CH710393A1 - Thick applicators and caps. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to thick-walled closures and applicators for packaging, in particular for cosmetic products, as well as processes for their preparation and materials therefor. Suitable materials include filled plastics containing 10-80% by weight of thermoplastic polymer and containing 20-90% by weight of additives in particulate form selected from the group consisting of metal, metal oxide, ceramic oxides and graphite.

Description

The invention relates to thick-walled closures and applicators for packaging, in particular for cosmetic products, also processes for their preparation and materials therefor.

Thick-walled closures and applicators for packaging for cosmetic products are known per se. Such applicators and closures are often surface decorated or metallized. For this reason, the surface must be free of sink marks and defects. Furthermore, these articles should often convey a high-quality appearance; Therefore, they are made thick-walled and use a material with relatively high specific gravity.

The properties mentioned make the use of polyolefins difficult, especially in thick-walled articles. Even when using other plastics (SAN, ABS, PETG etc.), the application is made considerably more difficult by very long cooling times, since the thermal conductivity of plastics is generally very low. So far, complex tool designs have been used to improve the cooling in the tools with various technologies. The use of special cooling technologies in the tools is very expensive and this also does not significantly shorten the cooling times. There is no commercial solution for the use of polyolefins in the area of thick-walled articles which have to be subsequently decorated (free from sink marks).

In order to realize the mentioned properties in thick-walled articles, commercial solutions for such applicators and closures therefore provide for the use of metallic articles, for example from Zamak. However, such metallic articles are relatively expensive and not preferred in cosmetic packaging.

The object of the invention is therefore to remedy the disadvantages outlined above. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide improved articles of the type mentioned, as well as materials and methods of preparation for such articles.

This is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims represent advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The given in connection with the present invention general, preferred and particularly preferred embodiments, areas, etc. can be combined with each other. Likewise, individual definitions, embodiments, etc. may be omitted or not relevant.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to packaging components (articles) selected from the group of closures and applicators having a wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm, a specific gravity of at least 1.5 g / cm 3, from a filled one Plastic consist, characterized in that the filled plastic (i) to 10-80 wt.% Contains thermoplastic polymer and (ii) to 20-90 wt.% Additives in particulate form, selected from the group of metals, metal oxides, ceramic oxides or contains graphite.

This aspect of the invention will be explained in more detail below.

Packaging, in particular for cosmetics, are generally known and comprise at least one product container and a closure. In addition, cosmetic packages often include an applicator, i. a device which allows the removal of the contents and targeted application (application), for example. On lip or eyelid. In the present invention, the two packaging components closures and applicators are also collectively referred to as articles. The inventive articles are thick-walled, i. they have a wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm, typically 2-10 mm.

Filling containers are known in the art; the term generally refers to all types of flexible and semi-rigid and rigid containers, e.g. Tubes, pouches (floor, hose, block bags), bottles. Such containers may have one or more, in particular a Füllgutraum. In principle, all known materials can be used for the product containers, preferably plastics or glass are used. The inventive articles can be adapted to any product containers. Filling containers can, but need not, be thick-walled. Preferably, product containers are not thick-walled. In an advantageous embodiment, the product container is a tube or a bottle.

Thick-walled closures are well known and include screw and bounce closures, especially screw caps (smooth screw caps, fluted screw caps, Softline - screw caps); Hinged closures; Locks with child protection; Cannula closures, (such as conical cannula closures and fully covering stoppers). Such closures are suitable for tubes, bottles, Stehkammerbeutel, especially for tubes and bottles. Such closures may include decoration such as metallization, galvanization, hot stamping, screen printing.

Thick-walled applicators are well known and include devices for applying products, in particular cosmetics. Suitable applicators are roll-on type, pinpoint, airless pumps. Such applicators are suitable for tubes, bottles, Stehkammerbeutel, especially for tubes and bottles. Such applicators may include a decoration, for example, a metallization, galvanization, hot stamping, screen printing.

Additives: According to the invention, additives in particulate form are added to the thermoplastic polymer at 20-90% by weight, preferably 60-90% by weight.

Suitable particle sizes for additives can vary within a wide range, particle sizes of 0.1-10 micrometers are advantageous. A wide range of materials which improve the thermal conductivity of the plastic is suitable for the additives. Suitable materials are metals (including alloys), in particular selected from the group comprising copper, aluminum and tungsten. Suitable materials are also metal oxides (including mixed oxides and non-stoichiometric compounds), in particular iron oxide. Suitable materials are also ceramic oxides (comprising natural and synthetic mixed oxides), in particular barium sulfate. Suitable materials are also carbonaceous materials such as graphite in particular.

Polymers: According to the invention, a wide range of thermoplastic polymers can be used. These are added to the filled plastic to 20-90 wt.%, Preferably 10-40 wt.%. The choice of suitable polymer depends on the product requirements, in particular the nature of the contents, the desired finish of the packaging, the material of the product container, the choice of additive. Such polymers can be selected by one skilled in the art on the basis of his or her expertise or on the basis of simple experiments. Suitable polymers include homopolymers, copolymers, copolyesters and blends. Mention may be made of polymers from the group of polyolefins (polyethylenes, polypropylenes), the group of ionomers, the group of styrene-acrylonitriles, the group of acrylic butadiene styrenes, and the group of polyethylene terephthalates (such as PET and PETG).

