WO2019229575A1

WO2019229575A1 - Container closure with a sealing element

Info

Publication number: WO2019229575A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/054107
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juergen KINTSCHER; Andreas Maniera
Original assignee: Silgan Holdings Inc.; Silgan White Cap Manufacturing Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-06-01
Filing date: 2019-05-17
Publication date: 2019-12-05
Also published as: DE102018113157B4; DE102018113157A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container closure (1, 21, 41, 61). The container closure (1, 21, 41, 61) comprises a sealing element (3, 23, 43, 63). The sealing element (3, 23, 43, 63) comprises a polymer composition. The polymer composition comprises a heterophasic copolymer.

Description

Vascular closure with sealing element

The invention relates to a sealing element made of a polymer composition in a vessel closure, wherein a container sealed with the vessel closure has excellent sealing properties.

Polymer compositions in vascular occlusions are known in the art. Specifically, polymer compositions that do not contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride) show some disadvantages over those compositions containing PVC. For example, PVC-free polymer compositions are relatively expensive. Also, the processability of PVC-free polymer compositions may be disadvantageous compared to PVC-containing polymer compositions. To ensure processability,

especially flowability, liquid components, e.g. White oil, used in the compositions, which also have a cost-reducing effect. The use of, for example, white oil also has a softening effect, but white oil is lipophilic, so that as a component of the polymer composition of the sealing element of the vessel closure tends to undesirably migrate into a product when the vessel closure closes a filled and sealed vessel.

The migration of white oil is increased if the contents are oily or greasy.

WO 2009/059788 discloses a PVC-free polymer composition for a

Seal element in a vessel closure. An example of a composition is shown on pages 12 and 13 there. This example presented there contains a substantial proportion of white oil of about 33% by weight, which is expected to result in high migration levels when the composition is used in a vascular closure which occludes a vessel containing a fatty or oleaginous medium. Another example of a composition is shown on page 23 of WO 2009/059788. In this example, no white oil is used, but as a main component, a copolymer comprising polyethylene units and a short-chain alkene monomer (C ₃ to Cs). The

Copolymer has properties typical of costly olefinic block copolymers.

An object of the invention is to provide a polymer composition which can be used as a sealing element in a vascular closure which can be produced at an acceptable cost and has very low migration values. The object is achieved by a vascular closure according to claim 1, which can close a vessel (claim 22), and which can be used in a method according to claim 29, to produce a sealed and filled vessel.

A vascular closure comprises a sealing element. The sealing element comprises a polymer composition. The polymer composition comprises a heterophasic copolymer.

The vascular closure typically comprises a support of metal, plastic or metal and plastic (composite closure). The carrier of the vascular occlusion may be coated with a primer, in particular if the carrier is made of metal or comprises metal. On the carrier, the polymer composition can be applied and the

Seal element formed thereon. Likewise, the sealing element can be formed outside the carrier and then inserted into the carrier, wherein the

Sealant may be otherwise attached to the support (e.g., over pressure and temperature).

The sealing element may be disc-shaped or annular.

For classic vascular occlusions, e.g. in cam fasteners, the

predominantly parts of the sealing element are formed in the planar region of the carrier so that an upper end of a vessel mouth comes into contact with the sealing element when the vessel closure closes a vessel. In particular, in press-on twist-off vascular occlusions (PT vascular occlusions) can also be a significant proportion of

Seal element are formed in the apron area of the wearer. For composite PT vascular occlusions, for example, under the brand name Band-Guard sold vascular closures, a plastic thread of the vascular occlusion with a

Mating thread of a vessel (e.g., an externally threaded glass vessel).

A PT vessel closure is pressed onto the vessel mouth when a vessel is closed (press-on) while the sealing element is sufficiently free-flowing in the heated state. An external thread in the mouth of the vessel causes a

Internal thread (as a negative of the external thread) in the sealing element area on the skirt of the vessel closure carrier. The PT vascular occlusion is removed from the vessel by a twist-off motion.

A heterophasic copolymer comprises (at least) two phases wherein one of the phases is a continuous phase and in which a second phase is dispersed. Preferably, the heterophasic copolymer is prepared by a multi-stage reaction procedure, wherein the first phase is produced in one or more reactors and the second phase is produced in one or more other reactors.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the use of a heterophasic copolymer in a sealing element of a vascular occlusion allows the production of vascular occlusions with excellent properties. It has been shown that heterophasic copolymers having a first phase (continuous phase) of high crystallinity and a dispersed second phase having elastomeric properties are particularly suitable.

