Absorbent microwave susceptor composite and related method of manufacture
AssigneeInternational Paper Company
InventorsRobin Roy, Stephen P. Lengyel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microwave susceptor composite which includes a first layer of polymeric fibrous material, and a second layer of thermoplastic polymer material having microwave susceptive characteristics. The polymeric susceptor and polymeric fibrous material layers are arranged in lamina surface-to-surface contact and bonded into an integral structure by application of heat and pressure. A uniform composite material is obtained by carding the polymeric fibrous materials prior to bonding the first and second layers. In microwave cooking applications the fibrous layer of the composite absorbs excess effluents from the food product. Browning and crisping of food products is effected by microwave excitation of the metallized second layer of the composite.
Claims32
An absorbent microwave susceptor composite material which comprises:
- a first layer of polymeric fibrous material which includes thermoplastic fibers and has absorbent properties for absorbing fluids, and
- a second layer of thermoplastic polymer material and microwave susceptor material having microwave susceptive characteristics for microwave cooking of food,
- said thermoplastic fibers and said thermoplastic polymer material of said first and second layers respectively having thermal softening temperatures in the range of 250.degree. F. to 500.degree. F.,
- said first and second layers being arranged in lamina surface-to-surface contact and being thermal bonded together into an integral structure by application of heat and pressure bonding said thermoplastic fibers of said first layer with said thermoplastic polymer material of said second layer, whereby said integral structure has a combination of the microwave susceptive characteristics of said second layer for microwave cooking of food and absorbent properties of said first layer for absorbing fluids emanating from the cooking of food by said second layer.
A microwave package which comprises:
- an enclosure fabricated of a material which is substantially transparent to microwaves, said enclosure including an interior surface, and
- an absorbent microwave susceptor material disposed within said enclosure, said absorbent microwave susceptor material comprising:
- a first layer of polymeric fibrous material which includes thermoplastic fibers and has absorbent properties for absorbing fluids, and
- a second layer of thermoplastic polymer material and microwave susceptor material having microwave susceptive characteristics for microwave cooking of food,
- said thermoplastic fibers and said thermoplastic polymer material of said first and second layers respectively having thermal softening temperatures in the range of 250.degree. F. to 500.degree. F.
- said first and second layers being arranged in lamina surface-to-surface contact and being thermal bonded together into an integral structure by application of heat and pressure bonding said thermoplastic fibers of said first layer with said thermoplastic polymer material of said second layer, whereby said integral structure has a combination of the microwave susceptive characteristics of said second layer for microwave cooking of food and absorbent properties of said first layer for absorbing fluids emanating from the cooking of food by said second layer.
A method for fabricating an absorbent microwave susceptor composite material, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first layer of polymeric fibrous material which includes thermoplastic fibers and has absorbent properties for absorbing fluids, and second layer of thermoplastic polymer material and microwave susceptor material having microwave susceptive characteristics for microwave cooking of food,
- arranging said first and second layers in lamina surface-to-surface contact, and
- thermally bonding said first and second layers into an integral structure by application of heat and pressure through bonding said thermoplastic fibers of said first layer with said thermoplastic polymer material of said second layer, whereby said integral structure has a combination of the microwave susceptive characteristics of said second layer for microwave cooking of food and absorbent properties of said first layer for absorbing fluids emanating from the cooking of food by said second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.