Filled plastic: The term of the filled plastic is familiar to the expert; filled plastics are also called "compounds". In the context of the present invention, the term refers to a material comprising, in particular consisting of, additives and polymers as described herein. The additives are: evenly distributed in the polymer so that said polymer forms a plastic matrix. These filled plastics can be processed by conventional methods, in particular by injection molding. The density of the filled plastics can vary within a wide range; in particular specific weights of at least 1.5 g / cm 3, preferably of at least 1.7 g / cm 3 and up to at most 12 g / cm 3, preferably at most 6.0 g / cm 3 are suitable.

Preferably, the articles have the following composition: 60-90% graphite and 10-40% ABS; or 60-90% graphite and 10-40% PP; or 60-90% FeO and 10-40% ABS; or 60-90% FeO and 10-40% PP.

The term thick-walled is to be understood in the context of injection molding production process. A wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm, therefore, particularly describes an article of the most part along a cross-section, i. to more than 50%, preferably to more than 66%, in particular to more than 75%, especially to more than 90% along its cross-section, has a wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm, preferably of at least 2.0 mm.

Preferably, the inventive articles are available by injection molding and are then referred to as injection-molded articles. Preferably, the inventive articles have a volume of 1-15 cm <3> and / or a weight of 1.5-20 g.

The invention further relates to articles as described herein for cosmetic products; or the use of articles as described herein as a packaging component of a cosmetic package.

The invention further relates to a filled plastic as described herein as a packaging material for cosmetic products; or the use of a filled plastic as described herein as a packaging material for cosmetic products.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to methods for producing thick-walled closures or applicators as described herein in standard injection molding processes using the thermally conductive plastic matrices described herein. This aspect of the invention will be explained in more detail below.

The invention thus relates to a method of manufacturing an article as described herein comprising the steps of: (a) providing a filled plastic as described herein; (b) injection molding this filled plastic; (c) if applicable, subsequent steps for metallization and / or surface decoration.

Step (a): The production of a suitable filled plastic is known per se. In one embodiment, in particular at low degrees of filling, the polymer is introduced in the form of granules, admixed with the additive and melted with stirring. In an alternative embodiment, in particular at high degrees of filling, the polymer is introduced in the form of granules and triturated to give powder, and then the additive is incorporated by compounding.

Step (b): Injection molding processes and corresponding devices and tools are known per se. A particular advantage of the present method is that standard tools can be used without special cooling. Due to the high thermal conductivity of the article with standard tools cooled faster. The high proportion of additives additionally prevents sink marks, especially in the case of polyolefins, and enables a perfect surface without post-processing for subsequent steps.

Step (c): Sequential steps for metallization and / or surface decoration are known per se. It is a further advantage of the present invention that the known subsequent steps can also be applied to the articles produced according to the invention. Metallization can be carried out, for example, by vacuum metallization or galvanization. A surface decoration can be done, for example, by screen printing or hot stamping.

The following figures illustrate the present invention without limiting it.

A specific embodiment of an inventive applicator will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. 1 shows an applicator in the perspective view, Fig. 2 and 3, the applicator in two sections along the drawn lines. The filled plastics described here are hatched.

Claims (7)

1. Article selected from the group of closures and applicators, which - has a wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm, - has a specific gravity of at least 1.5 g / cm 3, - consists of a filled plastic, characterized in that the filled plastic - Contains 10-80 wt.% Of thermoplastic polymer and To 20-90 wt.% Additives in particulate form, selected from the group of metals, metal oxides, ceramic oxides or. Contains graphite. 2. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the additives have a particle size of 0.1-10 microns. 3. Article according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that - said metals are selected from the group comprising copper, aluminum and tungsten; - said metal oxides are selected from the group comprising iron oxide (FeO); - said ceramic oxides are selected from the group comprising barium sulfate (BaSO4. 4. Article according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said thermoplastic polymers are selected from the group comprising polyolefins (PE, PP), ionomers, SAN, ABS, and PETG. 5. Article according to one of claims 1 to 4 for cosmetic products. 6. Method of making an article said article being selected from the group of closures and applicators, and said article has a wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm and a specific gravity of at least 1.5 g / cm 3, comprising the steps: (a) providing a filled plastic which contains from 10 to 80% by weight of thermoplastic polymer and from 20 to 90% by weight of additives in particulate form selected from the group of metals, metal oxides, ceramic oxides and graphite; (b) injection molding this filled plastic; (c) if applicable, subsequent steps for metallization and / or surface decoration. 7. use of a filled plastic, wherein said filled plastic contains from 10 to 80% by weight of thermoplastic polymer and from 20 to 90% by weight of additives in particulate form selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, ceramic oxides and graphite, for producing a closure or applicator, in particular for packaging cosmetic products.