Process for manufacturing a packaging material

Abstract

A process for manufacturing a packaging material having at least two films ( 12, 16 ) or foils ( 14 ) bonded together via at least one layer of adhesive ( 13,15 ) to give a multi-layer laminate ( 10 ), is such that the adhesive layers ( 13,15 ) are of an adhesive that cures under electron beam radiation, and the laminate ( 10 ) is radiated with electrons for the purpose of curing the adhesive. The laminate is particularly suitable for the manufacture of self-standing pouches, in particular for drinks. The production of the laminate using adhesives that cure under electron beam radiation leads to a significantly reduced throughput time and to a reduction in the emission of solvents when replacing solvent-based adhesives by electron beam curing adhesives.

1 . A process for manufacturing a packaging material having at least two films ( 12 ,  16 ) or foils ( 14 ) bonded together via at least one layer of adhesive to give a multi-layer laminate ( 10 ), whereby the adhesive layer/layers ( 13 , 15 ) is/are cured, at least one adhesive layer ( 13 ) is of an electron beam curable adhesive and the laminate ( 10 ) is radiated with electrons for the purpose of curing the adhesive.  
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the laminate ( 10 ) exhibits three films ( 12 , 16 ) or foils ( 14 ) and two adhesive layers ( 13 , 15 ).  
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the adhesive layers ( 13 ) is an adhesive that cures under electron beam radiation.  
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein both adhesive layers ( 13 , 15 ) are an adhesive that cures under electron beam radiation.  
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein the first adhesive layer ( 13 ) is an adhesive that cures under electron beam radiation and the second adhesive layer ( 15 ) is a solvent-based or solvent-free PUR adhesive.  
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the laminate ( 10 ) exhibits the following structure: PET film ( 12 )/first adhesive layer of an electron beam curing adhesive ( 13 )/aluminum foil ( 14 )/second adhesive layer of an electron beam curing adhesive ( 15 )/polyolefin film ( 16 ).  
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein the laminate ( 10 ) exhibits the following structure: PET film ( 12 )/first adhesive layer of an electron beam curing adhesive ( 13 )/aluminum foil ( 14 )/second adhesive film ( 15 ) of a solvent-based or solvent-free PUR adhesive/polyolefin film ( 16 ).  
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein the laminate exhibits the following structure: PET film ( 12 )/first adhesive layer of a solvent-based or solvent-free PUR adhesive ( 13 )/aluminum foil ( 14 )/second adhesive layer of an electron beam curing adhesive ( 15 )/polyolefin film ( 16 ).  
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the PET film ( 12 ) exhibits printing on the side coated with adhesive.  
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein the polyolefin film is a PE or PP film.  
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the electron beam curing adhesive is an acrylate-based adhesive.  
     
     
         12 . A self-standing pouch manufactured from a laminate ( 10 ) utilizing the process according to  claim 10 .  
     
     
         13 . A self-standing pouch manufactured from a laminate ( 10 ) utilizing the process according to  claim 10 , wherein at least film ( 12 ) of the laminate ( 10 ) forming the outside of the pouch is laminated via an adhesive layer ( 13 ) that cures under electron beam radiation.  
     
     
         14 . The self-standing pouch according to  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive that cures under electron beam radiation is an acrylate-based adhesive.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the PET film ( 12 ) exhibits printing on the side coated with adhesive.  
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the polyolefin film is a PE or PP film.  
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the electron beam curing adhesive is an acrylate-based adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . The self-standing pouch manufactured from a laminate ( 10 ) utilizing the process according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 . The self-standing pouch manufactured from a laminate ( 10 ) using the process according to  claim 2 , wherein at least film ( 12 ) of the laminate ( 10 ) forming the outside of the pouch is laminated via an adhesive layer ( 13 ) that cures under electron beam radiation.  
     
     
         20 . The self-standing pouch according to  claim 19 , wherein the adhesive that cures under electron beam radiation is an acrylate-based adhesive.  
     
     
         21 . The self-standing pouch according to  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive that cures under electron beam radiation is an acrylate-based adhesive.  
     
     
         22 . The self-standing pouch according to  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive that cures under electron beam radiation is an acrylate-based adhesive.