TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The inorganic thin film is located at neutral stress plane or compressive stress plane of the hermetic sheet. The first and second carrier films comprise polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate or polydimethylsiloxane, where the first carrier film comprises preferably polyethylene naphthalate and the second carrier film comprises preferably polydimethylsiloxane. The hermetic sheet has a total thickness of 30-1000 microns. The inorganic thin film has a total thickness of 0.5-10 microns. The hermetic sheet further comprises: a protective film formed over at least one of the first carrier film and the second carrier film; and a second inorganic thin film formed over a surface of at least one of the first carrier film and the second carrier film. The workpiece (I) contains liquid or gas. In the workpiece (II): the first inorganic thin film is in hermetic contact with the gasket member; the gasket member is in hermetic contact with the substrate; a second inorganic thin film is formed over a surface of the gasket member; the first inorganic thin film is in hermetic contact with the second inorganic thin film; the second inorganic thin film is in hermetic contact with the substrate; the multi-laminate hermetic sheet further comprises a second carrier film formed over a surface of the first inorganic thin film; and the first inorganic thin film is located at neutral stress plane or compressive stress plane of the hermetically-sealed workpiece. Preferred Method: In the method of encapsulating a workpiece, the edge seal comprises a mixture of desiccant and resin. The method of encapsulating a workpiece further comprises: forming an edge seal on the substrate and peripheral to the multi-laminate hermetic sheet, where the edge seal hermetically contacts lateral edge surfaces of at least one of the first carrier film, the second carrier film, and the inorganic thin film; forming a protective film over an exposed surface of the multi-laminate hermetic sheet; and supporting a desiccant on the substrate and placing the hermetic sheet over the workpiece and the desiccant to form an encapsulated workpiece.