The proportion of the dispersed phase in the heterophasic copolymer is

typically up to BO wt%, especially between 3 wt% and 27 wt%, more particularly between 5 wt% and 20 wt%.

The content of the continuous phase in the heterophasic copolymer is preferably at least 70% by weight, more preferably between 73% by weight and 97% by weight, more preferably between 80% by weight and 95% by weight.

The Shore D hardness of the heterophasic copolymer, measured according to DIN ISO 7619, can be at most 65, in particular not more than 62. Thus, the hardness of the heterophasic copolymer is below the hardness of homo-polypropylene, the hardness of homo-polypropylene is typically more than Shore D. 70 is.

Preferably, the heterophasic copolymer is a propylene-ethylene copolymer. In such a copolymer, the continuous phase may be formed as homo-polypropylene and the elastomeric phase dispersed therein may be a propylene-ethylene copolymer. Specifically, the heterophasic copolymer may be a propylene-ethylene bipolymer, with the propylene-ethylene bipolymer formed solely from the monomeric propylene and ethylene.

The polymer composition may be the heterophasic copolymer in a

Weight range between 0.1 wt .-% and 50 wt .-% (between 10 wt .-% and 50 wt .-%) include. Specifically, the polymer composition contains the heterophasic copolymer in a range between 0.1% and 30% by weight (between 10% and 30% by weight). Preferably, the proportion of the heterophasic copolymer in the

Polymer composition between 0.1 wt .-% and 20 wt .-%. Particularly good results are achieved when the heterophasic copolymer is present in the polymer composition at between 5% and 20% by weight.

In addition to the heterophasic copolymer or alternatively to the heterophasic copolymer, the polymer composition may contain a random propylene-ethylene copolymer, in the same weight proportion as the heterophasic copolymer, wherein the weight proportions of components in each case on the total weight of

Polymer composition are related.

The polymer composition may also contain a butene copolymer. Specifically, the butene copolymer may be a butene bipolymer.

The butene of the butene copolymer is preferably a 1-butene.

Butene may have in the butene copolymer the predominant molar proportion of all monomers. Specifically, the proportion of butene in the butene copolymer is at least 60 mol%. Preferably, the copolymerized portion of butene in the butene copolymer is still higher, at least 70 mol% or even at least 80 mol%.

Ethylene may be a copolymer of the butene copolymer so that the butene copolymer may be a butene-ethylene copolymer. Specifically, the butene-ethylene copolymer may be a butene-ethylene bipolymer.

The butene copolymer may be between 10% and 85% by weight in the

Polymer composition may be included. Preferably, the butene copolymer is included between 30% and 85% by weight in the polymer composition. Very good results are achieved when the butene copolymer is contained between 50% and 75% by weight in the polymer composition.

The butene copolymer can be a random copolymer and (completely) amorphous, so it can not have crystallinity.

Furthermore, the polymer composition may contain a polyethylene homopolymer. For this purpose, in particular LDPE (low density polyethylene) has proven to be advantageous.

The polyethylene homopolymer may be between 0.1% by weight and 60% by weight in the

Polymer composition may be included. The polyethylene homopolymer may also be included between 0.1% and 40% by weight in the polymer composition. Specifically, the polymer composition comprises between 0.1% and 20% by weight of the polyethylene homopolymer. The proportion of the polyethylene homopolymer in the polymer composition is particularly preferably between 5% by weight and 20% by weight.

Preferably, the composition comprises between 10 wt% and 35 wt% (up to 35 wt%) of the heterophasic copolymer and between 65 wt% and 90 wt% (at least 65 wt%) of the butene copolymer. Also, the composition may contain between 5% by weight and BO% by weight of the heterophasic copolymer, between 60% by weight and 85% by weight of the butene copolymer and between 2% by weight and 20% by weight of the Polyethylene homopolymer included.

Due to the advantageous composition of the polymer composition can be dispensed with large amounts of homo-polypropylene, so that the polymer composition may comprise a maximum of 20 wt .-% homo-polypropylene. In particular, the

Polymer composition maximum 10 wt .-% homo-polypropylene. Most preferably, the polymer composition does not include homo-polypropylene within the analytical capabilities of the filing date. The homo-polypropylene is to be understood as an independent polymer and is not to be understood as part of the heterophasic copolymer or another polymer.

