Oxygen scavenging film with antifog properties

• US 20040234797A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cryovac Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Cryovac Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Schwark, Dwight W., Speer, Drew
• Application Number:
  US10/444,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20040234797A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/474.4
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/72 Cured, e.g. vulcanised, cross-linked
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/518 bi-axially
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7244 Oxygen barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/00 Containers; Receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31725 Of polyamide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31739 Nylon type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31746 Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3175 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomer[s]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31909 Next to second addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

A multilayer film includes a first and second outer layer each including a polymer; and an internal layer including an oxygen scavenger; where one of the first and second outer layers includes a blend of a polymer and an antifog agent, where the antifog agent includes one or more of glycerol fatty acid ester, polyglycerol fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol alkyl ether, ethoxylated alkyl phenol, sorbitan ester, ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and alkanol; and wherein the first outer layer includes more than 3% and less than 8%, by weight of the first outer layer, of antifog agent. Unexpected improvements in oxygen scavenging and/or antifog properties of the film are obtained by the combination of the oxygen scavenger and antifog agent.

Claims

1. A multilayer film comprising:

a) a first outer layer comprising a blend of

i) a polymer, and

ii) an antifog agent;

b) an internal layer comprising an oxygen scavenger; and

c) a second outer layer comprising a polymer;

wherein the antifog agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of;

i) glycerol fatty acid ester,

ii) polyglycerol fatty acid ester,

iii) polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester,

iv) polyethylene glycol alkyl ether,

v) ethoxylated alkyl phenol,

vi) sorbitan ester,

vii) ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and

viii) alkanol; and

wherein the first outer layer comprises more than 3% and less than 8%, by weight of the first outer layer, of antifog agent.

2. The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the polymer of the first and second outer layers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

a) ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer;

b) ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;

c) ionomer resin;

d) ethylene/acrylic or methacrylic acid copolymer;

e) ethylene/acrylate or methacrylate copolymer; and

f) low density polyethylene.

3. The multilayer film of claim 1 wherein the oxygen scavenger comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) oxidizable organic compound and a transition metal catalyst,

ii) ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a transition metal catalyst,

iii) a polymer having a polymeric backbone, cyclic olefinic pendent group, and linking group linking the olefinic pendent group to the polymeric backbone,

iv) a copolymer of ethylene and a strained, cyclic alkylene,

v) ethylene/vinyl aralkyl copolymer,

vi) ascorbate,

vii) isoascorbate,

viii) sulfite,

ix) ascorbate and a transition metal catalyst, the catalyst comprising a simple metal or salt, or a compound, complex or chelate of the transition metal,

x) a transition metal complex or chelate of a polycarboxylic acid, salicylic acid, or polyamine,

xi) a tannin, and

xii) reduced metal.

4. The film of claim 1 comprising an oxygen barrier layer, disposed between the internal layer comprising the oxygen scavenger, and one of the first and second outer layers, the oxygen barrier layer having an oxygen transmission rate of no more than 100 cc/m²/24 hr at 25°

C., 0% RH, 1 atm (ASTM D

     3985).

5. The film of claim 4 wherein the oxygen barrier comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) polyester,

ii) polyvinyl alcohol,

iii) ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer,

iv) polyethylene naphthalate,

v) polyamide,

vi) polyamide,

vii) copolyamide,

viii) polyacrylonitrile,

ix) acrylonitrile copolymer,

x) liquid crystal polymer,

xi) SiO_x,

xii) polyvinyl chloride,

xiii) polyvinylidene chloride,

xiv) vinylidene chloride copolymer,

xv) carbon,

xvi) metal, and

xvii) metal oxide.

6. The film of claim 1 wherein the average oxygen scavenging rate of the film is at least 25 cc/m2/day for at least two days after the oxygen scavenging property of the film is activated.

7. The film of claim 1 wherein the film is cross-linked.

8. The film of claim 1 wherein the film is biaxially oriented and heat shrinkable.

9. A multilayer film comprising:

a) a first layer comprising a blend of;

i) a polymer, and

ii) an antifog agent;

b) a second layer comprising an oxygen scavenger;

c) a third layer comprising a polymeric adhesive;

d) a fourth layer comprising a polyamide;

e) a fifth layer comprising an oxygen barrier;

f) a sixth layer comprising a polyamide;

g) a seventh layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; and

h) an eighth layer comprising a polymer;

wherein the antifog agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of;

i) glycerol fatty acid ester,

ii) polyglycerol fatty acid ester,

iii) polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester,

iv) polyethylene glycol alkyl ether,

v) ethoxylated alkyl phenol,

vi) sorbitan ester,

vii) ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and

viii) alkanol; and

wherein the first layer comprises more than 3% and less than 8%, by weight of the first layer, of antifog agent.

10. The multilayer film of claim 9 wherein the polymer of the first and eighth layers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

a) ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer;

b) ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;

c) ionomer resin;

d) ethylene/acrylic or methacrylic acid copolymer;

e) ethylene/acrylate or methacrylate copolymer; and

f) low density polyethylene.

