may be applied to the substrate for greater coating-to- film adherence. In this case, the surface of the substrate is first treated by one of the foregoing methods, preferably by an electronic treatment, in order to provide increased active adhesive sites thereon for adhesion of the primer. The primer coating is subsequently applied to the treated surface of the substrate. [0048] The coating compositions may be applied at room temperature to one or more treated surfaces of a substrate by any conventional means well known in the art, such as by gravure coating, roll coating, dipping or spraying. Any excess coating composition that is applied may be removed by squeeze rolls and the like. [0049] In the case of a single-layer or multi-layer thermoplastic film, the coating compositions of this invention may be applied prior to the orientation processes for such film. Such orientation processes are those well known in the art, such as a tenter process, a blown film process, a double-bubble process, and a simultaneous orientation process (LISIM) process. Preferably, the coating compositions are applied after longitudinal orientation and before transverse orientation of the film. In this case, the coated thermoplastic film is dried in one of the orientation ovens when the coating compositions are applied prior to or during such orientation process. More preferably, the coating compositions are applied after orientation processing of the film, such as longitudinal and transverse orientation, and are dried by conventional means well known in the art. In the case of aluminum foils or papers, the coating composition is applied by any conventional means well known in the art.

[0050] The coating compositions may be applied to the substrate in an amount effective to form a smooth, evenly distributed dried layer. The coating compositions may be applied to such substrate up to a coating weight of about 15 g/ m²' Preferably the coating weight is from about 0.1 to 6.0 g/m² of substrate. More preferably from about 0.2 to 5.0 g/m², or from about 0.3 to 4.0 g/m², or from about 0.4 to 3 g/m², or from about 0.5 to 2 g/m². Most preferably the coating weight is about 0.6 to 1.5 g/m². In general, the thickness of the applied coating is such that it is sufficient to impart the desired characteristics of sealability, coefficient of friction, blocking and hot slip to the substrate. [0051] The coating composition is subsequently dried by hot air, radiant heat or by any other suitable means.

[0052] To further improve the high-speed packaging performance of a multilayer film substrate coated with the coating composition of this invention, the second outermost layer that is opposite the coated layer may be treated with a primer coating, as described above.

[0053] Coatings may be applied to the second outermost layer on such primer coating or without such primer coating, such as an acrylic copolymer, a polyvinylidenechloride (PVdC) coating, an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) polymer coating, a polyvinyl alcohol coating (PVOH), a polyethylene acrylic acid coating or other suitable coatings, and mixtures thereof. Such coating may improve the slip characteristics of films by reducing the coefficient of friction and may improve the adhesion of printing inks applied to surfaces of films. Also, the coating may improve the barrier properties against aroma gases and humidity. In addition, printing inks or adhesives for lamination to another web may be applied to the coating.

[0054] Films coated with the coating composition of this invention may be processed on high-speed HFFS equipment to form a package, as described above. For HFFS equipment, such coated substrate may be processed at a machine speed from about 25 to 120 meters per minute or greater. For VFFS equipment, such coated substrate may be processed at a machine speed from about 5 to 30 meters per minute or greater.

[0055] The following examples further illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

[0056] A first coating composition of this invention was prepared by adding 0.2 phr of four micron-sized PMMA particles (obtained from Nippon Shokubai Co. under the tradename EPOSTAR) to an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non- polar copolymer of ethylene and 1-octene having a melt flow index that was 30 g/10 min@190°C, 2.16 kg (ASTM D-1238). This aqueous dispersion was obtained from The Dow Chemical Company and is comprised of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and 1-octene that is sold under the tradename ENGAGE 8407. This composition was applied to a corona-treated first skin layer of a white opaque OPP five-layer film having a film density of 0.62 g/cm and a film thickness of 38 microns. The OPP five-layer film has two outer skin layers each comprised of ethylene-propylene-butylene terpolymer, two tie layers each comprised of propylene homopolymer and a core layer cavitated with polybutylene terephthalate and comprised of propylene homopolymer. The coating weight was 0.7 g/m². An acrylic coating was applied to the second skin layer. The coated film displayed good adhesion, good wet out and good coating laydown. Also, the coated film exhibited good blocking properties, as shown in Table I, and good very low minimum sealing temperatures, as shown in Table III. However, the coefficient of friction observed for the coated film, as shown in Table II, was borderline, indicating the need for the addition of anti-blocking and slip agents.