Also can be avoided by the advantageous composition of the polymer compositions, a high proportion of components which are liquid at 20 ° C and 1000 hPa. An example of such a component, which is liquid at 20 ° C and 1000 hPa, is white oil. Therefore, the polymer composition preferably comprises at most 10% by weight of one

Component which is liquid at 20 ° C and 1000 hPa. Specifically, the

Polymer composition maximum 5 wt .-% of such a component. In particular, the polymer composition does not comprise such a component (within the analytical possibilities at the filing date).

The polymer composition may be a polyolefin composition. Accordingly, the polymer composition exclusively comprises polyolefins as polymeric constituents. Additives may be included in the polymer composition, even if they are not polyolefins and the polymer composition is a polyolefin composition.

Preferably, the polymer composition contains no PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

It is preferred that the polymer composition does not contain an oxygen scavenger.

The polymer composition may be designed so that it has a static coefficient of friction of not more than 0.50, preferably not more than 0.40. The coefficient of friction is determined according to DIN EN ISO 8295. A low coefficient of friction of the polymer composition allows an advantageous application of the vessel closure, in particular when closing a vessel with the

Vascular closure, wherein there is a friction between the sealing element of the

Vascular occlusion and the vessel comes and when opening one with a

Vascular occlusion of sealed vessel. A low coefficient of friction is often difficult to achieve, especially with a small proportion of components that are liquid at 20 ° C and 1000 hPa.

The polymer composition typically comprises additives. The polymer composition preferably comprises a maximum of 15% by weight of additives. Specifically, the

Polymer composition maximum 8 wt .-% additives. Particularly preferably, at most 4% by weight is contained in the polymer composition.

Additives used can be selected from the group: pigments,

Nucleating agents, brighteners, stabilizers, surfactants, lubricants, antioxidants or combinations thereof.

As discussed above, the vascular occlusion may include a carrier and the sealing member. The carrier may comprise a flat portion and a skirt portion. Specifically, the carrier may comprise metal, plastic or metal and plastic. In particular, the main constituent of the carrier is metal or plastic, in particular metal.

The vascular closure may be a screw cap. The vascular closure is preferably a cam twist closure. The vascular closure may also be a press-on twist-off vascular closure or a composite closure.

Preferably, the polymer composition exhibits an oxygen transmission rate of less than 500 cm ³ nr ² d ¹ bar ¹ , preferably of less than 400 cm ³ nr ² d ¹ bar ¹ . The oxygen transmission rate can be determined according to DIN 5BB80. Low oxygen transmission rate of the polymer composition results in low oxygen entry into a vessel associated with any of the described vascular occlusions

is closed. This ensures a longer shelf life of a product in a filled and sealed container.

The total migration of the polymer composition may be at most 1.0 mg cm ² , preferably at most 0.8 mg cm ² , wherein the total migration of the polymer composition according to DIN-EN 1186-14 can be determined.

If a filled vessel is closed by a vessel closure with a sealing element of the polymer composition and a surface / mass ratio of 1 cm ² contact surface of the sealing element to 0.02 kg mass of the contents in the vessel, a total migration limit of 60 mg kg ^{1 is} maintained. It is preferred if the sealing element of the vessel closure consists of the polymer composition, that is to say for example the sealing element does not comprise any additional applied film.

A disclosed vascular occlusion may occlude a vessel. The vessel comprises a vessel mouth and a closable opening at the end of the vessel mouth. This opening occludes one of the disclosed vascular occlusions.

The vessel may be a glass vessel, plastic vessel or metal vessel. In particular, the vessel is a glass vessel.

The vascular occlusion that closes the opening of the vessel may include a carrier and the sealing member. The carrier may have a lower side and the

Muzzle have an upper end. The sealing element of the vessel closure is typically clamped between the vessel mouth and the carrier of the vessel closure such that the sealing element abuts both the upper end of the vessel mouth and the lower side of the carrier. Specifically, the height of the sealing member between the upper end of the vessel mouth and the lower side of the carrier is at most 1.0 mm. Preferably, this height is at most 0.8 mm and more preferably at most 0.7 mm. The height can be determined in the axial direction of the vessel.

Similarly, the height of the sealing element between the top of the

Muzzle and the lower side of the support at least 0.2 mm. Specifically, the height is at least 0.4 mm and more preferably at least 0.5 mm. The measurement of the height of the sealing element can take place in the axial direction of the vessel.

