Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/04—Oxygen-containing compounds
  • C08K5/09—Carboxylic acids; Metal salts thereof; Anhydrides thereof
  • C08K5/098—Metal salts of carboxylic acids
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
  • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
  • B65D41/3442—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container
  • B65D41/3447—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/16—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
  • B65D51/1605—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby the interior of the container is maintained in permanent gaseous communication with the exterior
  • B65D51/1622—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby the interior of the container is maintained in permanent gaseous communication with the exterior by means of a passage for the escape of gas between the closure and the lip of the container mouth
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/16—Nitrogen-containing compounds
  • C08K5/20—Carboxylic acid amides
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
  • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
  • C08L23/10—Homopolymers or copolymers of propene

Definitions

• compositions for making closures which contain polyolefin resins and at least two lubricants; compositions for making linerless closures containing tocopherol anti-oxidant and closures made from the foregoing compositions.
• the lubricants are erucamide and at least one saturated co-lubricant.
• Closures for containers are effective when they can both adequately seal a container after the container is filled, and subsequently readily opened for emptying of the contents of the container by the end-user.
• the composition of the closure will dictate each of these properties. Determination of whether or not a particular composition will be useful involves evaluation of both the application torque and removal torque of the closure.
• Application torque is a measure of the force required to seal the container when the closure is initially applied
• removal torque is a measure of the force required to remove the closure.
• the contents of the container and the container material are also relevant to the selection of the proper closure.
• a closure which is more tightly applied is also more difficult to remove.
• lubricants are often added to the closure composition. However, these lubricants have the potential for interacting with and leaching into the contents of the container.
• Fatty acid amides such as erucamide are typically used as lubricants in closures.
• these oleamides have double bonds which are susceptible to attack by oxygen. The result of this attack is that compounds such as aldehydes and ketones may be produced from the lubricants.
• These aldehydes may give an off- flavor or an off-odor to the contents of the container, which may be more or a less pronounced, depending upon the contents.
• mineral waters have such delicate bouquets that they cannot tolerate even relatively slight off-flavors.
• bottled drinking water may be disinfected with ozone to remove micro-organisms.
• ozone is present in bottled water in trace amounts, from 0.1 to about 0.4 mg/1.
• the ozone may also react with double-bond containing compounds (such as erucamide) to yield aldehydes. These aldehydes are thought to be responsible for fruity to musty off-flavors in bottled water, depending upon the concentration of the contaminant.
• the invention is directed to a closure composition
• a closure composition comprising: a) from about 98.5 to about 99.9 weight percent of at least one polyolefin resin; and b) from about 1.5 to about 0.01 weight percent of a combination of erucamide and at least one saturated co-lubricant, wherein the ratio of erucamide to co-lubricant is 1 :10 to 10:1.
• the composition may further comprise from about 0.1 to about 3 weight percent of at least one anti-oxidant.
• the anti-oxidant may be tocopherol or a homologue thereof.
• the composition may also contain an additional anti-oxidant, wherein the ratio of said anti-oxidant to said additional anti-oxidant is from about 1 :5 to about 5:1.
• the invention is also directed to a closure composition for a linerless closure comprising: a) from about 97 to about 99.9 weight percent of at least one polyolefin resin; and b) from about 3 to about 0.1 weight percent of anti-oxidant tocopherol or homologues thereof.
• the composition may further comprise a lubricant, or an additional anti-oxidant, wherein the ratio of said tocopherol to said additional anti-oxidant is from about 1 :5 to about 5:1. More particularly, the lubricant may be about 1.5 to about 0.01 weight percent of the total composition, and the lubricant may be a combination of erucamide and at least one saturated co-lubricant. The ratio of erucamide to co-lubricant may be 1:10 to 10:1.
• the invention is also directed to a closure comprising: a circular top wall having a depending annular skirt; said skirt having internal threads and a depending pilfer band; wherein said closure is molded from the composition described above.
• the polyolefin may be polypropylene; additives such as pigments and emulsifiers may also be included; or the closure may be a linerless closure. More particularly, an additive pigment which may be utilized is ultramarine blue.
• the saturated co-lubricant may be stearamide, behenamide, ethylene bis-stearamide or zinc stearate.
