Non-fluorocarbon oil and grease barrier methods of application and packaging

A method of curing an overprint varnish applied to a substrate so that the substrate having the cured overprint varnish applied thereto is oil and grease resistant, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) supplying a substrate;
• (b) applying indicia onto the substrate;
• wherein the substrate to be cured has indicia thereon, and where the overprint varnish is applied over the indicia prior to the step of curing;
• and
• (c) regulating a cross-link density of the overprint varnish through curing the overprint varnish so that the overprint varnish provides increased oil and grease resistant properties.

A method of forming a package with an overprint varnish having acrylate therein positioned on at least one substrate layer, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) supplying a substrate;
• (b) applying the overprint varnish to at least one side of the substrate;
• (c) regulating a cross-link density of the overprint varnish to increase the oil and grease resistance of the substrate by curing the overprint varnish with an energy source having a preselected electromagnetic wavelength, the preselected electromagnetic wavelength being less than 400 nanometers;
• and
• (d) forming a package from the substrate.

A method of forming a package with an overprint varnish having acrylate therein positioned on at least one substrate layer, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) supplying a substrate;
• (b) applying the overprint varnish to at least one side of the substrate;
• (c) regulating a cross-link density of the overprint varnish to increase the oil and grease resistance of the substrate by curing the overprint varnish with an electron beam;
• and
• (d) forming a package from the substrate.