EP-4735487-A1 - BLOW MOLDED ARTICLES

EP4735487A1EP 4735487 A1EP4735487 A1EP 4735487A1EP-4735487-A1

Abstract

A blow molded article comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer is disclosed. The ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a density of from 0.920g/cc to 0.950 g/cc, a melt index (I2) of from 0.5 g/10 minutes to 10.0 g/10 minutes, a comonomer distribution breadth index (CDBI) greater than 55%. The ethylene alpha-olefin also has a CDF LS × LCBf × 100 of greater than 0.5 wherein the CDF LS and the LCBf are measured as described below. A blown molded article formed through blow molding an ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer having a density of from 0.920 g/cc to 0.950 g/cc, a melt index (I2) of from 0.5 g/10 minutes to 10.0g/10 minutes, a comonomer distribution breadth index (CDBI) greater than or equal to 55%, and a CDF LS × LCBf × 100 value greater than 0.5, wherein the CDF LS is calculated by measuring an area fraction of a molecular weight distribution obtained from absolute molecular weight distribution and the LCBf is measured as described below, into a bottle is also disclosed.

Inventors

LIN, YIJIAN
HAMAD, Fawzi G.
DEAVENPORT, JOSEPH L.
ROSEN, Mari S.
FONTAINE, PHILIP P.
ZHANG, Lanhe
BALDING, Paul
FAN, JINGWEI

Assignees

Dow Global Technologies LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240625

Claims (1)

84904-WO-PCT/DOW 84904 WO CLAIMS 1. A blow molded article comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer having: a density of from 0.920 g/cc to 0.950 g/cc; a melt index (I2) of from 0.5 g/10 minutes to 10.0 g/10 minutes; a comonomer distribution breadth index (CDBI) greater than or equal to 55%; a CDFLS; and a LCBf; wherein the CDFLS × LCBf × 100 is greater than 0.5, and wherein the CDF LS is calculated by measuring an area fraction of a molecular weight distribution obtained from absolute molecular weights from low angle light scattering greater than 500,000 g/mol using GPC molecular weight distribution, and the LCBf is measured as described in the specification. 2. The blow molded article of claim 1, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a density of from 0.925 to 0.945 g/cc. 3. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a melt index (I2) of 0.7 to 4.0 g/10minutes. 4. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a comonomer distribution breadth index (CDBI) of 55 to 99%. 5. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a V0.1/V100 value, as determined by Dynamic Mechanical Spectroscopy, of greater than or equal to 5.5. 6. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a V0.1/V100 value, as determined by Dynamic Mechanical Spectroscopy, of from 5.5 to 20. 7. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a melt strength (MS), wherein the MS and I2 meets 4 ^^ > 8 − × ^2 3 84904-WO-PCT/DOW 84904 WO ^ Or, ^^ > 10 − ^ × ^2 ^ Or, ^^ > 14.5 − ^ × ^2 and wherein the I2 is expressed in g/10 minutes and MS is expressed in cN. 8. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a Vicat softening temperature of greater than or equal to 110°C. 9. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a heat deflection temperature of greater than or equal to 50°C. 10. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a hexane extractables value of less than 1 wt.% based on the weight of the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer. 11. The blow molded article of any preceding claim wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a clarity greater than or equal to 65%. 12. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a melting peak temperature measured by DSC of from 115°C to 126°C. 13. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a melt index ratio (I10/I2) measured according to ASTM 1238 of greater than or equal to 11. 14. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a Mw(abs)/Mn(abs) of from 4.0 to 7.0, wherein the Mw(abs) and Mn(abs) are measured by Triple Detector Gel Permeation Chromatography. 15. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a comonomer distribution breadth index greater than or equal to 55%. 84904-WO-PCT/DOW 84904 WO 16. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a CDFLS × LCBf × 100 of from 0.5 to 10, wherein the CDFLS and LCBf are measured as described in the specification. 17. The blow molded article of any preceding claim, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a MWSCBDI of from -1.0 to 1.0.

