DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPARENT HIGH BARRIER FILMS FOR FOOD PACKAGING APPLICATIONS UTILIZING A HIGH PERFORMANCE THIN GLASS-LIKE COATING

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. (ECD) HAS DEVELOPED A HIGH PERFORMANCE, THIN FILM GLASS-LIKE COATING (CLEAR COAT (TM)) AND DEPOSITION PROCESS THAT CAN IMPROVE THE BARRIER PROPERTIES OF COMMODITY POLYMER FILMS BY A FACTOR OF 100. THE COATING IS TRANSPARENT, COLORLESS, NONTOXIC, LOW COST AND DOES NOT EFFECT THE RECYCLABILITY OF THE POLYMER FILM. PILOT-SCALE PRODUCTION OF HIGH PERFORMANCE FILMS WITH EXCELLENT BARRIER PROPERTIES HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED. WE PROPOSE TO UTILIZE THIS TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP A NEW TRANSPARENT, HIGH BARRIER FOOD PACKAGING TECHNOLGY, ADDRESSING THE SUBTOPIC PROCESSING PACKAGE DESIGN IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION. CURRENT HIGH BARRIER FOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS UTILIZE ALUMINUM METALLIZED FILMS OR FOILS OR SPECIALIZED POLYMER FILMS SUCH AS POLYVINYLIDENE CHLORIDE (PVDC) TO LIMIT PERMEATION OF OXYGEN AND WATER VAPOR. LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OF METALLIZED FILMS AND FOILS AND LOW BARRIER PROPERTIES AT HIGH TEMPERATURE OF PVDC FILMS ARE UNDESIRABLE. IN ADDITION, THESE PACKAGING SYSTEMS ARE DIFFICULT TO RECYLCE AND THEIR MANUFACTURE AND DISPOSAL CAN BE ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL. IN PHASE I OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WE WILL CHARACTERIZE THE BARRIER PROPERTIES OF THE PACKAGING FILM AFTER SUBJECTING IT TO THE MECHANICAL AND THERMAL STRESSES ENCOUNTERED IN MANUFACTURE AND USE OF FOOD PACKAGING, OPTIMIZE THE MATERIAL PROPERTIES BY ADJUSTING THE DEPOSITION CHEMISTRY TO MEET THE IDENTIFIED REQUIREMENTS, AND DELIVER SAMPLES.