EXAMPLE 2

[0057] A second coating composition was prepared by adding 0.2 phr of four micron-sized PMMA particles (obtained from Nippon Shokubai Co. under the tradename EPOSTAR) to an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and 1-octene having a melt flow index that was 5g/10 min@190°C, 2.16 kg (ASTM D-1238). This aqueous dispersion obtained from The Dow Chemical Company and is comprised of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and 1-octene that is sold under the tradename ENGAGE 8200. The composition was applied to a corona-treated first skin layer of a white opaque OPP five-layer film having a film density of 0.62 g/cm and a film thickness of 38 microns. The coated film displayed good adhesion, good wet out and good coating laydown. Also, the coated film exhibited good blocking properties, as shown in Table I, and good very low minimum sealing temperatures, as shown in Table III. However, the coefficient of friction observed for the coated film, as shown in Table II, was less than acceptable, indicating the need for the addition of anti-blocking and slip agents. EXAMPLE 3

[0058] A third coating composition was prepared by adding 1 phr of four micron-sized PMMA particles to the aqueous dispersion of Example 1. The composition was applied to an untreated ethylene-propylene-butylene terpolymer first skin of a white opaque OPP multi layer film having a film density of 0.62 g/cm and a film thickness of 38 microns. The coating weight was 0.9 g/m . The coefficient of friction observed was much improved over that observed for the coated films of Examples 1 and 2, as shown in Table II.

EXAMPLE 4

[0059] A fourth coating composition was prepared by adding 1 phr of four micron-sized silicone spherical particles to the aqueous dispersion of Example 1. The composition was applied to an untreated ethylene-propylene-butylene terpolymer first skin of a white opaque OPP multi layer film having a film density of 0.62 g/cm³ and a film thickness of 38 microns. The coating weight was 0.9 g/m . The coefficient of friction observed was also much improved over that observed for the coated films of Examples 1 and 2, as shown in Table II.

EXAMPLE 5

[0060] The aqueous dispersion of Example 1 without the addition of PMMA particles was applied at a coating weight of 0.7 g/m² to a corona-treated ethylene- propylene-butylene terpolymer skin layer of a clear OPP three-layer film having a film density of 0.91 g/cm³ and a film thickness of 29 micron. The OPP three-layer film has two outer skin layers each comprised of ethylene-propylene-butylene terpolymer and a clear core layer comprised of propylene homopolymer. The coated film exhibited good very low minimum sealing temperatures, as shown in Table III.

EXAMPLE 6

[0061] The aqueous dispersion of Example 2 without the addition of PMMA particles was applied at a coating weight of 0.7 g/m² to a corona-treated ethylene- propylene-butylene terpolymer skin layer of a clear OPP three-layer film that is described in Example 5. The coated film exhibited good very low minimum sealing temperatures, as shown in Table III.

[0062] The quantitative results of the above experiments are shown in Tables I - III. All coated films tested exhibited very good sealing characteristics with minimum sealing temperatures at or below 60° C, as shown in Table III. The coated films of Examples 1 and 2 exhibited good blocking properties with respect to acrylic and printing ink, as shown in Table I. The coated films of Examples 3 and 4 exhibited low coefficients of friction, as shown in Table II. [0063] In summary, the coated substrates of this invention exhibit good low temperature seal characteristics while maintaining good blocking characteristics and a low coefficient of friction when processed at increased machine speeds on high-speed HFFS equipment as compared to substrates coated with prior art ethylene acrylic acid and polyurethane coatings. TABLE I

TABLE II

TABLE III

[0064] While the foregoing description provides the preferred embodiments of this invention that are presently contemplated, further changes and modifications could be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, and it is contemplated to claim all such changes and modifications.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A coating composition for application to a substrate, comprising: an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin, the alpha-olefin having less than 20 carbon atoms, and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an anti-blocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof.

