The Coca-cola Company

Colormatrix Holdings, Inc.

Colormatrix Europe Limited

Plastic Technologies, Inc.

Georgia Tech Research Corporation

H20 Barrier Technologies LLC

Colormatrix Corporation

Mark Rule

Yu Shi

Horst Ehrich

Ronald James Valus

George Plester

Steven Burgess Tattum

Mark Frost

Anthony Nicholas Jarvis

Christine Leeming

Heinz Humele

Andrew Stuart Overend

Helmut Grimm

Thomas Gebele

Herbert Pickel

Adrian John Carmichael

Elisabeth Budke

Xiaoyan Huang

Thomas R Mohs

Daniel P Campbell

Srinivas Somayajula

John V Standish

Charlene W Bayer

Victor R DeJesus

Robert J Hendry

Andrew Stuart Ovenrend

Linda Hsiaohua Liu

Homaira Naseem

Harry Harshaw

Colin Beveridge

James Ellison Shepherd

Amy L Cook

Ronald J Valus

The present invention relates to processes for making compatibilized high aspect ratio barrier additives and polymer compositions that comprise compatibilized high aspect ratio barrier additives. The invention also relates to compositions produced by these processes, and articles formed from polymer compositions of this invention. The barrier additives provide passive barriers to gas molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide minimizing transit of such molecules through sidewalls of polymer articles containing the barrier additives.

Barrier additives

A containerincludes a shellmade from a polymer, for example PET, and incorporating a catalyst, for example a palladium catalyst. A closureincorporates a plug which includes a source of hydrogen, for example a hydride. In use, with containerincluding a beverage and closurein position, the headspace in the container will be saturated with water vapor. This vapor contacts the hydride associated with plugand as a result the hydride produces molecular hydrogen which migrates into the polymer matrix of shelland combines with oxygen which may have entered the container through its permeable walls. A reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen takes place, catalyzed by the catalyst, and water is produced. Thus, oxygen which may ingress the container is scavenged and the contents of the container are protected from oxidation.

Scavenging oxygen

A closurefor a container body includes a linerwhich incorporates a hydrogen generating device comprising a hydride which generates hydrogen on contact with moisture. The liner may be an interference fit within the body. The linerand other liners described may include control means for controlling passage of moisture to the hydrogen generating means and/or sealing means for sealing the closure to a container. In use, with the closure secured to a container, water vapor passes into linerand contacts the hydride which generates hydrogen. A reaction between hydrogen and oxygen which has passed into the container takes place, catalysed by a catalyst, and water is produced. Thus, oxygen is scavenged.

The present invention provides fluid compositions comprising at least one hydrophobic liquid, at least one inorganic pigment, and at least one compatibilization agent comprising at least one phosphate monoester.

Liquid pigment dispersions

A closure () includes a body () with a threaded portion () for engaging the closure with a container. Inwards of portion () is a liner () comprising a hydrogen generating device, wherein the liner includes one layer () which incorporates a hydride dispersed in a polymeric matrix and, on opposite sides of layer () are arranged PET layers (). Layer () acts as a control layer to control the rate of passage of water vapour from the beverage in the container to the hydride containing layer () and thereby control generation of hydrogen by the hydrogen generating device. In use, water vapour passes through layer () and contacts the hydride associated with layer () which results in production of molecular hydrogen which combines with oxygen. Thereafter, a reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen takes place, catalysed by a catalyst associated with the container thereby to scavenge the oxygen.

A container () includes a shell () made from a polymer, for example PET, and incorporating a catalyst, for example a palladium catalyst. A closure () incorporates a plug which includes a source of hydrogen, for example a hydride. In use, with container () including a beverage and closure () in position, the headspace in the container will be saturated with water vapor. This vapor contacts the hydride associated with plug () and as a result the hydride produces molecular hydrogen which migrates into the polymer matrix of shell () and combines with oxygen which may have entered the container through its permeable walls. A reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen takes place, catalyzed by the catalyst, and water is produced. Thus, oxygen which may ingress the container is scavenged and the contents of the container are protected from oxidation.

A closure () for a container incorporates calcium hydride and a matrix material as a hydrogen-generating composition. In use, hydrogen is generated which reacts with oxygen permeating a container associated with the closure and a catalyst associated with the container catalyses reaction of the hydrogen and oxygen to produce water, thereby scavenging the oxygen. The composition of calcium hydride and matrix is also claimed.

A polymer additive for improving the reheat characteristics of a polymer or polymeric composition comprises an inorganic material which is such that a 2.5 mm thick polyethylene terephthalate plaque incorporating the inorganic material has, when tested, an absorption ratio of less than 0.9, wherein the absorption ratio is either the ratio of A/Aor the ratio A/A, wherein:

Polymeric materials and additives therefor

Polymer compositions, for example of polyethyleneterephthalate bottles or preforms, include a reheat additive which has reducing transmission/increasing absorbance across the IR region as the wavelength increases. The reheat additive may be a titanium nitride, made by a plasma vapor deposition technique. Advantageously, the material may be used at a lower level than hitherto known materials or may be used at the same levels as hitherto but provide a greater reheat effect. Example 3a shown in the figure illustrates the absorbance of a preferred material.

Polymer compositions and articles having improved reheat characteristics

A method to render stone, ceramic, or cementitious structures water repellent is disclosed. The method includes the step of contacting the stone, ceramic, or cementitious structures with an alkylphosphonic acid. The alkylphosphonic acid can be dispersed in an aqueous medium and can be at least partially neutralized with ammonia, an amine, or a basic alkali salt.

Method to render surfaces water repellent

A polymer additive for improving the reheat characteristics of a polymer or polymeric composition comprises an inorganic material which is such that a 2.5 mm thick polyethylene terephthalate plaque incorporating the inorganic material has, when tested, an absorption ratio of less than 0.9, wherein the absorption ratio is either the ratio of A1/A2 or the ratio A1/A3, wherein: Preferred inorganic materials are titanium nitride, indium tin oxide and lanthanum hexaboride.

A polymer additive for improving the reheat characteristics of a polymer or polymeric composition comprises an inorganic material which is such that a 2.5 mm thick polyethylene terephthalate plaque incorporating the inorganic material has, when tested, an absorption ratio of less than 0.9, wherein the absorption ratio is either the ratio of A1/A2 or the ratio A1/A3, wherein:

Filters for removing particulate and gaseous organic and inorganic materials from a fluid stream are disclosed. The filter may contain a polymer matrix and optional sequestering agents. Methods of making the filters are also disclosed. Methods of using the filters to remove one or more materials from a fluid stream, such as an air stream, are also disclosed.

Filters and methods of making and using the same

Compositions comprising a polymer and an exfoliated metal phosphonate are provided. Processes for making such polymer compositions and articles formed from such polymer compositions are also provided. Compositions according to the invention are useful in polymer applications in which barrier properties are of concern, such as in plastic food and beverage containers.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Mark Rule