Multilayer thermoplastic articles with improved recyclability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11590741-B2
Application number	US-202017080034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2020
Priority date	Apr 27, 2018
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

Abstract

A multilayer thermoplastic article blended with hydrolytically unstable polymers and a material component for improved recyclability. The multilayer thermoplastic article having an inner layer being made of a thermoplastic material, an outer layer being made of a thermoplastic material, and an intermediate layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. The intermediate layer is made of a blended material comprising 50 to 99 wt. % of a hydrolytically unstable polymer and 1 to 50 wt. % of the material component selected from the group consisting of an oxygen scavenger, an oxidizable organic polymer, a passive barrier material, Iron, Ascorbic Acid, and potassium sulfite.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multilayer co-injected preform for blow molding a thermoplastic container comprising:
an inner layer being made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) material as base resin;
an outer layer being made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) material as base resin; and
an intermediate layer coextruded and co-injected between the inner layer and the outer layer to form the multilayer co-injected preform, the intermediate layer being made of a blended material comprising 75 to 90 wt. % of a hydrolytically unstable polymer and 10 to 25 wt. % of an oxidizable organic polymer, the hydrolytically unstable polymer is Polyglycolic Acid (PGA), the oxidizable organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, oxidizable polyamide materials, or poly(alkylene ether), PTMEG; unsaturated hydrocarbons, MXBT, and m-xylylene-bis-(tetrahydrophthalimide), the intermediate layer further comprises a compatibilizer selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride (MAH), MAH-grafted functional polymers, glycidyl methacrylate group (GMA), GMA-grafted functional polymers, diblock copolymers, and nonreactive polar polymers, the oxidizable organic polymer being in the presence of a transition metal catalyst,
wherein the multilayer co-injected preform is adapted to be blow molded to a final desired shape of the thermoplastic container.

2. The multilayer co-injected preform according to claim 1 , wherein a melt temperature of the hydrolytically unstable polymer is substantially equal to the melt temperature of the oxidizable organic polymer.

3. The multilayer co-injected preform according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional thickness of the intermediate layer is in the range of 1 to 30% of the total thickness of the inner layer, the outer layer, and the intermediate layer.

4. The multilayer co-injected preform according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional thickness of the intermediate layer is in the range of 2 to 4% of the total thickness of the inner layer, the outer layer, and the intermediate layer.

5. The multilayer co-injected preform according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a colorant having a UV blocker.

6. The multilayer co-injected preform according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a colorant configured to indicate removal of the PGA during a recycle wash process.

7. The multilayer co-injected preform according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a colorant having a Near Infrared (NIR) absorber being adjustable by placement and concentration.

8. The multilayer co-injected preform according to Claim 7 , wherein the Near Infrared (NIR) absorber is configured to provide preferential heating during blow molding at a predetermined position of the preform.

9. The multilayer co-injected preform according to Claim 8 , wherein the predetermined position of the preform is a middle of the preform.

10. The multilayer co-injected preform according to Claim 8 , wherein the predetermined position of the preform is an inside of the preform.

Assignees

• Amcor Rigid Packaging Usa Llc

Inventors

• Beuerle Frederick C
• Witham Dan
• Brace John

Classifications

• Y02W30/62

  Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling · CPC title

• C08L67/04

  Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones (C08L67/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B27/365

  comprising polycarbonates · CPC title

• B32B2270/00

  Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers · CPC title

• B32B2439/60

  Bottles · CPC title