2. An article comprising: a substrate selected from oriented polypropylene film, a polyethylene terephthalate film, a cellophane film, a polyethylene film, paper, aluminum foil, a single-layer thermoplastic film, or a polyamide film; and a coating composition on the substrate comprising an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin, the alpha- olefin having less than 20 carbon atoms.

3. An article comprising: a substrate and a coating composition on the substrate comprising an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin, the alpha-olefin having less than 20 carbon atoms, wherein the substrate is a not glass.

4. The article according to claims 2 or 3 wherein the coating composition further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an anti-blocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof.

5. The coating composition according to claim 1 or the article according to any of claims 2-4, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate particles, silicone particles, colloidal silica, fumed silica particles, silicone gum, talc, finely-divided clay, and mixtures thereof.

6. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5 or the article according to any of claims 2-5, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in the coating composition in an amount from 0.1 to 10 phr.

7. The coating composition according to claims 1, 5 or 6 or the article according to any of claims 2-6, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent comprises PMMA particles having an average particle size of 2 to 6 microns.

8. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-7 or the article according to any of claims 2-7, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent cor prises silicone particles having an average particle size from 0.5 to 12 microns.

9. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-8 or the article according to any of claims 2-8, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent corαprises fumed silica particles having an average particle size from 2 to 10 microns.

10. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-9 or the article according to any of claims 2-9, wherein the anti-block and slip agent comprises a wax selected from the group consisting of a silicone, oil paraffin wax, a microcrystalline wax, a beeswax, a camauba wax, a montan wax, a synthetic wax, and mixtures thereof.

11. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-10 or the article according to any of claims 2-10, wherein the wax is present in an amount of^" from 0.5 phr to 15 phr.

12. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-11 or the article according to any of claims 2-11, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of a hexyl or benzyl ether of ethylene glycol, a hexyl ether of diethylene glycol, a butyl alcohol, a hexyl alcohol, an octyl alcohol, diacetone alcohol, a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof.

13. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-12 or the article according to any of claims 2-12, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is present in an amount from 0.5 phr to 12 phr.

14. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-13 or the article according to any of claims 2-13, wherein the coating composition is subjected to a cross-linking treatment selected from the group consisting of reaction of the coating composition with peroxide compounds, exposure of the coating composition to an electron beam source, and exposure of the coating composition and an initiator to an ultra-violet light source.

15. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-14 or the article according to any of claims 2-14, wherein the solids content of the coating composition is from 2 to 50 percent solids.

16. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-15 or the article according to any of claims 2-15, wherein the coating composition lias an ethylene comonomer content from 85 to 55 weight percent based on the copolymer weight and an alpha-olefin comonomer content from 15 to 45 weight percent based on the copolymer weight.

17. The coating composition according to claims 1 or 5-16 or the article according to any of claims 2-16, wherein the alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-octene, 1 -butene, 1-hexene, 1-pentene, and mixtures thereof.

18. An article according to any of claims 2-17 wherein the coating weight of the coating composition is from 0.2 to 50.0 g/m² of substrate.

19. The article according to any of claims 2-4 or 18 wherein the coating composition is applied to both outermost surfaces of the substrate.

20. A method comprising: providing a substrate; applying a coating composition to the substrate with the coating composition according to any of claims 1 or 5-17.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the substrate is an oriented polypropylene film, a polyethylene terephthalate film, a cellophane film, an oriented polyethylene film, paper, aluminum foil, a polyolefin film having at least one layer, or a polyamide film or wherein the substrate is other than glass.

22. The method according to any claims 20 or 21, wherein the coating composition is applied before orientation of the substrate, after longitudinal orientation of the substrate and prior to transverse orientation of the substrate, or after orientation.

23. The method according to any of claims 20-22 further comprising applying the coating composition to both outermost surfaces of the substrate.

24. The method according to any of claims 20-23 further comprising feeding the coated substrate to HFFS equipment at a speed of 25 to 120 meters per minute or greater or feeding the coated substrate to a VFFS equipment at a speed of 5 to 20 meters per minute or greater.

25. The use of a coating composition according to any of claims 1 or 5-17 on a substrate to lower minimum sealing temperatures of a coated substrate, wherein the substrate is not glass.