Particularly preferably, the height of the sealing element between the upper end of the vessel mouth and the lower side of the carrier is between 0.3 mm and 0.9 mm.

For example, if the height of the sealing element before applying the

Vessel occlusion on a vessel 1.2 mm, provides an impression of the upper end of the

Vessel mouth in the sealing element (height between the upper end of the vessel mouth and the lower side of the support of a maximum of 1.0 mm) without the sealing element is cut through (height of the sealing element between the upper end of

Vessel mouth and lower side of the support of at least 0.2 mm) for a high tightness of the vessel sealed with the vessel closure.

Preferably there is a vacuum in the closed vessel. The absolute pressure in the closed vessel can be a maximum of 200 hPa. Specifically, the absolute pressure in the sealed vessel is at most 100 hPa. The vessel closed with the vessel closure can have a maximum safety dimension of 10 mm, in particular the maximum safety dimension is 8 mm. The safety dimension is preferably at most 6 mm. Most preferably, the safety dimension is at most 4 mm.

To determine the safety measure, a vessel closed with a cam cap is stored at room temperature (23 ° C) for a period of 30 minutes. The relative position of the vessel occlusion to the vessel is marked by placing a mark on the vessel closure skirt and the vessel wall such that the circumferential distance between the marker on the vessel closure skirt and the vessel wall is zero. The markings lie on a straight line which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel. Subsequently, the vessel closure is completely removed from the vessel by unscrewing. Subsequently, the vascular occlusion is placed on the vessel and turned on until a slight resistance is felt. The vascular closure is thus turned finger-tight. Subsequently, the circumferential distance between the mark on the vessel closure apron and the mark on the vessel wall is measured. The measured distance corresponds to the safety measure expressed in mm.

Due to the at least partially strong pitch of the threads of vessels and cam latches, the precision of the measurement of the safety measure is high, since the point at which a slight resistance during cranking of the vessel closure is noticeable (finger-tight), can be precisely determined. Typically, the precision of measuring the level of safety of sealed vessels sealed under similar conditions by different persons is approximately ± 1 mm.

By a suitable degree of security is ensured that the sealing element exerts an elastic force on at least the upper end of the vessel mouth when the vessel is closed with the vessel closure. This results in a high density of the interior of the sealed vessel.

A closed and filled vessel can be made by placing a vessel with a vessel mouth and a closable opening at the end of the vessel mouth

provided. The vessel is filled with a (solid and / or liquid) food through the opening of the vessel and the opening of the vessel closed with a disclosed vascular closure.

The opening of the vessel may have a diameter of at least 20 mm.

In particular, the diameter of the opening of the vessel is a maximum of 120 mm.

The vessel may be a glass vessel, plastic vessel or metal vessel. The vascular occlusion may be treated at a temperature of at least 90 ° C before the vial occlusion is closed with the vascular occlusion. Such a treatment can be carried out, for example, with steam.

In the vessel, a head space can be formed after the vessel with the

Food was filled. The headspace in the vessel after filling is the portion of the contents of the vessel where food is not present. Steam may be added to the headspace before the vessel closure is applied to the vessel, thereby closing the mouth of the vessel. In particular, the steam can

Be water vapor.

The absolute pressure in the closed and filled vessel can be a maximum of 200 hPa. Specifically, the pressure in the closed and filled vessel may be at most 100 hPa.

To form an impression of the vessel mouth in the sealing element, the

Sealing element during the closing of the opening of the vessel with the

Vascular closure and / or a thermal treatment of the closed and filled vessel to be deformed at least 0.2 mm in the axial direction of the vessel. This deformation of the sealing element is preferably at least 0.4 mm. Specifically, the deformation is at least 0.5 mm.

Similarly, the seal member may be deformed by a maximum of 1.0 mm to form an impression of the vessel mouth into the sealing member during closure of the vessel opening with the vessel closure and / or thermal treatment of the sealed and filled vessel. In particular, the deformation is a maximum of 0.8 mm. More preferably, the deformation is 0.7 mm or less. This in each case in the axial direction of the vessel.

Particularly preferably, the deformation of the sealing element is between 0.3 mm and 0.9 mm.

The food can be aseptically filled into the jar.

The food can also be filled into the vessel at a maximum temperature of 10 ° C.

The food can also be filled at a temperature between 10 ° C and 70 ° C in the vessel. Likewise, the food can be filled at a temperature between 70 ° C and 98 ° C in the vessel.