• the invention is also directed to a method for reducing off-odors and off- flavors of contents stored in sealed containers comprising the step of: sealing said container with a linerless closure, wherein said linerless closure is of the composition described above.
• the container's contents may be water or other potable beverages, and the off-odors and off-flavors may be derived from aldehydes or ketones which may be formed by undesirable reactions with certain additives to a closure composition.
• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic closure embodying the principles of the present invention.
• Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the closure shown in Figure 1 illustrated with an associated container.
• This invention is directed generally to compositions for making closures which contain polyolefin resins and at least two lubricants; compositions for making linerless closures containing tocopherol anti-oxidant and closures made from the foregoing compositions.
• the lubricants are erucamide and at least one saturated co-lubricant. Definitions of Terms: As used herein, the term "composition” is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from a combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts
• Lubricants have been utilized externally to treat the sliding surfaces of caps for reducing opening torque as disclosed in U S Patent No 4,710,409
• lubricants may be constituents of the closure composition, as taught for example by U S Patent No 4,209,102
• erucamide is a useful lubricant for incorporating into the closure composition
• the possibility for unfavorable interactions of erucamide which produce off-flavors or off-odors exists, as was previously described
• the resultant lubricant combination allows for retention of desirable torque properties and minimization of the potential for undesirable interactions of the closure and the associated product
• At least one co-lub ⁇ cant is utilized in combination with erucamide in the closure composition
• the co-lub ⁇ cant is a compound which is saturated, meaning it does not have double bonds
• the use of a co-lub ⁇ cant decreases the amount of erucamide which must be utilized Furthermore, if the co-lub ⁇ cant is unsaturated, there is a lesser likelihood of unfavorable interactions Consequently, the potential for production of off-flavors or off-odors from the lubricant combinations will be minimized
• the ratio of erucamide to the co-lub ⁇ cant is from 1 10 to 10 1, preferably from 1 5 to 5 1 and most preferably from 1 2 to 2 1
• the co-lub ⁇ cants to be used in conjunction with erucamide may be aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricants such as liquid paraffin, white mineral oils of industrial grade, synthetic paraffin, petroleum wax, petrolatum and odorless light hydrocarbons, sihcones such as organopolysiloxanes, higher saturated fatty acids obtained from vegetable and animal oils and fats and hydrogenation products thereof, having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, hydroxystea ⁇ c acid, linear aliphatic monohyd ⁇ c alcohols having at least 4 carbon atoms, obtained by reducing animal and vegetable oils and saturated fats or by cracking distillation of natural waxes, dodecyl alcohol, polyglycols such as polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of 200 to 9500, polypropylene glycols having a molecular weight of at least 1000, and polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block copolymers having a molecular weight of 1900 to 9000, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, z
• the co-lub ⁇ cant may be an amide or an amme such as higher fatt ⁇ acid amides, 2-steroam ⁇ doethyl stearate, ethylene-bis- saturated fatty acid amides, N,N'-b ⁇ s-(2-hydroxyethyl)-alkyl amides having 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, N,N'-b ⁇ s(hydroxyethyl)-lauroam ⁇ de, fatty acid diefhanolamines and distea ⁇ c acid esters of d ⁇ (hydroxyethyl)-d ⁇ ethylene t ⁇ amme monoacetate
• the co-lub ⁇ cants may also be fatty acid esters of monohyd ⁇ c or polyhyd ⁇ c alcohols such as n-butyl stearate, methyl ester of hydrogenated rosin, di-n-butyl sebacate, 2-ethylhexyl sebacate, octyl sebacate, glycerin fatty acid ester, stea ⁇ c acid ester of pentaerythritol, pentaerythritol tetrastearate, sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol monostearate, polyethylene glycol dilaurate, polyethylene glycol monooleate, polyethylene glycol dioleate, polyethylene glycol coconut fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol tall oil fatty acid ester, 1,3-butanediol diethylene glycol stearate and propylene glycol fatty acid ester among others
• the co-lub ⁇ cants may also be t ⁇ glyce ⁇ des and waxes such as hydrogenated edible oils and fats, cotton seed oil and other edible oils, linseed oil, palm oil, glycerin ester of 12-hydroxystea ⁇ c acid, hydrogenated fish oils, beef tallow, spermaceti wax, montan wax, carnauba wax, bees' wax, haze wax, esters of monohyd ⁇ c aliphatic alcohols with aliphatic saturated acids such as hardened whale oil, lauryl stearate and stearyl stearate and lanolme among others Those skilled in the art understand that some of the natural products described in this paragraph may be partially unsaturated. Such products would be hydrogenated prior to use as saturated co-lubricants in the compositions described herein.
