A thermoplastic container, which is particularly useful for packaging meat,
comprises a first polymeric layer, a second intermediate or tie layer, and
a third polymeric layer. The first layer comprises an alkylene
terephthalate or naphthalate polymer such as polyethylene terephthalate
(PET). The first layer can include, in whole or in part, one or more
homo-polymers, co-polymers, recycled polymers, or reprocessed polymers.
The third layer comprises a non-polar thermoplastic such as high density
polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density
polyethylene (LLDPE), or a blend thereof. The intermediate layer primarily
functions as an adhesive and as a compatibilizer/emulsifier/surfactant
(CES), and comprises a grafted or backbone-based co-polymer or ter-polymer
of ethylene, glycidyl acrylate or maleic anhydride, and optionally an
acrylate co-monomer.
