Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/28—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising synthetic resins not wholly covered by any one of the sub-groups B32B27/30 - B32B27/42
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/06—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
  • B32B27/08—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/18—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin characterised by the use of special additives
  • B32B27/20—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin characterised by the use of special additives using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F8/00—Chemical modification by after-treatment
  • C08F8/44—Preparation of metal salts or ammonium salts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
  • B32B2262/10—Inorganic fibres
  • B32B2262/101—Glass fibres
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
  • B32B2307/30—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular thermal properties
  • B32B2307/306—Resistant to heat
  • B32B2307/3065—Flame resistant or retardant, fire resistant or retardant
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
  • B32B2307/40—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular optical properties
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2437/00—Clothing
  • B32B2437/02—Gloves, shoes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2439/00—Containers; Receptacles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2457/00—Electrical equipment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2535/00—Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses or catheter
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2607/00—Walls, panels
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F220/00—Copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and only one being terminated by only one carboxyl radical or a salt, anhydride ester, amide, imide or nitrile thereof
  • C08F220/02—Monocarboxylic acids having less than ten carbon atoms; Derivatives thereof
  • C08F220/04—Acids; Metal salts or ammonium salts thereof
  • C08F220/06—Acrylic acid; Methacrylic acid; Metal salts or ammonium salts thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F2800/00—Copolymer characterised by the proportions of the comonomers expressed
  • C08F2800/20—Copolymer characterised by the proportions of the comonomers expressed as weight or mass percentages
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F2810/00—Chemical modification of a polymer
  • C08F2810/50—Chemical modification of a polymer wherein the polymer is a copolymer and the modification is taking place only on one or more of the monomers present in minority
• • 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
  • C08L23/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
  • C08L23/08—Copolymers of ethene
  • C08L23/0846—Copolymers of ethene with unsaturated hydrocarbons containing atoms other than carbon or hydrogen
  • C08L23/0869—Copolymers of ethene with unsaturated hydrocarbons containing atoms other than carbon or hydrogen with unsaturated acids, e.g. [meth]acrylic acid; with unsaturated esters, e.g. [meth]acrylic acid esters
  • C08L23/0876—Salts thereof, i.e. ionomers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
  • Y10T428/1352—Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]

Definitions

• the present invention relates to molded articles, in particular injection molded or compression molded articles, made from certain ionomer compositions and having improved optical properties.
• lonomers are copolymers produced by partially or fully neutralizing parent acid copolymers comprising copolymerized residues of ⁇ -olefins and ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids.
• lonomers are copolymers produced by partially or fully neutralizing parent acid copolymers comprising copolymerized residues of ⁇ -olefins and ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids.
• a variety of articles made from ionomers by injection molding processes have been used in our daily life.
• golf balls with ionomer covers have been produced by injection molding. See, e.g.; U.S. Patent Nos. 4,714,253; 5,439,227;
• lonomers have also been used to produce injection molded hollow articles, such as containers. See, e.g. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,857,258;
• Containers produced by injection molding often have thick wall structures. When ionomers are used in forming such containers, the optical properties tend to suffer due to the thickness of the wall. There is a need, especially in the cosmetic industry, to develop a type of container that is made of ionomer compositions and that has improved optical properties.
• An injection molded or compression molded article comprises an ionomer composition and has improved optical properties.
• the ionomer composition comprises an ionomer that is produced by partially neutralizing a precursor acid copolymer, and the precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymehzed units of an ⁇ -olefin having 2 to 10 carbons and, based on the total weight of the precursor acid copolymer, about 19.5 to about 30 wt% of copolymehzed units of an ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons.
• the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, refer to a non-exclusive inclusion.
• a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a given list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements given, but may further include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
• a 'consisting essentially of claim occupies a middle ground between closed claims that are written in a 'consisting of format and fully open claims that are drafted in a 'comprising' format.
• Optional additives as defined herein, at levels that are appropriate for such additives, and minor impurities are not excluded from a composition by the term "consisting essentially of.
• compositions, a process, a structure, or a portion of a composition, a process, or a structure is described herein using an open- ended term such as "comprising,” unless otherwise stated the description also includes an embodiment that "consists essentially of or “consists of the elements of the composition, the process, the structure, or the portion of the composition, the process, or the structure.
