Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP

Cryovac, Inc.

Gangfeng Cai

Ta Yen Ching

Hu Yang

Joseph L Goodrich

Brad D Rodgers

James P Leonard

Richard P Schmidt

Mark Steven Galland

Raymond Laplante

Herein is disclosed a modified ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer (EVOH) comprising an oxygen scavenging functional group. Preferably, the modified EVOH comprises structures IV, V, and VI:  wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y is an integer greater than or equal to 1, z is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and R comprises a cycloalkenyl group. The modified EVOH is useful in oxygen barrier applications, such as a forming an oxygen barrier layer of a packaging article. Also disclosed are methods of modifying ethylene vinyl alcohol polymers, and using the modified EVOH to make packaging articles with a superior barrier to entry by atmospheric oxygen.

Enhanced oxygen barrier performance from modification of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH)

Herein is disclosed an oxygen barrier composition comprising an oxygen barrier polymer and an oxygen scavenging polymer. Preferably, the oxygen barrier polymer is selected from polymers or copolymers of vinyl alcohol, polyesters, polymers or copolymers of vinylidene dichloride, polymers or copolymers of epoxies, polysulfones, polymers or copolymers of acrylonitrile, polymers or copolymers of isocyanates, or polyamides other than MXD6; and the oxygen scavenging polymer either comprises an ethylenic backbone and a cyclic olefinic pendant group of structure I, or a polyester group of structure II or structure III: wherein q, q, q, q, and r are independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; m is &#x2014;(CH)&#x2014;, wherein n is an integer from 0 to 4, inclusive; X is null or a linking group; and, when r is hydrogen, at least one of q, q, q, and qis also hydrogen. The oxygen barrier composition can be formed into an oxygen barrier layer of a packaging article. Such layers and articles, and methods for making same, are also disclosed.

Compatible blend systems of oxygen barrier polymers and oxygen scavenging polymers

Herein is disclosed an oxygen barrier composition comprising an oxygen barrier polymer and an oxygen scavenging polymer. The composition can be in the form of a physical blend or a cross-linked blend, and can further comprise a compatibilizer, a transesterification catalyst, or both. Preferably, the oxygen barrier polymer is poly(ethylene/vinyl alcohol) (EVOH), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyamide other than MXD6. Preferably, the oxygen scavenging polymer comprises an ethylenic backbone and a pendant cyclic olefinic group, or the oxygen scavenging polymer is a polyamide derived at least in part from a xylene diamine-based monomer. The oxygen barrier composition can be formed into an oxygen barrier layer of a packaging article. Such layers and articles, and methods for making same, are also disclosed.

Herein is disclosed a modified ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer (EVOH) comprising an oxygen scavenging functional group. Preferably, the modified EVOH comprises structures IV, V, and VI: wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y is an integer greater than or equal to 1, z is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and R comprises a cycloalkenyl group. The modified EVOH is useful in oxygen barrier applications, such as a forming an oxygen barrier layer of a packaging article. Also disclosed are methods of modifying ethylene vinyl alcohol polymers, and using the modified EVOH to make packaging articles with a superior barrier to entry by atmospheric oxygen.

Rigid containers are provided comprising oxygen scavenger compositions that produce only low levels of volatiles or by-products as a consequence of oxygen scavenging. In particular, a family of polymers containing selected cyclic olefinic pendent groups are used in the rigid containers to achieve oxygen scavenging that is associated with minimal or no organoleptic by-products after oxidation.

Container having oxygen-scavenging core layer

Herein is disclosed multilayer packaging articles comprising an oxygen barrier layer comprising ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) (an 'EVOH oxygen barrier layer'); an oxygen scavenging layer adjacent thereto, wherein the oxygen scavenging layer comprises a polymer comprising an ethylenic backbone and a cycloalkenyl group having structure I:wherein q, q, q, q, and r are independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; m is &#x2014;(CH)&#x2014;, wherein n is an integer from 0 to 4, inclusive, and, when r is hydrogen, at least one of q, q, q, and qis also hydrogen; and a third layer adjacent to the oxygen scavenging layer. In addition to the oxygen scavenging function, the oxygen scavenging layer functions as a tie layer to substantially inhibit delamination of the EVOH oxygen barrier layer from the third layer of the packaging article.

