Radiation resistant polypropylene useful in medical applications

• US 20070123620A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Flint Hills Resources LP (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Huntsman Polymers Corp. (Huntsman Corporation)
• Inventors: Cummings, Gerald, Nayak, Kasinath, Merrill, Roger
• Application Number:
  US10/582,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123620A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 524/251
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/32 Compounds containing nitrogen bound to oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/34 Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen in the ring
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/02 not modified by chemical after-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0815 Copolymers of ethene with aliphatic 1-olefins
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/06 Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid esters

Abstract

Blends useful as an additive in polyolefin polymers for minimizing the effects of radiation on the physical properties of polymers, which comprises a hindered amine light stabilizer and at least one material selected from the group consisting of: i) amine oxides and ii) hydroxylamines. Various articles of manufacture may be produced using a composition or blend according to the invention, and the physical properties of such articles are less effected by electromagnetic radiation than like-kind compositions of the prior art.

Claims

1. ) A blend useful as an additive in polyolefin polymers for minimizing the effects of radiation on the physical properties of said polymers, which comprises a hindered amine light stabilizer and at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

i) amine oxides exemplified by the formula;

in which R₁ and R₂ are each independently selected from C₁₀ to C₂₄ alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl groups, whether straight-chain, branched, cyclic, saturated, or unsaturated; and

ii) hydroxylamines exemplified by the formula;

in which R₁ and R₂ are each independently selected from C₁₀ to C₂₄ alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl groups, whether straight-chain, branched, cyclic, saturated, or unsaturated.

13. ) A composition according to claim 1 wherein an amine oxide is present, and wherein the ratio of amine oxide to hindered amine light stabilizer is any ratio in the range of between about 1:

0.2 to 1;

5.

14. ) A composition according to claim 1 wherein a hydroxyl amine is present, and wherein the ratio of hydroxyl amine to hindered amine light stabilizer is any ratio in the range of between about 1:

0.5 to 1;

5.

2. ) A polymerized olefin polymer composition comprising:

a polymer, and

a blend that comprises a hindered amine light stabilizer and at least one material selected from the group consisting of;

i) amine oxides exemplified by the formula;

in which R₁ and R₂ are each independently selected from C₁₀ to C₂₄ alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl groups, whether straight-chain, branched, cyclic, saturated, or unsaturated; and

ii) hydroxylamines exemplified by the formula;

in which R₁ and R₂ are each independently selected from C₁₀ to C₂₄ alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl groups, whether straight-chain, branched, cyclic, saturated, or unsaturated.

3. ) An olefin polymer according to claim 2 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of:

propylene homopolymers, propylene co-polymers, ethylene homopolymers, and ethylene co-polymers, wherein when said olefin polymer comprises a co-polymer of either propylene or ethylene, said co-polymer is a co-polymer which was formed in the presence of at least one monomer comprising a C₂ to C₈ mono-olefin.

4. ) A composition according to claim 2 which further comprises a sorbitol-based clarifier present in any amount between 500 ppm and 5000 ppm by weight based on the total weight of said polymer.

5. ) A composition according to claim 2 which further comprises an inorganic clarifier present in any amount between 500 ppm and 5000 ppm by weight based on the total weight of said polymer.

6. ) A composition according to claim 2 which further comprises an inorganic nucleator present in any amount between 250 ppm and 2500 ppm by weight based on the total weight of said polymer.

7. ) A composition according to claim 2 wherein an amine oxide is present, and wherein the ratio of amine oxide to hindered amine light stabilizer is any ratio in the range of between about 1:

0.2 to 1;

5.

8. ) A composition according to claim 2 wherein a hydroxyl amine is present, and wherein the ratio of hydroxyl amine to hindered amine light stabilizer is any ratio in the range of between about 1:

0.5 to 1;

5.

9. ) The composition of claim 2 further comprising a neutralizer.

10. ) An article of manufacture that is fabricated from a composition according to claim 2.

11. ) A process for providing a sterilized article of manufacture which comprises the steps of:

a) providing an article according to claim 10;

and

b) exposing said article to a source of radiation selected from the group consisting of;

gamma radiation and electron beam radiation.

12. ) An article made by a process according to claim 11 wherein the propylene polymer is predominantly comprised of a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene, which random co-polymer contains between about 0.5% to about 8% of ethylene by weight based on the total weight of the polymer.

15. ) A composition according to claim 2 wherein the blend is present in any amount between about 500 ppm and 5000 ppm by weight based on the total weight of said polymer.

16. ) A composition according to claim 9 wherein the neutralizer comprises a hydrotalcite or a metallic stearate.

17. ) An article of manufacture according to claim 10 wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of:

a syringe, a pouch, a film, a tube, a labware and a medical kit.

18. ) A process according to claim 11 wherein exposing said article to a source of radiation comprises exposing said article to a total amount of radiation which is no greater than about five megarads.