• condition "A or B” is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present); A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present); or both A and B are true (or present).
• Exclusive "or” is designated herein by terms such as "either A or B" and "one of A or B", for example.
• copolymer refers to polymers comprising copolymehzed units resulting from copolymerization of two or more comonomers.
• a copolymer may be described herein with reference to its constituent comonomers or to the amounts of its constituent comonomers, for example "a copolymer comprising ethylene and 9 weight % of acrylic acid", or a similar description.
• Such a description may be considered informal in that it does not refer to the comonomers as copolymehzed units; in that it does not include a conventional nomenclature for the copolymer, for example International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature; in that it does not use product-by-process terminology; or for another reason.
• IUPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
• a description of a copolymer with reference to its constituent comonomers or to the amounts of its constituent comonomers means that the copolymer contains copolymerized units (in the specified amounts when specified) of the specified comonomers. It follows as a corollary that a copolymer is not the product of a reaction mixture containing given comonomers in given amounts, unless expressly stated in limited circumstances to be such.
• dipolymer refers to polymers consisting essentially of two monomers and the term “terpolymer” refers to polymers consisting essentially of three monomers.
• acid copolymer refers to a polymer comprising copolymerized units of an ⁇ -olefin, an ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and optionally other suitable comonomer(s), such as an ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester.
• ionomer refers to a polymer that is produced by partially or fully neutralizing the carboxylic acid groups of an acid copolymers.
• (meth)acrylic acid refers to methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, or a combination of methacrylic acid and acrylic acid.
• (meth)acrylate refers to methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, or a combination of methacrylic acid and acrylic acid.
• (meth)acrylate refers to alkyl esters of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, or a combination of methacrylic acid and acrylic acid. Described herein is a molded article produced from an ionomer composition. Such a molded article has improved optical properties, i.e., lower haze and higher clarity, compared to the prior art molded ionomer articles.
• the articles provided herein may be formed by any type of molding, such as extrusion molding, blow molding, compression molding or injection molding, the articles are described for the most part in terms of injection molding. Because ionomer compositions are typically thermoplastic materials, it is believed that injection molding will be the most commonly used process for forming the articles.
• the ionomer composition used in the injection molded article comprises an ionomer whose precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of an ⁇ -olefin having 2 to 10 carbons and, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer, about 19.5 to about 30 wt%, preferably about 20 to about 25 wt%, or more preferably about 21 to about
• Suitable ⁇ -olefin comonomers include, but are not limited to, ethylene, propylene, 1 -butene, 1 -pentene, 1 -hexene, 1-heptene, 3 methyl- 1 -butene, 4-methyl-1 -pentene, and the like and mixtures of two or more thereof.
• the ⁇ -olefin is ethylene.
• Suitable ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid comonomers include, but are not limited to, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, monomethyl maleic acid, and mixtures of two or more thereof.
• the ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid is (meth)acrylic acid.
• the precursor acid copolymer may further comprise copolymerized units of one or more other comonomer(s), such as unsaturated carboxylic acids having 2 to 10 carbons, or preferably 3 to 8 carbons, or derivatives thereof.
• Suitable acid derivatives include acid anhydrides, amides, and esters. Esters are preferred.
• esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, methyl acrylates, methyl methacrylates, ethyl acrylates, ethyl methacrylates, propyl acrylates, propyl methacrylates, isopropyl acrylates, isopropyl methacrylates, butyl acrylates, butyl methacrylates, isobutyl acrylates, isobutyl methacrylate, tert-butyl acrylates, tert-butyl methacrylates, octyl acrylates, octyl methacrylates, undecyl acrylates, undecyl methacrylates, octadecyl acrylates, octadecyl methacrylates, dodecyl acrylates, dodecyl methacrylates, 2-ethylhexyl acrylates, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylates
• Examples of preferable suitable comonomers include, but are not limited to, methyl acrylates, methyl methacrylates, butyl acrylates, butyl methacrylates, glycidyl methacrylates, vinyl acetates, and mixtures of two or more thereof.
• the precursor acid copolymer may be synthesized as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,404,134; 5,028,674; 6,500,888; and 6,518,365. Some suitable precursor acid copolymers may also be available from E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. of Wilmington, DE (hereinafter "DuPont") under the Nucrel® trademark.
