MULTICOMPONENT STRUCTURES HAVING IMPROVED ADHESION BETWEEN COMPONENTS

The present invention includes a multicomponent structure comprising at least two components having a tie layer or adhesive layer directly between them, the tie layer comprising at least one olefin unsaturated ester copolymer and at least one photoinitiator and optionally a crosslinking enhancer. The tie layer is preferably irradiated with sufficient actinic radiation to result in increased interlayer adhesion strength between the two components as compared with the interlayer adhesion strength before treatment with the actinic radiation or between the components having a tie layer of the same composition except without the added photoinitiator or crosslinking enhancer. Without the photoinitiator, optionally crosslinking enhancer, and radiation the interlayer adhesion of the components is preferably less than 55 N/m. At least one of the components (first component or layer) preferably comprises a halopolymer, more preferably vinylidene chloride polymer, most preferably at least a majority of a vinyl idene chloride polymer. In another embodiment, at least one component exhibits interlayer adhesion strength similar to vinylidene chloride polymers. The structure optionally is or comprises such structures as a multilayer film, bag, or package, a lined or composite pipe, or other structure having more than one component. The tie layer is advantageously irradiated with an amount of UV light effective to increase the adhesion strength between the first and second components.