• co-lubricants are behenamide (CRODAMIDE BR, available from Croda Oleochemicals of England); ethylene bis-stearamide, stearamide and zinc stearate.
• the lubricant combination is incorporated in an amount of 0.01 to 1.5% by weight, preferably 0.2 to 1% by weight, and especially preferably 0.2 to 0.5% by weight in the closure composition, based on the base resin.
• the amount of the lubricant is too small and below this range, the opening torque becomes too high and the opening operation is difficult.
• the amount of lubricant is too large and exceeds the above range, the application torque is too low, causing insufficient sealing.
• Useful anti-oxidants include ascorbic acid; iso- ascorbic acid; gallic acid; tocopherol; hydroquinone; catechol; resorcine; dibutylhydroxytoluene; dibutylhydroxyanisole; pyrogallol; hydroxyphenylpropionates such as tetrakismethylene(3,5-di-t-butyl-4'-hydroxyphenyl propionate; alkyl phenols such as 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-rnethylphenol; hydroxybenzyl compounds such as tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) isocyanurate; alkylidene bisphenols such as 2,2'-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-t-butylphenol); phosphites and phosphonites such as bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) pentaerythritol dip
• Tocopherol is a preferred anti-oxidant; however, a wide variety of tocopherol compounds may be used.
• the compound dl-alpha-tocopherol (2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4',8',12'-trimethyltridecyl)-6-chromanol) also known as Vitamin E is quite useful.
• homologues such as the stereospecific isomers of alpha or beta tocopherol; gamma tocopherol and 6-tocopherol may also be used in accordance with the present invention.
• Vitamin E has been described as a useful anti-oxidant in HDPE polymers by Ho et al. in the Journal of Vinyl & Additive Technology, June 1998, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp 139-150.
• Tocopherol has also been disclosed as a flavor protecting in conjunction with another compound for closure liners in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,863,964 and 5,663,223. Moreover, tocopherol has also been disclosed as a useful oxygen scavenger in a cover for a container in U.S. Patent No. 5,143,763. However, tocopherol has not been disclosed for use as an anti-oxidant in compositions for making linerless closures.
• Closure liners normally contain ethylene vinyl acetate, through which the tocopherol readily disperses. However, the polyolefin resins such as polypropylene utilized in compositions for making linerless closures, would not be assumed to allow facile, tocopherol dispersion.
• useful anti-oxidants may contain catalysts, water-retentive agents or hydrates.
• the anti-oxidants are present in the closure composition in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 3%> weight percent, more preferably in an amount of from about 0.2% to 2% weight percent, and most preferably in an amount of from about 0.5 to 1.5 weight percent.
• the ratio of the first anti-oxidant to the second anti-oxidant is from about 1 :5 to about 5:1, preferably from about 1 :3 to about 3:1 and most preferably from about 1 :2 to about 2: 1.
• Polyolefms such as polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers formed from propylene or ethylene with at least a second monomer may be utilized in the closure compositions.
• Polypropylene is a particularly preferred resin.
• Combinations of any of the above-mentioned polyolefin may also be utilized.
• Pigments may be added to the closure compositions. In order to color the closure, or render it opaque, white pigments such titanium dioxide may be added; color pigments such as carbon black, red iron oxide, tartrazine lake or ultramarine blue (ULTRAMARINE BLUE NUBIX E-25, available from Clariant) may be added. Microencapsuled pigments may be particularly advantageous.
• Pigment is usually from about 0.2%o to about 0.8%> of the total composition.
• Emulsifiers may be added to the co-lubricants, or separately to the closure compositions.
• Appropriate emulsifiers include non-toxic, non-ionic surfactants which are virtually tasteless at the concentrations employed, or at least devoid of any unpleasant or undesired taste. Examples are sorbitan polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters such as sorbitan polyethylene (20) mono-oleate (TWEEN 80).
