Thermoformable copolyester laminate

A package comprising:

• a) a laminate thermoformed in a shape of a receptacle having a pocket with a flange and an opening, wherein the laminate consists of the following substantially coextensive layers in the following order:
• i) a self-supporting, biaxially oriented thermoformable copolyester film layer having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface constituting an outermost, exposed surface of the laminate and forming an inner surface of the pocket and a mating surface of the flange,
• wherein the copolyester in the thermoformable copolyester film layer comprises from 90 mol % to 97 mol % of at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid and correspondingly from 10 mol % to 3 mol % of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid relative to the total diacid fraction of the copolyester,
• wherein two pieces of the thermoformable copolyester film layer when heat sealed together produce a bond strength of less than 200 g/25 mm;
• ii) a laminating adhesive layer on the first surface of the thermoformable copolyester film layer;
• iii) a self-supporting, thermoformable structural film layer having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface contacting the laminating adhesive layer;
• and
• an optional barrier layer on a side of the structural film layer opposite the copolyester film layer;
• wherein:
• polyethylene terephthalate constitutes at least 80% by weight of the self-supporting biaxially oriented thermoformable copolyester film layer,
• the thermoformable structural film layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, ionomers, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polystyrene, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers and polyvinylidene chloride,
• the laminating adhesive layer comprises a thermosetting composition,
• the thermoformable copolyester film layer, the structural film layer and the laminate each shrink less than 5% in length and width upon exposure to boiling water at atmospheric pressure for five seconds;
• and
• b) a capping web comprising a self-supporting polymeric film having on a surface thereof a substantially coextensive heat-seal layer,
• wherein the opening of the receptacle is closed by the capping web such that the heat-seal layer is in contact with and bonded to the mating surface of the flange of the thermoformed receptacle,
• wherein the heat-sealable layer comprises a copolyester derived from no more than 90 mol % of aromatic dicarboxylic acid and at least 10 mol % of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, based on total diacid content of the copolyester;
• wherein the package contains no other heat-sealable layer, and
• wherein food contact surfaces of the laminate and the capping web, when exposed to distilled water at 250° F. (121° C.) for 2 hours, yield chloroform-soluble extractives not to exceed 0.02 mg/in2 (0.0031 mg/cm2) of food contact surfaces exposed to the distilled water;
• and that the food contact surfaces, when exposed to n-heptane at 150° F. (66° C.) for 2 hours, yield chloroform-soluble extractives not to exceed 0.02 mg/in2 (0.0031 mg/cm2) of food contact surfaces exposed to the n-heptane.