• Suitable precursor acid copolymers have a melt flow rate (MFR or Ml) of 400 g/10 min or less, 350 g/10 min or less, 300 g/10 min or less,
• the carboxylic acid groups in the precursor acid copolymer are neutralized to form carboxylate anions.
• about 5% to about 90%, or preferably about 10% to about 50%, or more preferably about 20% to about 50%, or still more preferably about 20% to about 35% of the carboxylic acid groups are neutralized, based on the total carboxylic acid content of the precursor acid copolymer prior to the neutralization.
• the ionomer further comprises, as counterions to the carboxylate groups, one or more cations.
• the cations are metal ions.
• the metal ions may be monovalent, divalent, thvalent, multivalent, or a combination of ions of different valencies.
• Useful monovalent metal ions include but are not limited to ions of sodium, potassium, lithium, silver, mercury, copper, and the like, and mixtures of two or more thereof.
• Useful divalent metal ions include but are not limited to ions of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, copper, cadmium, mercury, tin, lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc, and the like, and mixtures of two or more thereof.
• Useful trivalent metal ions include but are not limited to ions of aluminum, scandium, iron, yttrium, and the like, and mixtures of two or more thereof.
• Useful multivalent metal ions include but are not limited to ions of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, tantalum, tungsten, chromium, cerium, iron, and the like, and mixtures of two or more thereof. It is noted that when the metal ion is multivalent, complexing agents such as stearate, oleate, salicylate, and phenolate radicals may be included, as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,404,134.
• the metal ions are preferably monovalent or divalent.
• the metal ions are selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and mixtures of two or more thereof. Yet more preferably, the metallic ions are sodium, zinc, or sodium and zinc. Sodium ions are particularly preferred.
• the precursor acid copolymers may be neutralized by procedures described in U.S. Patent No. 3,404,134. Suitable ionomers have a MFR of about 25 g/10 min or less, about
• Some preferred ionomers have a melt index in the range of 10 to 20 g/10 min.
• the ionomer composition may further comprise one or more suitable additive(s).
• suitable additives include, but are not limited to, plasticizers, processing aides, flow enhancing additives, flow reducing additives (e.g., organic peroxides), lubricants, pigments, dyes, optical bhghteners, flame retardants, impact modifiers, nucleating agents, antiblocking agents (e.g., silica), thermal stabilizers, hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), UV absorbers, UV stabilizers, dispersants, surfactants, chelating agents, coupling agents, adhesives, primers, reinforcement additives (e.g., glass fiber), fillers, and the like, and combinations of two or more additives. Suitable levels of these additives and methods of incorporating these additives into polymer compositions will be known to those of skill in the art. See, e.g., the Modern Plastics Encyclopedia, McGraw-Hill (New York, NY, 1995).
• thermal stabilizers include thermal stabilizers, UV absorbers, and hindered amine light stabilizers.
• Thermal stabilizers have been described in the art.
• Preferred general classes of thermal stabilizers include, but are not limited to, phenolic antioxidants, alkylated monophenols, alkylthiomethylphenols, hydroquinones, alkylated hydroquinones, tocopherols, hydroxylated thiodiphenyl ethers, alkylidenebisphenols, O-, N- and S-benzyl compounds, hydroxybenzylated malonates, aromatic hydroxybenzyl compounds, thazine compounds, aminic antioxidants, aryl amines, diaryl amines, polyaryl amines, acylaminophenols, oxamides, metal deactivators, phosphites, phosphonites, benzylphosphonates, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), compounds that destroy peroxide, hydroxylamines, nitrones, thiosy
• the ionomer compositions may contain any effective amount of thermal stabilizer(s). Use of thermal stabilizer(s) is optional and in some instances is not preferred. When thermal stabilizer(s) are used, they may be present in the ionomer compositions at a level of at least about 0.05 wt%, and up to about 10 wt%, more preferably up to about 5 wt%, and still more preferably up to about 1 wt%, based on the total weight of the ionomer composition.
• UV absorbers have also been described in the art.
• Preferred general classes of UV absorbers include, but are not limited to, benzotriazoles, hydroxybenzophenones, hydroxyphenyl triazines, esters of substituted and unsubstituted benzoic acids, and the like and mixtures thereof.
