TRANSPARENT HIGH-BARRIER RETORTABLE FILM

TRANSPARENT HIGH-BARRIER RETORTABLE FILM

A clear choice for retort packaging Kuraray Co. Ltd. became known as a leader in gas barrier technology with EVAL EVOH. EVAL resins and films used in food packaging preserve product flavour and aroma, and prolong product freshness and shelf life. KURARISTER is a new transparent film for lamination, developed to extend these properties into flexible barrier retort packaging. KURARISTER is not an EVAL product, but rather uses Kuraray's proprietary organic/inorganic hybrid technology. Contents 1. What is KURARISTER? 2. Characteristics 3. Gas Barrier Performance 4. Performance Testing 5. Physical Properties 6. Applications & Package Structures P.3 P.3 P.4 P.5 P.6 P.7 2

1. What is KURARISTER? KURARISTER is a transparent high gas barrier retortable film, with Kuraray s proprietary organic/inorganic hybrid composite coated on both sides of a base substrate. The coating layers are extremely durable and provide reliable high gas barrier properties. is based on PET film and is based on bi-axially oriented PA film, which can be used for a wide range of packaging applications. Structure of KURARISTER film Cross section of KURARISTER Magnified picture of barrier coating Base film Polymeric matrix Base film PET Grade Polymeric matrix Inorganic compound Hybrid Inorganic compound Food safety:kurarister has passed the specification/standard test of Official Notice No. 370(1959) from Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare. KURARISTER may be used for indirect food contact as outlined by the US FDA's CFR176.170, CFR177.1390, CFR177.1395 and is approved for use as a food package material. KURARISTER is approved for use as a plastic material under the EU Directive No.1935/2004/EC. For additional information, please contact us. 2. Characteristics Reliable high gas barrier performance The highest gas barrier level among existing plastic films Retortable, suitable for use with common retort methods High resistance to elongation, flexing and folding 2-ply structure for retort pouch High adhesive strength Suitable to any filling method -based combines mechanical strength and high-barrier properties. Excellent toughness and flexibility provided by the base film. Cost reduction by using a 2-ply structure of / Sealing layer. Alternative to aluminum foil Transparent Printable without surface treatment Compatible with metal detectors Microwavable Recoverable without toxic emissions Weight reduction of package Quality checking High impact image and shelf appeal Food safety Convenience Reduced environmental impact 3

3. Gas Barrier Performance Oxygen transmission rate KURARISTER shows high gas barrier performance in a wide range of retort methods and conditions. 3-1. Oxygen Transmission Rates Retort Method Condition before retort water immersion 120 30 min water immersion 120 60 min water immersion 120 120 min spray 120 30 min steam 120 30 min * OTR Measurement condition : 20 85%RH / 100%RH *2 (3 layers) : #12 / BON15μm / CPP50μm (2 layers) : #15 / 50μm 0.3 0.5 Unit : cc/m 2.day.atm 0.5 Reliable oxygen transmission rate after physical stress KURARISTER has high resistance to physical stress such as flex, elongation, friction and folding due to its durable coating layers. Such stress has little impact on KURARISTER gas barrier properties. 3-2. OTR after retort and flexing cc/m 2.day.atm 6 4 2 0 Gelbo 0 cycle Gelbo 10 cycles Gelbo 50 cycles * OTR measurement condition : 20 85% / 100%RH * Retort condition : 120-30min., water immersion *2 (3 layers) : #12 / 15μm / CPP50μm (2 layers) : #15 / CPP50μm Inorganic coated PET (3 layers) : Inorganic coated PET 12μm / 15μm / CPP50μm Inorganic coated PET 3-3. OTR after elongation and scratch testing cc/m 2.day.atm 1 0.8 0.6 0.2 Inorganic coated PET 0 0% elongation 5% elongation * Film before retort * OTR measurement condition: 20 85%RH 4

