High barrier packages for smoking articles and other products.

摘要

A high barrier sealable packaging material (10) and a high barrier heat sealed package (80) for smoking articles, such as cigarettes (98) and the like, are disclosed. The packaging material (10) comprises a base layer (12) of a polymeric film, such as a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film which has been metallized on one surface thereof with a layer of metal (14), such as aluminium. The metallized film is then imprinted with ink with a design and/or printed matter on either the metallized or unmetallized surface. Subsequently to or concurrently with the printing, a heat seal layer (18,19) is applied to the printed and/or unprinted surface for forming a heat seal about which the material is wrapped. In one embodiment, the high barrier packaging material (10) is used as an overwrap (102) for a cigarette package (80) having a tear tape (108) for removing one end of the overwrap (102). In another embodiment, the high barrier packaging material (10) is used as an overwrap (208) for a carton (200) containing a plurality of cigarette packages (204) and having a tear tape (214) for removing one end of the carton overwrap (208). <IMAGE>