26. The use of a coating composition according to any of claims 1 or 5-17 on a substrate to improve blocking properties, wherein the substrate is not glass.

27. A substrate coated on at least one side with a coating composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin having less than 20 carbon atoms.

28. The coated substrate of claim 27, wherein the coating composition has an ethylene comonomer content from about 85 to 55 weight percent based on the copolymer weight and an alpha-olefin comonomer content from about 15 to 45 weight percent based on the copolymer weight.

29. The coated substrate of claim 28, wherein the coating composition has an ethylene comonomer content from about 75 to 57 weight percent based on the copolymer weight and an alpha-olefin comonomer content from about 25 to 43 weight percent based on the copolymer weight.

30. The coated substrate of claim 29, wherein the coating composition has an ethylene comonomer content of about 60 weight percent based on the copolymer weight and an alpha-olefin comonomer content of about 40 weight percent based on the copolymer weight.

31. The coated substrate of claim 28, wherein the alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-octene, 1 -butene, 1-hexene, 1-pentene, and mixtures thereof.

32. The coated substrate of claim 31, wherein the coating composition is further comprised of an additive selected from the group consisting of an antiblocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof.

33. The coated substrate of claim 32, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate particles, silicone particles, colloidal silica, fumed silica particles, silicone gum, talc, finely-divided clay, and mixtures thereof.

34. The coated substrate of claim 33, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in the coating composition in an amount from about 0.1 to 10 phr.

35. The coated substrate of claim 34, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in the coating composition in an amount from about 0.2 to 5 phr.

36. The coated substrate of claim 35, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in the coating composition in an amount of about 1 phr.

37. The coated substrate of claim 33, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is polymethylmethacrylate particles having an average particle size of about 2 to 6 microns.

38. The coated substrate of claim 33, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is silicone particles having an average particle size from about 0.5 to 12 microns.

39. The coated substrate of claim 33, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is fumed silica particles having an average particle size from about 2 to 10 microns.

40. The coated substrate of claim 32, wherein the anti-block and slip agent is a wax selected from the group consisting of silicone oil, a paraffin wax, a microcrystalline wax, a beeswax, a carnauba wax, a montan wax, a candelilla wax, a synthetic wax, and mixtures thereof.

41. The coated substrate of claim 40, wherein the wax is present in an amount from about 0.5 to 15 phr.

42. The coated substrate of claim 41, wherein the wax is present in an amount from about 2 to 10 phr.

43. The coated substrate of claim 42, wherein the wax is present in an amount of about 7 phr.

44. The coated substrate of claim 32, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of a hexyl or benzyl ether of ethylene glycol, a hexyl ether of diethylene glycol, a butyl alcohol, a hexyl alcohol, an octyl alcohol, diacetone alcohol, a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof.

45. The coated substrate of claim 44, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to 12 phr.

46. The coated substrate of claim 45, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is present in an amount from about 2 to 10 phr.

47. The coated substrate of claim 46, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is present in an amount of about 7 phr.

48. The coated substrate of claim 32, wherein the coating composition is subjected to a cross-linking process selected from the group consisting of reaction of the coating composition with peroxide compounds, exposure of the coating composition to an electron beam source, and exposure of the coating composition and an initiator compound to an ultra-violet light source.

49. The coated substrate of claim 27, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a paper, an aluminum foil, a single-layer thermoplastic film, and a multi-layer thermoplastic film.

50. The coated substrate of claim 49, wherein the single-layer thermoplastic film is selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene film, a polyethylene terephthalate film, a cellophane film, a polyethylene film and a polyamide film.

51. The coated substrate of claim 49, wherein the coating composition is applied to at least one outermost layer of the multi-layer thermoplastic film.

52. The coated substrate of claim 51, wherein the outermost layer of the multilayer thermoplastic film is a first skin layer.

53. The coated substrate of claim 52, wherein the first skin layer is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene homopolymer, polypropylene homopolymer, ethylene-propylene copolymer, propylene-butylene copolymer, ethylene-propylene-butylene terpolymer, and blends thereof.