4. Performance Testing KURARISTER protects food contents from oxidation with its reliable high gas barrier performance. The following are the results of storage tests before and after retort, using a methylene blue indicator method*. 4-1.Vacuum pouch Pouch Silica ball KURARISTER Inorganic coated PET PVDC film Before retort Gel (Colour changes to blue with oxygen ingress) The test result shows that KURARISTER film maintains its gas barrier properties after the stress of pouch vacuuming and retort treatment. 1day after retort 4-2.Lidding film Lid film Aluminum cup KURARISTER Inorganic coated PET PVDC film Before retort Gel (Colour changes to blue with oxygen ingress) The test result shows that the stress of heat sealing and retort treatment has little impact on KURARISTER s gas barrier properties. 20days after retort Test conditions * Retort condition : 120-30 minutes, water immersion * Storage condition : 23 50%RH Test sample film structures Inorganic coated PET 12μm PET 12μm PVDCfilm 15μm #15 15μm 15μm CPP 70μm CPP 70μm CPP 70μm KURARISTER Inorganic coated PET PVDC film *Methylene blue method: Methylene blue gel changes colour with oxidation, allowing to effectively visualise oxygen permeation into a package. 5

5. Physical Properties KURARISTER provides physical properties equivalent to those of the PET or base film. 5-1. Physical Properties Item Tensile Strength MD at Break MD Elongation at Break MD Tensile Modulus MD Slippage MD COF Wetting Index Total Light Transmission Haze Unit MPa % GPa degree µ dyne/cm % % Measurement method ISO1184 Kuraray Method JIS K6768 JIS Z7105 220 170 120 170 5.4 5.1 26 28 0.50 0.54 54 92 2.2 230 260 130 110 3.1 2.5 32 32 0.63 0.64 54 93 1.7 * Measurement condition : 23 50%RH impact strength before and after retort The base substrate is protected from oxidation during the retort process by the high gas barrier of the coating layers. As a result, maintains its mechanical properties after retort even better than a normal untreated film. This combination of reliable mechanical and high-barrier properties makes it suitable for use in cost-saving 2-ply pouch structures. 5-2. Impact strength 2 1.5 kg.cm 1 0.5 * Measurement condition : 23, 50%RH * Retort method : Steam * Film structure : 15 / CPP50µm 15µm / CPP50µm 0 before retort Retort 120 30 min. retort 6

6. Applications and Package Structures 6-1. Application examples Package type Content Vacuum pouch Cob corn, potato, beet, pet food, etc. Lidding film Diced fruits, desserts, vegetables, etc. VFFS Institutional foods (sauce, soup, pickles, puree, etc.) Retail food pouch (SUP & flat pouch) Retort food in general (sauce, soup, cooked rice, tuna, MRE, meat & poultry, etc.) 6-2. Typical retort film structure and examples of structure simplification with KURARISTER print adhesive PET Al foil/pvdcfilm sealant 4 layers Lighter weight packaging All-plastic structure sealant 3 layers Barrier PET sealant 3 layers Lighter weight packaging Less lamination Cost reduction sealant 2 layers Note - The information and data contained in this document are believed to be correct and are given in good faith. However, no liability, warranty or guarantee of final product performance is created by this document. No freedom from any patent is granted or to be inferred. This document does not constitute a sales specification and the Kuraray Co., Ltd. Sales Contract General Terms and Conditions continue to apply. 7

ANTWERP TOKYO SHANGHAI HOUSTON Contact TOKYO HEAD OFFICE OTE-CENTER BUILDING, 1-1-3 OTEMACHI, CHIYODAKU, TOKYO:100-8115 FILM SALES DEPARTMENT, TEL: +81-3-6701-1491 FAX: +81-3-6701-1476 CHINA KURARAY SHANGHAI Co.,Ltd 18F JIUSHE FUXING BUILDING, 918 HUAIHAIROAD(M), SHANGHAI: 200020 EVAL GROUP TEL: +86-21-6415-1146 FAX: +86-21-6415-1148 http://www.kurarister.jp e-mail: eval@kuraray.co.jp EUROPE KURARAY (EVAL EUROPE nv), HAVEN 1053, NIEUWE WEG 1 - BUS 10 B-2070 ZWIJNDRECHT (ANTWERP), BELGIUM TEL.: +32 3 250 97 22 FAX: +32 3 250 97 45 E-mail: kurarister@eval.be www.kurarister.com www.kurarister.com e-mail: kurarister@eval.be AMERICAS KURARAY AMERICA INC. 2625 BAY AREA BLVD, SUITE 300 HOUSTON, TX 77058, USA TEL.: (800) 423 9762 FAX: (281) 204 4622 www.kurarister.com e-mail: Gary.Wooddell@kurarayamerica.com 2009 / 08 / 1000