Within the process, the sealed and filled vessel can be thermally treated. The temperature of the thermal treatment is above the temperature of the (solid and / or liquid) food during the filling of the vessel so.

The thermal treatment can be carried out at a temperature of at least 60 ° C.

The thermal treatment can also be carried out at a maximum temperature of 135 ° C (between 60 ° C and 135 ° C). In particular, the thermal treatment is carried out at a temperature of up to 135 ° C (between 60 ° C and 135 ° C) at an absolute

Ambient pressure of a maximum of 4.0 bar, preferably at an absolute ambient pressure between 1.0 bar and 4.0 bar.

Preferably, the pressure in the sealed vessel during a thermal

Treatment lower than the pressure outside the sealed vessel.

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not in a manner in which limitations of the figures are or are read into the claims. Like reference numerals in the figures indicate like elements.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a cam turning closure 1 with an annular

Sealing element 3, partly as a section;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the cam turning closure 1 with the

Sealing element 3 on a vessel 5, partly as a section;

FIG. 3 shows the cam turning closure 1 with the sealing element 3 in one

Bottom view;

Figure 4 shows an isometric view of a composite closure 61 (Combi-Twist);

FIG. 5 partially shows an axial section of the composite closure 61 (combi-twist) of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a press-on twist-off closure 21 (PT closure) with a sealing element 23, partly as a section;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the PT closure 21 with the sealing element 23 on a vessel 25, partly as a section; FIG. 8 shows a top view of the PT closure 21;

Figure 9 shows a side view of a composite closure 41 (band guard) with a sealing element 43, partially in section;

Figure 10 shows a side view of the composite closure 41 (band guard) with the

Sealing element 43 on a vessel 45, partly as a section;

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of the composite closure 41 (band guard);

FIG. 12 shows an enlarged detail of the cam rotating closure of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show a cam twist lock 1. The cam twist lock 1 comprises a metallic carrier 11 and a sealing element 3. In the representation of FIG. 2, the cam twist closure 1 is applied to a vessel 5. At the lower end of the cam lock 1, a curl 9 is formed. Several cams 7 are formed circumferentially distributed from the curl 9. Cams 7 are formed by an axial deformation of the curl 9 and extend radially to the center of the cam lock closure 1 as the curl 9. The illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 cam lock 1 comprises four cams 7, which are formed circumferentially evenly distributed. The sections, which are partially shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, correspond to the section III-III in FIG. 3.

Near the radially outer end portion of the cam rotating closure 1, a channel 2 is formed in the upper portion 10 of the carrier 11. The sealing element 3 is at least partially disposed in the channel 2. In this embodiment, the sealing element 3 is designed annular, in other embodiments, the sealing element 3 may be designed disk-shaped, especially if the diameter of the

Cam lock is small (e.g., a maximum of 30mm).

For bonding adhesion between the metallic carrier 11 and the sealing element 3, a primer is typically applied to the side of the metallic carrier 11, which is in contact with the sealing element 3.

In FIG. 2, the cam rotating closure 1 is applied to a vessel 5. The vessel 5 comprises a vessel mouth 5a as the upper portion of the vessel 5. The vessel mouth comprises a thread 6 and an upper end 4 of the vessel mouth 5a. The thread 6 is formed circumferentially in the region of the vessel mouth 5a and extends circumferentially upwards or downwards (depending on the angle of view). For applying the cam lock closure 1 on a vessel 5 cams 7 are brought into contact with portions of the thread 6 and the cam turn-lock 1 is rotated clockwise relative to the vessel 5. Due to the configuration of the thread 6 and the interaction of the cam 7 with the thread 6, the upper end 4 moves

Vessel mouth 5a in the direction of the sealing element 3 during the rotational movement of the cam rotating closure 1 relative to the vessel 5. By a further rotational movement of the cam rotating closure 1 presses the upper end 4 of the vessel mouth 5a in the

Seal member 3 and deforms this, so that a portion of the upper end 4 of the vessel mouth 5a is covered by the sealing member 3, whereby the vessel 5 is sealed. A tight closure of the vessel 5 is particularly necessary to an increased pressure during a thermal treatment of the sealed

Keep vessel 5 at temperatures above 70 ° C, 90 ° C or even above 120 ° C to withstand.