• TWEEN 80 sorbitan polyethylene (20) mono-oleate
• the ratio of the lubricating composition to the emulsifier and the concentration of the emulsifier in the lubricating formulation may vary within wide limits, depending upon circumstances.
• Closures The compositions described above may be utilized to form closures. A presently preferred closure is described as follows.
• FIGURES 1 and 2 therein is shown a container closure 10 which is used in conjunction with an associated container C.
• the closure includes a circular top wall portion 12, and a depending annular skirt portion 14.
• the closure includes an internal thread formation 16 on the skirt portion 14 for threaded cooperation with a thread formation on the associated container C.
• the skirt portion 14 of the closure 10 defines a plurality of axially extending vent grooves 18.
• the closure 10 is configured for tamper-indication, and accordingly, includes an annular pilfer band 20 which depends from, and is at least partially frangibly connected to skirt portion 14.
• the pilfer band includes an annular band portion 22 which is distinguished from the skirt portion 14 by a circumferentially extending score 24 which separates the pilfer band from the skirt portion.
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced frangible bridges 26 extend between the inside surfaces of the skirt portion and pilfer band to provide the desired frangible connection therebetween.
• the pilfer band 20 of the closure 10 is configured in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 4,938,370, to McBride, hereby incorporated by reference.
• the illustrated pilfer band includes a plurality of circumferentially space, inwardly extending flexible projections 28 which are configured for cooperative engagement with the annular locking ring of the associated container C.
• the pilfer band of the closure 10 may be otherwise configured, such as in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 4,418,828, to Wilde et al., hereby incorporated by reference.
• the illustrated closure 10 is of a linerless construction, that is, the closure does not include a sealing liner component or like element positioned near or adjacent to the top wall portion 12 for sealing engagement with an associated container. Rather, the closure includes an integral and unitary annular sealing lip 30 which projects inwardly generally from the juncture of top wall portion 12 and skirt portion 14. Annular sealing lip 30 is configured for resiliently flexible engagement with the associated container C, as shown in FIGURE 2. The desired sealing cooperation between the sealing lip and the container is enhanced by the provision of an annular stop element 32 which depends from top wall portion 12 of the closure 10. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, flexible sealing lip 30 is urged upwardly against the stop element 32 as the closure 10 is applied to the associated container C, with the stop element thus cooperating with the sealing lip to urge the sealing lip into sealing cooperation with the container C.
• EXAMPLE 1 To illustrate the utility of the compositions of the present invention, the combinations of erucamide and saturated co-lubricant were formulated into compositions typically utilized for linerless closures, and then injection molded into closures. These closures were subjected to conditions which would enhance any potential undesirable interactions, and then informally odor tested to determine whether or not any off-odors could be detected. The experiments were performed as follows.
• Erucamide was from Witco as KEMAMIDE E, having as the major constituent 13-czs-docosanamide.
• the co-lubricants were behenamide (available from Croda Oleochemicals of England as CROD AMIDE BR, major constituent: docosanamide); ethylene bis-stearamide, stearamide (octadecanamide, available from Witco as
• EXAMPLE 2 The procedure for making test samples described in Example 1 was utilized to test other formulations by a panel, using the conventional triangle test or multiple comparison test.
• the composition of the formulations is detailed in Table 2.
• Formulations 4 and 5 represent the conventional lubricant, erucamide alone.
• Formulations 6 and 7 represent the combinations disclosed herein. Test samples were evaluated after one week, after two weeks, after two months and after four months after the sample was placed in the jar. In each case, formulations 6 and 7 were judged by the panel to be within the requirements met by currently acceptable closures.
• the currently acceptable closure is made of polyethylene, a resin which requires much less lubrication than polypropylene.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Lubricants (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Macromolecular Shaped Articles (AREA)

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  • 2001-02-21 EP EP01914415A patent/EP1263858A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-02-21 PL PL01366293A patent/PL366293A1/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-02-21 BR BR0108551-4A patent/BR0108551A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-02-21 AU AU2001239805A patent/AU2001239805A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-02-21 WO PCT/US2001/005403 patent/WO2001062837A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-02-21 CA CA002399879A patent/CA2399879A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-02-21 PE PE2001000186A patent/PE20011173A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
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  • 2001-02-21 CN CN01805435A patent/CN1425036A/zh active Pending
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  • 2001-02-22 CO CO01014267A patent/CO5231210A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
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