11. The multilayer film of claim 9 wherein the oxygen scavenger of the second layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) oxidizable organic compound and a transition metal catalyst,

ii) ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a transition metal catalyst,

iii) a polymer having a polymeric backbone, cyclic olefinic pendent group, and linking group linking the olefinic pendent group to the polymeric backbone,

iv) a copolymer of ethylene and a strained, cyclic alkylene,

v) ethylene/vinyl aralkyl copolymer,

vi) ascorbate,

vii) isoascorbate,

viii) sulfite,

ix) ascorbate and a transition metal catalyst, the catalyst comprising a simple metal or salt, or a compound, complex or chelate of the transition metal,

x) a transition metal complex or chelate of a polycarboxylic acid, salicylic acid, or polyamine,

xi) a tannin, and

xii) reduced metal.

12. The multilayer film of claim 9 wherein the polymeric adhesive of the third and seventh layers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;

ii) anhydride grafted ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;

iii) anhydride grafted ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer; and

iv) anhydride grafted low density polyethylene.

13. The multilayer film of claim 9 wherein the polyamide of the fourth and sixth layers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) polyamide 6,

ii) polyamide 9,

iii) polyamide 10,

iv) polyamide 11,

v) polyamide 12,

vi) polyamide 66,

vii) polyamide 610,

viii) polyamide 612,

ix) polyamide 6I,

x) polyamide 6T,

xi) polyamide 69,

xii) polyamide 6I/6T,

xiii) polyamide 6/66,

xiv) polyamide 66/6,

xv) polyamide 6/610,

xvi) polyamide 6/69,

xvii) polyamide MXD6,

xviii) polyamide MXD6/MXDI, and

xix) polyamide MXD6/6T.

14. The multilayer film of claim 9 wherein the oxygen barrier of the fifth layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) polyester,

ii) polyvinyl alcohol,

iii) ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer,

iv) polyethylene naphthalate,

v) polyamide,

vi) polyamide,

vii) copolyamide,

viii) polyacrylonitrile,

ix) acrylonitrile copolymer,

x) liquid crystal polymer,

xi) SiO_x,

xii) polyvinyl chloride,

xiii) polyvinylidene chloride,

xiv) vinylidene chloride copolymer,

xv) carbon,

xvi) metal, and

xvii) metal oxide.

15. The multilayer film of claim 9 wherein the antifog agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) glycerol fatty acid ester,

ii) polyglycerol fatty acid ester,

iii) polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester,

iv) polyethylene glycol alkyl ether,

v) ethoxylated alkyl phenol,

vi) sorbitan ester,

vii) ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and

viii) alkanol.

16. A laminate comprising:

a) a multilayer film comprising;

i) a first layer comprising a blend of;

(a) a polymer, and

(b) an antifog agent;

ii) a second layer comprising an oxygen scavenger;

iii) a third layer comprising a polymeric adhesive;

(iv) a fourth layer comprising a polyamide;

(v) a fifth layer comprising an oxygen barrier;

(vi) a sixth layer comprising a polyamide;

(vii) a seventh layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; and

(viii) an eighth layer comprising a polymer, and

b) a second film comprising a polyethylene terephthalate, the second film bonded to the eighth layer of the multilayer film;

wherein the antifog agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of;

i) glycerol fatty acid ester,

ii) polyglycerol fatty acid ester,

iii) polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester,

iv) polyethylene glycol alkyl ether,

v) ethoxylated alkyl phenol,

vi) sorbitan ester,

vii) ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and

viii) alkanol; and

wherein the first layer comprises more than 3% and less than 8%, by weight of the first layer, of antifog agent.

17. The laminate of claim 16 wherein the antifog agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) glycerol fatty acid ester,

ii) polyglycerol fatty acid ester,

iii) polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester,

iv) polyethylene glycol alkyl ether,

v) ethoxylated alkyl phenols,

vi) sorbitan ester,

vii) ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and

viii) alkanol.

18. A laminate comprising:

a) a multilayer film comprising;

i) a first layer comprising a blend of;

(a) a polymer, and

(b) an antifog agent;

ii) a second layer comprising an oxygen scavenger; and

iii) a third layer comprising a polymer, and

b) a second film comprising a polyethylene terephthalate, the second film bonded to the third layer of the multilayer film;

wherein the antifog agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of;

i) glycerol fatty acid ester,

ii) polyglycerol fatty acid ester,

iii) polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester,

iv) polyethylene glycol alkyl ether,

v) ethoxylated alkyl phenol,

vi) sorbitan ester,

vii) ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and

viii) alkanol; and

wherein the first layer comprises more than 3% and less than 8%, by weight of the first layer, of antifog agent.

19. The laminate of claim 18 wherein the antifog agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

i) glycerol fatty acid ester,

ii) polyglycerol fatty acid ester,

iii) polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester,

iv) polyethylene glycol alkyl ether,

v) ethoxylated alkyl phenols,

vi) sorbitan ester,

vii) ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and

viii) alkanol.

20. The laminate of claim 18 wherein the antifog agent comprises more than 3% and less than 8% by weight of the first layer.