The cam rotating closure 1, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, comprises a

Safety button 10 b, which is formed in the upper portion 10 of the carrier 11. Due to the slope 10a in the upper portion 10 of the carrier 11, the safety button 10b folds towards the center of the vessel when there is a sufficiently large depression in the vessel. Such a vacuum may be created by introducing water vapor into the vessel prior to sealing the vessel with the closure.

When a consumer opens the vessel by removing the vessel closure, the pressure in the vessel rises to ambient pressure and the safety button 10b flips away from the center of the vessel. The folding over of the safety button 10b is accompanied by a characteristic noise, by which a consumer can recognize that a vacuum has prevailed in the vessel before opening the vessel.

Figures 4 and 5 show a composite closure 61 (Combi-Twist), which can be applied analogously to the described cam rotating closure 1 by a rotary motion on a vessel and can be removed by a rotational movement of the vessel.

The composite closure 61 comprises a carrier with an upper metallic one

Section 71 and a plastic portion 72 which is L-shaped. A channel 78 is formed near the radial end of the metallic portion 71 of the carrier, and a roller 77 is formed at the radial end of the metallic portion 71. On

Sealing element is at least partially disposed in the channel 78.

A plurality of threaded elements 74a, 74b formed on the inside of the plastic section 72 make contact with a mating thread in the region of the mouth of a vessel (not shown) to which the composite closure 61 is to be applied. The plastic section 72 of the composite closure 61 further comprises a

Tamper evident 73, which is similar to the tamper-evident as shown in Figures 9 to 11 is designed and with reference to Figures 9 to 11 described in more detail.

If the composite closure 61 is screwed onto a vessel by a rotary motion, the result is an analogous interaction of the vessel mouth of the vessel with the vessel

Sealing element of the composite closure 61 as based on the

Cam lock 1 described.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a press-on twist-off closure 21 (PT closure).

The PT closure 21 comprises a metallic carrier 31 with a curl 29 at the lower end of the carrier 31 and a safety button 30a in the upper portion 30 of the carrier 31.

A sealing element 23 is formed both in the region of the upper portion 30 of the carrier 31 and to a considerable extent on the apron of the carrier, which extends downwardly from the upper portion 30 of the carrier 31. The PT closure 21, in contrast to the cam twist closure 1 and the composite closure 61 when applied to a vessel 25, is pressed onto the vessel mouth 25a. During pressing on the vessel mouth 25a, the sealing element 23 is sufficiently soft to elastically surround threaded elements 26 of the vessel mouth 25a. Typically, for this purpose, the sealing member 23 is treated before applying the PT closure 21 to a vessel 5 with steam to cause the necessary softness of the sealing member 23. After cooling of the sealing element 23, a counter-thread in the form of a negative of the threaded elements 26 of the vessel mouth is formed in the sealing element 23.

An upper end 24 of the vessel mouth 25 a contacts the sealing element 23.

To open the vessel 25, the PT closure 21 is removed from the vessel 25 by a rotational movement.

Figures 9 to 11 show a composite closure 41 (band guard), which is analogous to the described PT closure 21 functional.

The composite closure 41 comprises a carrier with a metallic portion 51 and a plastic portion 52, a tamper-evident device 53 and a safety button 50a. The tamper-evident device 53 is designed to be removed from the rest of the composite closure 41 when the composite closure 41 is removed from a vessel 45, and to allow a consumer to verify that the composite Lock 41 has already been removed from the vessel 45. The safety button 50a is designed and functional in analogy to the safety button 10b of the cam rotating closure 1.

The plastic portion of the composite closure 41 may include a plurality of axially extending indentations 56 to increase the stability of the closure.

A sealing member 43 is disposed in the composite shutter 41 so as to contact both the metallic portion 51 and the plastic portion 52. For closing a vessel 45, the composite closure 41 is pressed onto the vessel mouth 45a of the vessel 45, so that at least the upper end 44 of the vessel mouth 45a contacts the sealing element 43.

The plastic portion 52 of the carrier includes a plurality of offset projections 54 that interact with threaded members 46 of the vessel mouth 45a. To open a vessel 45, which is closed with the composite closure 41, the composite closure 41 can be rotated relative to the vessel 45.

The distance h _{3 of} a sealing element 3 between an upper end 4 of a

Vessel mouth 5a of a vessel 5 and the lower side of a carrier 11 of the

Closure 1 is shown in Figure 12 with a view of a cam lock closure 1 and described here. Similarly, the distance (height) h ₃ for other types of closure to determine.