Description

84904-WO-PCT/DOW 84904 WO BLOW MOLDED ARTICLES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/510,777 filed June 28, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety herein. FIELD [0002] This application relates to blow molded articles. More specifically, this application relates to blow molded articles comprising polyethylenes. Even more specifically, this application relates to blow molded articles comprising ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymers. INTRODUCTION [0003] Ampules and bottles used in medical applications need high heat resistance, environmental cracking resistance, and softness along with low haze. Low haze allows consumers to judge the quality of the contained product. Heat resistance ensures the bottles do not fail during heat sterilization and shorten the time for sterilization at a higher temperature. High environmental cracking resistance ensures the bottles do not fail during storage. Softness allows easy squeezing and product removal. [0004] Conventionally, medical ampules and bottles are produced using high pressure polymerized LDPE. This makes achieving a density greater than 0.925 g/cc difficult. This limits the use of high temperature for sterilization among other issues. [0005] Higher densities can be achieved by blending high density polyethylene into LDPE. Conventionally, however, this sacrifices clarity. Alternatively higher density can be achieved by using linear polyethylenes, such as medium density polyethylene, produced using the solution polymerization, gas phase polymerization, or slurry polymerization process. However, the linear structure of these polyethylenes cause a lack of melt strength that eliminates the blow molding fabrication process. [0006] A blow molded bottle with high environmental cracking resistance, softness and clarity is thus desirable. SUMMARY [0007] A blow molded article comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer is disclosed. The ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a density of from 0.920g/cc to 0.950 g/cc, a melt index (I2) 84904-WO-PCT/DOW 84904 WO of from 0.5 g/10 minutes to 10.0 g/10 minutes, a comonomer distribution breadth index (CDBI) greater than 55%. The ethylene alpha-olefin also has a CDFLS × LCBf × 100 of greater than 0.5 wherein the CDFLS and the LCBf are measured as described below. A blown molded article formed through blow molding an ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer having a density of from 0.920 g/cc to 0.950 g/cc, a melt index (I2) of from 0.5 g/10 minutes to 10.0g/10 minutes, a comonomer distribution breadth index (CDBI) greater than or equal to 55%, and a CDFLS × LCBf × 100 value greater than 0.5, wherein the CDFLS is calculated by measuring an area fraction of a molecular weight distribution obtained from absolute molecular weight distribution and the LCBf is measured as described below, into a bottle is also disclosed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0008] The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and their derivatives, are not intended to exclude the presence of any additional component, step or procedure, whether or not the same is specifically disclosed. In order to avoid any doubt, all compositions claimed through use of the term “comprising” may include any additional additive, adjuvant, or compound, whether polymeric or otherwise, unless stated to the contrary. In contrast, the term, “consisting essentially of” excludes from the scope of any succeeding recitation any other component, step or procedure, excepting those that are not essential to operability. The term “consisting of” excludes any component, step or procedure not specifically delineated or listed. [0009] The term “polymer” refers to a polymeric compound prepared by polymerizing monomers, whether of the same or a different type. The generic term polymer thus embraces the term “homopolymer,” usually employed to refer to polymers prepared from only one type of monomer as well as “copolymer” which refers to polymers prepared from two or more different monomers. The term “interpolymer,” as used herein, refers to a polymer prepared by the polymerization of at least two different types of monomers. The generic term interpolymer thus includes copolymers, and polymers prepared from more than two different types of monomers, such as terpolymers. [0010] As used herein, a “polyolefin” refers to an olefin-based polymer. As used herein, an “olefin,” which may also be referred to as an “alkene,” refers to a linear, branched, or cyclic compound including carbon and hydrogen and having at least one double bond. As used herein, when a polymer or copolymer, e.g., the polyolefin elastomer, is referred to as comprising an olefin, the olefin present in the polymer or copolymer is the polymerized form of the olefin. For example, if the polyolefin elastomer is said to have an ethylene content of 75 wt% to 85 wt%, it is understood that the polymer unit in the polyolefin elastomer is de