• the ionomer compositions may contain any effective amount of UV absorber(s). Use of an UV absorber is optional and in some instances is not preferred.
• UV absorber(s) When UV absorber(s) are used, they may be present in the ionomer compositions at a level of at least about 0.05 wt%, and up about 10 wt%, more preferably up to about 5 wt%, and still more preferably up to about 1 wt%, based on the total weight of the ionomer composition.
• Hindered amine light stabilizers have also been described in the art.
• hindered amine light stabilizers are secondary or tertiary, acetylated, N hydrocarbyloxy substituted, hydroxy substituted N- hydrocarbyloxy substituted, or other substituted cyclic amines which further incorporate steric hindrance, generally derived from aliphatic substitution on the carbon atoms adjacent to the amine function.
• the ionomer compositions may contain any effective amount of hindered amine light stabilizer(s). Use of a hindered amine light stabilizer is optional and in some instances is not preferred.
• hindered amine light stabilizer(s) When hindered amine light stabilizer(s) are used, they may be present in the ionomer compositions at a level of at least about 0.05 wt%, and up to about 10 wt%, more preferably up to about 5 wt%, and still more preferably, up to about 1 wt%, based on the total weight of the ionomer composition.
• the injection molded articles have a minimum thickness of at least about 3 mm. It follows that their maximum thickness is then greater than 3 mm.
• the injection molded article has a substantially uniform thickness, that is, preferably the minimum thickness and the maximum thickness are in the range of about 3 to about 100 mm, more preferably about 3 to about 50 mm, or still more preferably about 5 to about 35 mm.
• the term "thickness" as used herein refers to the length of an object in its smallest dimension. For example, when the object is a container, the "thickness" is typically the length measured through the wall of the container in a direction that is perpendicular to the wall.
• the thickness of the article is 0.5 cm. If a container is made by combining this cylinder with a bottom that is a disk having a diameter of 10 cm and a thickness of 1.0 cm, then the minimum thickness of the container is 0.5 cm and its maximum thickness is 1.0 cm or possibly slightly greater than 1.0 cm in the corner where the cylinder meets the container bottom.
• any suitable molding process may be used to form the molded articles described herein.
• Injection molding is a preferred molding process.
• the molded articles described herein may preferably be produced by any suitable injection molding process.
• Suitable injection molding processes include co-injection molding and over-molding. These processes are also referred to as two-shot or multi-shot molding processes.
• Injection molding equipment and processes are described generally in the Modern Plastics Encyclopedia and in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (5 th Edition), Wiley-lnterscience (Hoboken, NJ, 2006). In addition to this information, some manufacturers of injection molding equipment also provide instruction in injection molding techniques. With these resources at hand, one skilled in the art is able to determine the proper molding conditions required to produce a particular type of article from a given ionomer composition.
• an injection molding process may comprise the steps of: melting the ionomer composition; forming the injection molded article by flowing the molten ionomer composition into a mold; cooling the injection molded article in the mold until it will hold its shape; releasing the injection molded article from the mold; and cooling the injection molded article to room temperature ((22 + 3)°C) or to a lower temperature.
• room temperature ((22 + 3)°C) or to a lower temperature.
• the temperature of the surface of the newly unmolded article will be approximately equal to that of the mold, and its internal temperature will be significantly higher.
• the surface of the object may have a temperature that is below the solidification temperature of the ionomer composition, and the core of the article may have a temperature that is above the solidification temperature.
• the temperature external to the article may be controlled so that the environment is cooled at a particular rate
• the rate at which the article actually cools, both in its interior and at its surface is limited by the rate of heat transfer through the article and from the article's surface to its surroundings (typically air or quench bath). Consequently, the cooling rate of the articles described herein may not be uniform.
• the rate may be different at the article's surface than it is at the article's core, and the rate may vary continuously or discontinuously. For example, it may decrease with time approximately as an exponential function, when the temperature of the heat sink or environment is held approximately constant.
• the ionomer composition is generally molded (flowed into the mold) at a melt temperature of about 12O 0 C to about 25O 0 C, or preferably about 13O 0 C to about 21 O 0 C. In general, slow to moderate fill rates with pressures of about 69 to about 110 MPa are used.