Oxygen scavenging polymers as active barrier tie layers in multilayered structures

Using solventless metal oleate in making metal masterbatch

Methods of initiating oxygen scavenging are disclosed herein that rely on heat triggering. An oxygen scavenging composition that comprises an oxidizable organic compound and a transition metal catalyst is heated to an extent sufficient to initiate oxygen scavenging. Heat triggering can take place during the manufacture of a film or a packaging article from an oxygen scavenging composition, or it can take place after the film or packaging article has been manufactured.

Oxygen scavenging compositions suitable for heat triggering

The disclosed invention is directed to an oxygen scavenging composition that comprises at least one oxygen scavenging polymer and at least one vinyl crosslinker. The oxygen scavenging polymer comprises a polymeric backbone, at least two backbone crosslinking functional groups that are carbon-carbon double bonds in the backbone and at least one cyclic organic moiety having from 5 to 9 carbon atoms in its ring, and at least one carbon-carbon double bond in its ring. The vinyl crosslinker comprises at least two functional groups that are capable of reacting with the crosslinking functional groups of the oxygen scavenging polymer. Vinyl crosslinkers that can be used include styrene and methyl acrylate, among others.

Vinyl crosslinked oxygen scavenging compositions and methods of preparing the same

Herein is disclosed a blend of a neat oxygen scavenging polymer and a second polymer. The blend can be prepared by extrusion of a neat formulation of the oxygen scavenging polymer and the second polymer. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the neat formulation of the oxygen scavenging polymer, and packaging articles prepared from the blend. In addition, compositions comprising a branched oxygen scavenging polymer and a second polymer are disclosed, as well as packaging articles prepared from such compositions.

Oxygen scavenging polymer blends and emulsion-based methods for preparing same

An oxygen scavenging composition that can be either thermoplastic or thermoset, and that comprises at least one oxygen scavenging polymer and at least one curing agent is disclosed. The oxygen scavenging polymer comprises a polymeric backbone, at least two curing functional groups that are terminal groups and at least one oxygen scavenging cyclic moiety having from 5 to 9 carbon atoms in its ring and at least one carbon-carbon double bond in its ring. The curing functional groups of the oxygen scavenging polymer can be independently selected from hydroxyl groups, amino groups, carboxylic groups, sulfonic groups, and epoxy groups. The curing agent comprises at least two functional groups that are capable of reacting with the curing functional groups of the oxygen scavenging polymer.

Epoxy-, melamine- and isocyanate cured oxygen scavenging compositions and methods of preparing the same

Herein is disclosed an oxygen barrier composition comprising ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), an oxygen scavenging polymer, and a transition metal salt. The composition can be in the form of a physical blend or a cross-linked blend, and can further comprise a compatibilizer, a transesterification catalyst, or both. Also disclosed is a packaging article comprising at least one high oxygen barrier layer comprising the blend of EVOH, the oxygen scavenging polymer, and the transition metal salt. The packaging article can be a single-layer or a multilayer article, and can be flexible or rigid. A multilayer packaging article can further comprise a structural layer or layers, an oxygen barrier layer, an oxygen scavenging layer, an oxygen permeable layer or layers, or an adhesive layer or layers, among others. In addition, herein is disclosed a method of making the blend of EVOH, the oxygen scavenging polymer, and the transition metal salt, comprising providing and blending the materials. The blend can be used in a method of making an oxygen scavenging packaging article.

Compatible blend systems from ethylene vinyl alcohol and oxygen scavenging polymers

Herein is disclosed an emulsion, comprising an oxygen scavenging polymer, water, and a surfactant. The emulsion can be formed by first forming an emulsion comprising at least one monomer, water, and the surfactant, and polymerizing the monomer. Once formed, the emulsion can be used to form an oxygen scavenging packaging article by coating at least one surface of the packaging article or contacting two surfaces of the packaging article with the emulsion, and evaporating water from the emulsion-coated or -contacted surface, to form a polymer coating.

Oxygen scavenging polymer emulsion suitable as a coating, an adhesive, or a sealant

Multilayer plastic containers for food and beverage packaging which incorporate oxygen scavenging resins which selectively oxidize upon activation without giving off odorous fragments.

Growing community of inventors

Danville, CA, United States of America

Gangfeng Cai