54. The coated substrate of claim 53, wherein the first skin layer is treated prior to application of the coating composition by a method selected from the group consisting of flame treatment, corona discharge treatment, plasma treatment, chlorination treatment, oxidizing treatment, hot air treatment, stream treatment, and combinations thereof.

55. The coated substrate of claim 52, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic film is a two-layer structure comprised of the first skin layer disposed on a first side of a core layer.

56. The coated substrate of claim 55, wherein the core layer of the multi-layer thermoplastic film is selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene copolymer and a polypropylene homopolymer.

57. The coated substrate of claim 56, wherein the core layer of the multi-layer thermoplastic film is selected from the group consisting of a cavitated film, a colored film, and combinations thereof.

58. The coated substrate of claim 57, wherein the core layer of the multi-layer film comprises an opacifying agent selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

59. The coated substrate of claim 57, wherein the core layer includes a pigment.

60. The coated substrate of claim 55, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic film is a three-layer structure comprised of a first tie layer disposed between the first side of the first core layer and a first side of the first skin layer.

61. The coated substrate of claim 60, wherein the first tie layer is comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene homopolymer and an ethylene-propylene copolymer.

62. The coated substrate of claim 55, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic film is a three-layer structure comprised of a second skin layer disposed on the second side of the core layer.

63. The coated substrate of claim 57, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic film is a four-layer structure comprised of a second skin layer having a first side that is disposed on a second side of the core layer.

64. The coated substrate of claim 63, wherein the second skin layer is comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene homopolymer, an ethylene-propylene copolymer, an ethylene-propylene-butylene terpolymer, and blends thereof.

65. The coated substrate of claim 63, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic film is a five-layer structure comprised of a second tie layer disposed between the second side of the core layer and the first side of the second skin layer.

66. The coated substrate of claim 65, wherein the second tie layer is a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene homopolymer and an ethylene-propylene copolymer.

67. The coated substrate of claim 52, wherein the multi-layer film is comprised of six or more layers.

68. The coated substrate of claim 49, wherein the coating composition is applied to both outermost surfaces of the substrate.

69. The coated substrate of claim 51, wherein a metal is applied to a surface opposite the outermost layer of the multi-layer thermoplastic film.

70. The coated substrate of claim 51, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, gold, silver and mixtures thereof.

71. The coated substrate of claim 51, wherein a primer coating is applied to an outermost layer that is opposite a layer that is coated with the coating composition.

72. The coated substrate of claim 71, wherein a coating is applied to the primer coating, the coating is selected from the group consisting of an acrylic copolymer, a polyvinyhdenechloride coating (PVdC), a ethylene vinyl alcohol coating (EVOH) polymer coating, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) polymer coating, and mixtures thereof.

73. The coated substrate of claim 72, wherein a printing ink or an adhesive for lamination to other web is applied to the coating.

74. The coated substrate of claim 27, wherein the coating composition is further comprised of an additive selected from the group consisting of an anti-blocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the substrate is coated on two sides with the coating composition.

75. The coated substrate of claim 27, wherein the coating composition is further comprised of an additive selected from the group consisting of an anti-blocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the substrate has a thickness from about 10 microns to 75 microns.

76. A package comprising the coated substrate of claim 27 that is formed into a package by HFFS equipment, wherein the coating composition is further comprised of an additive selected from the group consisting of an anti-blocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof.

77. A package comprising the coated substrate of claim 27 that is formed into a package by VFFS equipment, wherein the coating composition is further comprised of an additive selected from the group consisting of an anti-blocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof.

78. A coating composition for application to a substrate, comprising: an aqueous dispersion of a substantially non-polar copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin, the alpha-olefin having less than 20 carbon atoms, and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an anti-blocking and slip agent, a coalescent and wetting agent, and mixtures thereof.

79. The coating composition of claim 78, wherein the coating composition has an ethylene comonomer content from about 85 to 55 weight percent based on the copolymer weight and an alpha-olefin comonomer content from about 15 to 45 weight percent based on the copolymer weight.

80. The coating composition of claim 78, wherein the alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-octene, 1 -butene, 1-hexene, 1-pentene, and mixtures thereof.

