An inflatable cushioning article is made by a process of extruding two multilayer
films (or extruding one film which is either annular or folded over) each having
(a) a seal layer, (b) a tie layer containing an anhydride modified olefin polymer
containing anhydride at a level of at least 150 ppm, based on the weight of the
modified olefin polymer, and (c) an oxygen barrier layer comprising crystalline
polyamide, crystalline polyester, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyacrylonitrile,
and/or crystalline polycycloolefin. Selected portions of the films are heat sealed
to one another in a selected area providing a heat seal pattern which leaves inflatable
chambers between the films, whereby an inflatable cellular cushioning article is
produced. At some point after extrusion, at least one of the multilayer films are
aged for a time and at a temperature in accordance with at least one member selected
from the group consisting of: (i) 141 F. to 250 F. for a period of
at least 1 second; (ii) 101 F. to 140 F. for a period of at least 10
minutes; (iii) 61 F. to 100 F. for a period of at least 1 hour; and
(iv) 30 F. to 60 F. for a period of at least 1 day. After aging, the
cellular cushioning article is inflated. Preferably, the article is inflated to
an internal pressure of at least 1.5 psi.