Fitment with propylene-based blend component and flexible container with same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11046494-B2
Application number	US-201716332893-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2017
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a fitment. In an embodiment, the fitment includes a top portion, a base, and a channel extending through the top portion and the base for passage of a flowable material. The fitment is composed of a polymeric composition. The polymeric composition comprises: (i) from 60 weight % to 90 weight % of a propylene-based polymer having a density of 0.900 g/cc and a melt flow rate greater than 10.0 g/10 min; and (ii) from 40 weight % to 10 weight % of a propylene-based plastomer or elastomer (“PBPE”) having a density less than 0.900 g/cc, and a melt flow rate (MFR) from 5 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min. The present disclosure also provides a process for sealing multilayer films to the base of the fitment and the resultant flexible container formed from the process.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fitment comprising:
a top portion, a base, and a channel extending through the top portion and the base for passage of a flowable material;
the fitment composed of a polymeric composition comprising:
(i) from 60 weight % to 90 weight % of a propylene-based polymer having a density of 0.900 g/cc and a melt flow rate greater than 10.0 g/10 min; and
(ii) from 40 weight % to 10 weight % of a propylene-based plastomer or elastomer (“PBPE”) having a density less than 0.900 g/cc, and a melt flow rate (MFR) from 5 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min.

2. The fitment of claim 1 wherein the polymeric composition has a density from 0.856 g/cc to 0.896 g/cc and an MFR from 1 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min.

3. The fitment of claim 1 wherein the propylene-based polymer is selected from the group consisting of propylene/ethylene copolymer and propylene homopolymer.

4. The fitment of claim 1 wherein the propylene-based polymer is a propylene/ethylene copolymer having an MFR from 20 g/10 min to 25 g/10 min; and
the PBPE has a density from 0.860 g/cc to 0.890 g/cc and a MFR from 20 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min.

5. The fitment of claim 1 wherein the propylene-based polymer is a propylene homopolymer having an MFR from greater than 10 g/10 min to 15 g/10 min; and the PBPE has an MFR from 5 g/10 min to less than 10 g/10 min.

6. A process comprising:
A. providing a fitment having a top portion, a base, and a channel extending through the top portion and the base, the fitment composed of a polymeric composition comprising:
(i) from 60 weight % to 90 weight % of a first propylene-based polymer having a density of 0.900 g/cc and a melt flow rate greater than 10.0 g/10 min, and from 40 weight % to 10 weight % of a propylene-based plastomer or elastomer (“PBPE”) having a density less than 0.900 g/cc, and a melt flow rate from 5 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min;
B. placing the base between two opposing multilayer films, each multilayer film having a respective seal layer comprising a second propylene-based polymer;
C. sealing the base to each multilayer film under heat seal conditions; and
D. forming a seal between the fitment and the multilayer films.

7. The process of claim 6 comprising forming a hermetic seal.

8. The process of claim 6 wherein the heat seal conditions comprise a seal bar pressure of 344.7 kPa at 210° C. and a dwell time of 0.5 seconds, the process comprising
providing the polymeric composition comprising (i) from 60 wt % to 90 wt % of the first propylene-based polymer that is a propylene/ethylene copolymer having an MFR from 20 g/10 min to 25 g/10 min, and (ii) from 40 wt % to 10 wt % of the PBPE having a density from 0.860 g/cc to 0.890 g/cc and a MFR from 20 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min; and
forming a seal between the fitment and the multilayer films, the seal having an average peak load greater than 2.27 kg.

9. The process of claim 6 wherein the heat seal conditions comprise a seal bar pressure of 344.7 kPa at 170° C. and a dwell time of 0.5 seconds, the process comprising
providing the polymeric composition comprising (i) from 60 wt % to 90 wt % of the first propylene-based polymer that is a propylene homopolymer having an MFR from greater than 10 g/10 min to 15 g/10 min, and (ii) from 40 wt % to 10 wt % of the PBPE having an MFR from 5 g/10 min to less than 10 g/10 min, and
forming a seal between the fitment and the multilayer films, the seal having an average peak load greater than 0.0454 kg.

10. A flexible container comprising:
a first multilayer film and a second multilayer film, each multilayer film comprising a seal layer, the multilayer films arranged such that the seal layers oppose each other and the second multilayer film is superimposed on the first multilayer film;
a fitment sandwiched between the first multilayer film and the second multilayer film, the fitment having a base, the fitment composed of a polymeric composition comprising
(i) from 60 weight % to 90 weight % of a propylene-based polymer having a density of 0.900 g/cc and a melt flow rate greater than 10.0 g/10 min, and
(ii) from 40 weight % to 10 weight % of a propylene-based plastomer or elastomer (“PBPE”) having a density less than 0.900 g/cc and a melt flow rate from 5 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min.; and
the base is sealed to the first multilayer film and to the second multilayer film.

11. The flexible container of claim 10 wherein the fitment comprises
a top portion; and
a channel extending through the top portion and the base, the channel for passage of a flowable material.

12. The flexible container of claim 10 wherein the first multilayer film and the second multilayer film are sealed along a common peripheral edge; and
the base is sealed to the first multilayer film and to the second multilayer film along a portion of the common peripheral edge.

13. The flexible container of claim 10 wherein the base sealed to the multilayer films is a base seal, and the base seal is a hermetic seal.

Assignees

• Dow Global Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Hansen Sydney E
• Bilgen Mustafa

Classifications

• B65D75/5883

  connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls · CPC title

• B32B1/08

  Tubular products · CPC title

• B32B27/36

  comprising polyesters · CPC title

• B32B7/12

  using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties · CPC title

• C08L23/12

  Polypropene · CPC title