• the mold temperatures may be in the range of about 5 0 C to about 5O 0 C.
• the injection molded article is cooled in the mold until it is self- supporting, as described above. Its surface temperature may be in the range of the temperature of the mold to a temperature that is below the solidification temperature of the ionomer composition when it is released from the mold.
• the bulk or average temperature of the article may be about 70 0 C to about 80 0 C.
• the temperature in the interior of the article may range from the temperature of the mold to temperatures above the melting temperature of the ionomer composition. Indeed, the interior temperature of the newly ejected article may be close to the temperature of the ionomer composition melt that was flowed into the mold.
• the injection molded article is cooled to room temperature, with or without quenching, at a rate of about 2.0°C/min, 1.5°C/min, 1.0°C/min, 0.7°C/min, 0.5°C/min, 0.3°C/min, 0.2°C/min, 0.1 °C/min or less, or at a rate that varies continuously or discontinuously between 2.0°C/min and 0.1 °C/min.
• cooling rates may refer to the temperature of the environment or heat sink, as in the example of a programmable oven or a temperature-controlled bath. Alternatively, they may refer to the bulk (average) temperature or core temperature of the article. Clearly, the article's surface may cool at much higher rates than these, for example up to about 50°C/min in the case of a molded article ejected from a mold into an ice water bath.
• the ionomer compositions described above provide molded articles with improved toughness and optical properties. The improvement in optical properties is distinctly evidenced when the articles are subjected to lower cooling rates. During the final steps of a molding process, for example, the molded article is ejected from the mold.
• the article may then be quenched, for example in a cool water bath. Because of the relatively lower temperature of the water and the relatively good heat transfer properties of water, quenched articles are expected to cool to room temperature over a relatively shorter time. Quenching requires additional equipment and a more elaborate manufacturing procedure, however.
• the newly ejected article may be placed on a cooling station (such as a cart or a tabletop in the manufacturing facility) to cool to room temperature (22+3 0 C).
• a cooling station such as a cart or a tabletop in the manufacturing facility
• room temperature 22+3 0 C
• the temperature of the air immediately surrounding the cooling station may be significantly higher than room temperature. Because of the relatively higher temperature and the relatively poor heat transfer properties of air, these articles are expected to cool to room temperature over a relatively longer time. Consequently, an improvement in optical properties under slow cooling rates is a desirable attribute of molded articles.
• the ionomer compositions described herein have a haze ranging from 0.7 to 13.5, 1.0 to 12.0, 2.0 to 10.0, 3.0 to 9.0, or 4.0 to 8.0, when measured according to ASTM D1003 using a Haze-gard Plus hazemeter (BYK-Gardner, Columbia, MD) on a test plaque having a thickness of 3.0 mm, said test plaque made by melting the ionomer composition, forming the molten ionomer composition into the test plaque, and cooling the molten ionomer composition to a temperature of (22 ⁇ 3)°C or less at a rate of 0.1 °C/min or less.
• the improvements in clarity may be measured quantitatively, for example using the Haze-gard Plus hazemeter. Alternatively, the improvements may be observed with the unaided eye and reported semi- quantitatively (e.g., compared to a set of standards of known clarity), qualitatively or in a relative ranking.
• the molded article may have any form.
• the molded article may be in the form of a multi-layer structure (such as an over- molded article), wherein at least one layer of the multi-layer structure consists essentially of the ionomer composition described above and has a minimum thickness of at least about 3 mm.
• the ionomer layer of the multi-layer article has a thickness of about 3 to about 100 mm, more preferably about 3 to about 50 mm, or yet more preferably about 5 to about 35 mm.
• the injection molded article described herein may have the form of a sheet, a container (e.g., a bottle or a bowl), a cap or stopper (e.g. for a container or a perfume bottle), a tray, a medical device or instrument (e.g., an automated or portable defibrillator unit), a handle, a knob, a push button, a decorative article, a panel, a console box, or a footwear component (e.g., a heel counter, a toe puff, or a sole).
• a container e.g., a bottle or a bowl
• a cap or stopper e.g. for a container or a perfume bottle
• a tray e.g., a medical device or instrument (e.g., an automated or portable defibrillator unit), a handle, a knob, a push button, a decorative article, a panel, a console box, or a footwear component (e.g., a heel counter
• the article may be an intermediate article for use in further shaping processes.
