Search

US-12624207-B2 - Barrier additive compositions for containers

US12624207B2US 12624207 B2US12624207 B2US 12624207B2US-12624207-B2

Abstract

Exemplary barrier additive compositions have useful barrier properties. An exemplary barrier additive composition includes a nylon 6, a compatibilizer including maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene or polypropylene, and an optional optical tracer. The barrier additive composition can be used in containers for liquid chemicals, such as petroleum derived products. Also disclosed are polymer blends and films that include the barrier additive composition, methods of making the barrier additive composition, and methods of making containers and films that include the barrier additive composition.

Inventors

  • Kevin J. Callahan

Assignees

  • BP Polymers, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240712

Claims (10)

  1. 1 . A polymer blend comprising: a barrier additive composition, comprising: a nylon 6; a compatibilizer comprising maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene or polypropylene, wherein the maleic anhydride is grafted at greater than 0.5% to less than 1.5% by weight of the polyethylene or polypropylene, wherein the compatibilizer has a melting point of about 63° C. to about 100° C.; wherein the compatibilizer has a specific gravity of about 0.875 g/cm 3 to less than 0.900 g/cm 3 ; and an optical tracer, wherein the optical tracer is an ultraviolet tracer; and a polyolefin that is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
  2. 2 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the polymer blend further comprises a UV protection additive, a heat protection additive, an antioxidant protection additive, or a combination thereof.
  3. 3 . A container comprising: a body, and a neck finish, wherein at least the body comprises a barrier additive composition, comprising: a nylon 6; a compatibilizer comprising maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene or polypropylene, wherein the maleic anhydride is grafted at greater than 0.5% to less than 1.5% by weight of the polyethylene or polypropylene, wherein the compatibilizer has a melting point of about 63° C. to about 100° C.; wherein the compatibilizer has a specific gravity of about 0.875 g/cm 3 to less than 0.900 g/cm 3 ; and an optical tracer, wherein the optical tracer is an ultraviolet tracer; and a polyolefin that is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
  4. 4 . The container of claim 3 , wherein the barrier additive composition has a lamellar structure in the polyolefin.
  5. 5 . The container of claim 3 , wherein at least the body has a solvent barrier rate of no more than 2% as measured by solvent weight lost over a period of about 28 days at about 50° C.
  6. 6 . The container of claim 3 , wherein at least the body has an oxygen transfer rate of at least 97% less compared to a body without the barrier additive composition, a water vapor transmission rate of at least 99.98% less compared to a body without the barrier additive composition, or a combination thereof.
  7. 7 . The container of claim 3 , wherein the container does not include any fluorinated compounds.
  8. 8 . A method of making the container of claim 3 , the method comprising: blending the barrier additive composition as in claim 3 and the polyolefin in a melt phase to form a polymer blend; extruding the polymer blend to provide a parison in a mold; and blow molding the parison to provide the container.
  9. 9 . A film comprising: a barrier additive composition comprising: a nylon 6; a compatibilizer comprising maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene or polypropylene, wherein the compatibilizer has a melting point of about 63° C. to about 100° C.: wherein the maleic anhydride is grafted at greater than 0.5% to less than 1.5% by weight of the polyethylene or polypropylene, wherein the compatibilizer has a specific gravity of about 0.875 g/cm 3 to less than 0.900 g/cm 3 ; and an optical tracer, wherein the optical tracer is an ultraviolet tracer, and a polyolefin that is an ethylene-propylene copolymer, wherein the film has a thickness of about 0.05 mm to about 5 mm.
  10. 10 . A method of making the film of claim 9 , the method comprising: blending the barrier additive composition and the polyolefin in a melt phase to form a polymer blend; extruding the polymer blend; and blow molding the polymer blend to provide the film.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/961,936, filed on Oct. 7, 2022, which application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/262,322 filed on Oct. 8, 2021, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to materials, methods, and techniques for barrier additive compositions. Exemplary barrier additive compositions may be particularly suited for use in containers and films. INTRODUCTION General use polyolefins, such as polyethylene, find wide-spread application for their ease of manufacture and useful mechanical properties. But these polyolefins typically have less than suitable chemical and oxygen barrier properties, which can limit their application in areas such as the packaging and transporting of chemicals and chemical-based products. Accordingly, compositions and methods that improve these latter properties of polyolefins would be useful. SUMMARY In one aspect, disclosed are barrier additive compositions including a nylon 6, a compatibilizer, the compatibilizer including maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene or polypropylene, wherein the maleic anhydride is grafted at greater than 0.5% to less than 1.5% by weight of the polyethylene or polypropylene and, optionally, an optical tracer. In another aspect, disclosed are polymer blends including a disclosed barrier additive composition and a polyolefin. In another aspect, disclosed are containers including a body and a neck finish, wherein at least the body includes a disclosed barrier additive composition and a polyolefin. In another aspect, disclosed are films including a disclosed barrier additive composition and a polyolefin, wherein the film has a thickness of about 0.05 mm to about 5 mm. In another aspect, disclosed are methods of making a barrier additive composition, the method including blending a nylon 6 and a compatibilizer, the compatibilizer including maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene or polypropylene, wherein the maleic anhydride is grafted at greater than 0.5% to less than 1.5% by weight of the polyethylene or polypropylene, in a melt phase to form a barrier additive blend, and extruding the barrier additive blend into pellets. In another aspect, disclosed are methods of making a container, the method including blending a disclosed barrier additive composition and a polyolefin in a melt phase to form a polymer blend, extruding the polymer blend to provide a parison in a mold, and blow molding the parison to provide the container. In another aspect, disclosed are methods of making a film, the method including blending a disclosed barrier additive composition and a polyolefin in a melt phase to form a polymer blend, extruding the polymer blend, and blow molding the polymer blend to provide the film. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an image showing a horizontal surface (90° from parison) of an example container. FIG. 2 is an image showing a vertical surface (parallel from parison) of an example container. FIG. 3 is an image of example containers. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis of example containers. FIG. 4A shows the FTIR region from 4000 cm−1 to 2500 cm−1. FIG. 4B. shows the FTIR region from 4000 cm−1 to 450 cm−1. FIG. 5 shows compatibility of an example container with different solvents and oils. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Disclosed herein are compositions that have advantageous barrier properties. These advantageous properties may make exemplary compositions particularly suited for liquid chemical containers. In particular, exemplary compositions can decrease leaching and/or permeation of the liquid chemical through the container. In certain implementations, exemplary compositions may be used with containers designed for petroleum derived products and/or naturally derived compounds such as those used in flavors and fragrances. Accordingly, the compositions are also referred to herein as barrier additive compositions. I. Definitions Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control. Example methods and materials are described below, although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in practice or testing of the present disclosure. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. The materials, methods, and examples disclosed herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that do not preclude the possibility of ad