81. The coating composition of claim 78, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate particles, silicone particles, colloidal silica, fumed silica particles, silicone gum, talc, finely- divided clay, and mixtures thereof.

82. The coating composition of claim 81, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in the coating composition in an amount from about 0.1 to 10 phr.

83. The coating composition of claim 82, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in the coating composition in an amount from about 0.2 to 5 phr.

84. The coating composition of claim 83, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is present in the coating composition in an amount of about 1 phr.

85. The coating composition of claim 81, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is PMMA particles having an average particle size of about 2 to 6 microns.

86. The coating composition of claim 81, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is silicone particles having an average particle size from about 0.5 to 12 microns.

87. The coating composition of claim 81, wherein the anti-blocking and slip agent is fumed silica particles having an average particle size from about 2 to 10 microns.

88. The coating composition of claim 78, wherein the anti-block and slip agent is a wax selected from the group consisting of a paraffin wax, a microcrystalline wax, a beeswax, a carnauba wax, a montan wax, a candelilla wax, a synthetic wax, and mixtures thereof.

89. The coating composition of claim 88, wherein the wax is present in an amount of about from about 0.5 to 15 phr.

90. The coating composition of claim 89, wherein the wax is present in an amount from about 2 to 10 phr.

91. The coating composition of claim 90, wherein the wax is present in an amount of about 7 phr.

92. The coating composition of claim 90, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of a hexyl or benzyl ether of ethylene glycol, a hexyl ether of diethylene glycol, a butyl alcohol, a hexyl alcohol, an octyl alcohol, diacetone alcohol, a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof.

93. The coating composition of claim 92, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to 12 phr.

94. The coating composition of claim 93, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is present in an amount from about 2 to 10 phr.

95. The coating composition of claim 94, wherein the coalescent and wetting agent is present in an amount of about 7 phr.

96. The coating composition of claim 81, wherein the coating composition is subjected to a cross-linking process selected from the group consisting of reaction of the coating composition with peroxide compounds, exposure of the coating composition to an electron beam source, and exposure of the coating composition and an initiator to an ultra-violet light source.

97. The coating composition of claim 78, wherein the solids content of the coating composition is from about 2 to 50 percent solids.

98. The coating composition of claim 97, wherein the solids content of the coating composition is from about 5 to 45 percent solids.

99. The coating composition of claim 78, wherein the solids content of the coating composition is about 20 percent solids.

100. A method of applying the coating composition of claim 78 which comprises the step of applying the coating composition to at least one surface of a substrate.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the coating composition is applied to the substrate at a coating weight of up to about 15.0 g/m² of substrate.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the coating composition is applied to the substrate at a coating weight from about 0.1 to 6.0 g/m² of substrate.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein the coating composition is applied to the substrate at a coating weight from about 0.6 to 1.5 g/m² of substrate.

104. The method of claim 101, wherein the coating composition is applied before orientation of the substrate.

105. The method of claim 101, wherein the coating composition is applied to the substrate after longitudinal orientation of the substrate and prior to transverse orientation of the substrate.

106. The method of claim 101, wherein the coating composition is applied to the substrate after orientation.

107. The method of claims 101, wherein the coating composition is applied to two surfaces of the substrate.

108. The method of claim 101, wherein the substrate is a thermoplastic film selected from the group consisting of an oriented polypropylene film, a polyethylene terephthalate film, a cellophane film, an oriented polyethylene film and an oriented polyamide film.

109. The method of claim 101, wherein the substrate is the coated substrate of claim 1.

110. The method of claim 101, wherein the substrate is a multi-layer film.

111. The method of claim 101, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper and aluminum foil.

112. A method of making a package from the coated substrate of claim 27 which comprises the step of: feeding the coated substrate to HFFS equipment at a speed of about 25 to about 120 meters per minute.

113. A method of making a package from the coating substrate of claim 27 which comprises the step of: feeding the coated substrate to a VFFS equipment at a speed of about 5 to about 20 meters per minute.

114. The use of a coating composition according to claim 82 on a substrate to lower minimum sealing temperatures of a coated substrate and improve blocking properties, wherein the substrate is not glass.