• the injection molded article may be a pre-form or a parison suitable for use in a blow molding process. Blow-molding processes are often used to form containers (e.g., bottles or cosmetic containers).
• the injection molded intermediate article may be in the form of a multi-layer structure.
• the container produced will also have a multi-layer wall structure.
• Some preferred articles include a sheet, a container, a cap or stopper, a tray, a medical device or instrument, a handle, a knob, a push button, a decorative article, a panel, a console box, or a footwear component.
• articles that are in the form of a multi-layer structure, in which at least one layer consists essentially of the ionomer composition and has a minimum thickness of at least about 3 mm.
• the improved optical properties under slower cooling rates afforded by the articles described herein are particularly desirable for containers and container caps.
• Cosmetic containers and cosmetic container caps, such as perfume caps, are particularly preferred.
• containers and cosmetics containers in which the container wall is in a multi-layer structure having at least one layer that consists essentially of the ionomer composition, and still more preferably the at least one layer that consists essentially of the ionomer composition has a minimum thickness of at least about 3 mm.
• the ionomer composition When the article is produced by an over-molding process, the ionomer composition may be used as the substrate material, the over- mold material or both.
• An overmolded structure may be useful when the superior clarity and shine afforded by the ionomer composition are desired in a surface layer.
• the ionomer composition described herein may be over-molded on a glass or metal container.
• the ionomer compositions may be over- molded on other articles (such as house items, medical devices or instruments, electronic devices, automobile parts, architectural structures, sporting goods, etc.) to form a soft touch and/or protective overcoat.
• melt flow rates (MFR or Ml) were measured according to ASTM Standard No. D-1238, at 190 0 C and under a weight of 2.16 kg.
• Injection molded rectangular test bars with the dimensions of 125x75x3 mm (thin test bars) and 125x45x20 mm (thick test bars) were made by feeding the ionomer resins into a Model 150-6 HPM injection molding machine (available from Taylor's Industrial Services of Mount Gilead, OH).
• the ionomer melt temperature was in the range of 13O 0 C to
• the "air cooled" thin test bars were re-heated in an air oven (at a temperature of 125 0 C) for 90 min and then cooled at a rate of 0.1°C/min to room temperature to produce the
• the clarity of the thick test bars was determined by visual inspection. The bars were ranked on a relative scale from 1 (highest clarity) to 3 (lowest clarity).
• the molded bars were folded in half (180°) and placed in a sample holder at 23°C. Two levels of stress were applied. The stress level was designated “medium” when the distance between the two ends of the folded test bar was maintained at 45 mm. The stress level was designated “high” when the two ends of the folded test bar touched and a separation of 5 mm was maintained 10 mm from the top of the fold.
• lonomer Resins • ION A was a copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid containing
• ION A was neutralized to a level of 56% with a source of sodium ions and had a MFR of 0.9 g/10 min. The MFR of the precursor acid copolymer was 60 g/10 min.
• ION B was a copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid containing
• ION C was a copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid containing 21.7 wt% of copolymerized residues of methacrylic acid. ION C was neutralized to a level of 25% with a source of sodium ions and had a MFR of 1.8 g/10 min. The MFR of the precursor acid copolymer was 23 g/10 minutes.
• Comparative Examples CE1 -2 and Examples E1 Thin and thick injection molded test bars were made from the ionomers listed above, by the molding processes described above. The haze and clarity of these test bars were determined as described above and the results are reported in Table 1.
• Example E1 exhibit higher clarity and lower haze, especially under a slow cooling rate, compared to the test bars of Comparative Examples CE1 and CE2.
• the high acid ionomer also demonstrated better resistance to cracking under high stress conditions.
• the ionomers used as "ION C” had an acid level of 21 to 23%, and the melt index of the precursor acid copolymers was up to 245 g/10 min.
• the cation was sodium, and the neutralization level or ionomer melt index were approximately equal to those of ION C as defined above.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Macromolecular Shaped Articles (AREA)
• Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Addition Polymer Or Copolymer, Post-Treatments, Or Chemical Modifications (AREA)

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• 2009
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