To provide a resin film which comprises an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and which is to be used as, for example, a rubber plug lamination film to prevent breakage at the time of producing a laminated rubber plug. The resin film comprises an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and is characterized in that the product of the value of the endothermic peak height H (mW/mg) obtained by its DSC-analysis and the haze (%) measured at a thickness of 100 m, is from 0.1 to 0.2 (mW/mg.Math.%).

By securely affixing or bonding a multi-layer film to the terminating end of a closure/stopper, with the multi-layer film being constructed for promoting the transfer of all of the desirable gases, chemicals, and/or compounds while preventing the transfer of undesirable gases, chemicals, and/or compounds, a unique, closure or stopper having a sealed and/or barrier bearing terminating end is achieved. In this way, wine sealed in the wine bottle by the closure/stopper of the present invention is assured of possessing a long storage life, while also having the flavor, bouquet, taste, and quality desired for the wine fully maintained.

The invention relates to a capsule (1) for a flanged cork stopper, the capsule (1) having a body (2) comprising a top (3) and a cavity (4) inside which at least two anti-rotation splines (5) are arranged, and the capsule further comprising an axial retention chamber (6) disposed within said cavity (4), wherein retention chamber (6) is shaped to receive and axially retain a flange of a flanged cork stopper. The invention also relates to a capsulated stopper comprising a flanged stopper, the flange of which is attached to the capsule (1) of the invention. The invention further relates to the production process of said capsulated stopper.

A closure constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of a container, the closure having a substantially cylindrical shape and comprising substantially flat terminating surfaces forming the opposed ends of the closure, wherein the closure further comprises: (a) a closure precursor having a substantially cylindrical shape and comprising a lateral surface and substantially flat terminating surfaces forming the opposed ends of the closure precursor, wherein the lateral surface and the flat terminating surfaces of the closure precursor have a substantially uniform color; and (b) a decorative layer that at least partially covers at least the lateral surface of the closure precursor.

A stopper for a container for use in freeze-drying processes, and an assembly of a stopper and a container are provided. The stopper has an insertion section configured for insertion into the container. The insertion section has a sealing section for closing the container in a fluid-tight manner in a sealing position of the stopper and a contact section which adjoins the sealing section axially from a top surface in the direction of a bottom surface, for holding the stopper in a drying position of the stopper. The contact section has at least one passage opening for a gas exchange between an interior of the container and the surroundings of the container. The stopper has a sealing body and a main body connected together, wherein the main body consists of a material which has a higher degree of hardness than a material which makes up the sealing body. Regions of a lateral surface of the insertion section in contact with an inner surface of a container wall in the drying position and/or the sealing position, are formed by outer surfaces of the sealing body in the region of the contact section, wherein the main body is configured within the sealing body in the region of the contact section.

Systems and methods for preserving oxidizable substances such as liquids or foodstuffs are disclosed. These systems incorporate a sealing device and an oxygen scavenging chemical or agent coupleable to or contained within the system. The oxygen scavenging agent can remove the oxygen from the headspace of a container such as a bottle of wine without reducing the pressure in the headspace to the extent that the flavor of the wine is adversely affected.

A thermoplastic material includes one or more thermoplastic polymers in the form of particles having a specified average particle size distribution (e.g., less than 1000 microns or another range) measured by mechanical sieving. Such thermoplastic material may be incorporated in a cork composite material that includes cork, such as in the form of cork particles. The thermoplastic material and cork may be used to produce an article of manufacture, such as a closure for a product retaining container, the closure being constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of said container.

A particulate material includes cork particles having a particle size distribution D.sub.50 measured by mechanical sieving in a specified range (e.g., from 0.25 millimetres to 5 millimetres) for use in the production of a cork composite material. A cork composite material may include the particulate material and a thermoplastic material The particulate material and/or cork composite material may be used to produce an article of manufacture, such as a closure for a product-retaining container constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of said container. Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, and closures are also provided.

A method for manufacturing coated particles, said coated particles comprising (1) a core comprising cork material and (2) at least one outer shell comprising a plastic material, includes providing a mixture including cork particles and plastic material comprising thermoplastic material, applying mechanical and/or thermal energy to the mixture to at least partially soften the plastic material, and blending the mixture, whereby the plastic material is at least partially distributed over the surfaces of the individual cork particles. Use of coated particles obtainable by such method in the manufacture of a closure for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of a product-retaining container, is also provided.

A method for manufacturing a closure constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of a product-retaining container is provided. Such method may include intimately combining a plurality of particles comprising cork and having a specified particle size distribution with a plastic material including one or more thermoplastic polymers, optionally in combination with other constituent(s) to form a composition, heating the composition to form a melt, extruding or molding a closure precursor from the melt to provide a specified water content range, and optionally cutting and/or finishing the closure precursor. A composition for use in manufacturing a closure for a product-retaining container includes a plurality of particles comprising cork and having a specified particle size distribution with a plastic material including one or more thermoplastic polymer, optionally in combination with other constituent(s). Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, and additional methods for producing closures are also provided.