The between the vessel mouth 5 and the carrier 11 of the vessel closure. 1

clamped sealing element 3 has a height h ₃ , which is given when a vessel 5 is closed with the closure 1. If the height h _{3 is} too low threatens a cutting of the sealing element 3, whereby the tightness of the sealed vessel. 5

may be impaired. If the height h _{3 is} too large, the tightness of the sealed vessel is impaired, since the contact surface between the upper end 4 of the

Vessel mouth 5a and the sealing element 3 is not sufficiently large. In order to achieve a suitable impression of the upper end 4 of the vessel mouth 5a in the sealing element, the composition of the sealing element 3 is authoritative. It has been found that a heterophasic copolymer in the polymer composition of the sealing member is particularly suitable for this purpose.

Examples:

Examples of polymer compositions for sealing elements in one

Vascular occlusion are shown in Table 1. Table 1

A typical value of oxygen transmission rate of PVC-containing

Compositions which are used as sealing element in vessel closures is about 220 cm ³ nr ² d ¹ bar ¹ .

The oxygen transmission rates of known, commercially available PVC-free compositions in vascular occlusions are typically 650 cm ³ nr ² d ¹ bar ¹ and significantly more. Oxygen scavengers are often added to these known compositions to reduce the presence of oxygen in a vessel sealed with such a vascular occlusion.

Thus, the PVC-free polymer compositions disclosed herein show

Oxygen permeability rates close to the rates of PVC-containing ones

Compositions are. Compared to known PVC-free compositions, the oxygen transmission rates of the composition disclosed herein are only about half.

A polymer composition with a low oxygen transmission rate allows the use of oxygen scavenger materials in the

Avoid polymer composition while ensuring low oxygen entry into the filled vessel. The low oxygen transmission rate is also achieved by the heterophasic copolymer in the compositions. As the proportion of the heterophasic copolymer increases, the

Oxygen transmission rate, as shown in Table 1. The heterophasic copolymer used is a propylene-ethylene copolymer wherein the continuous phase is formed by homopolypropylene and the phase dispersed therein by a propylene-ethylene copolymer. Such copolymers are available, for example, from Borealis and Braskem.

The butene-ethylene copolymer used is available, for example, from LyondellBasell. The copolymerized butene content can be more than 80 mol%.

LDPE is commercially available from various suppliers.

* * *

Claims

Claims ...

1. Vessel closure (1, 21, 41, 61) with a sealing element

(3, 23, 43, 63), wherein

(A) the sealing element (3, 23, 43, 63) a

Polymer composition comprises; and

(b) the polymer composition is a heterophasic

Copolymer comprises.

2. Vessel closure according to claim 1, wherein the heterophasic copolymer is a

heterophasic propylene-ethylene copolymer, especially a heterophasic propylene-ethylene bipolymer.

3. vascular closure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heterophasic copolymer between 0.1 wt .-% and 50 wt .-%, preferably between 0.1 wt .-% and 30 wt.%, Particularly preferably between 0.1 wt % and 20% by weight, especially between 5% by weight and 20% by weight, in the polymer composition.

4. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the

Polymer composition comprises a butene copolymer, in particular a butene bipolymer.

5. vascular closure according to claim 4, wherein the butene copolymer a

copolymerized content of butene of at least 60 mol .-%, preferably at least 70 mol .-%, particularly preferably at least 80 mol%, having.

The vascular closure of claim 4 or 5, wherein a comonomer of the butene copolymer is ethylene.

7. Vessel closure according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the butene copolymer between 10 wt .-% and 85 wt .-%, preferably between 30 wt .-% and 85 wt .-%, particularly preferably between 50 wt. % and 75 wt .-%, in the

Polymer composition is included.

The vascular closure of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the butene copolymer is a random copolymer.

9. vascular closure according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the

Polymer composition comprises a polyethylene homopolymer, in particular LDPE.

10. Vessel closure according to claim 9, wherein the polyethylene homopolymer with

between 0.1% by weight and 60% by weight, preferably between 0.1% by weight and 40% by weight %, more preferably between 0.1 wt% and 20 wt%, especially between 5 wt% and 20 wt%, in the polymer composition.

11. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the

Polymer composition comprises a maximum of 20 wt .-% homo-polypropylene, preferably at most 10 wt .-% homo-polypropylene, more preferably no homo-polypropylene comprises.

12. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the

Polymer composition comprises at most 10% by weight, preferably at most 5% by weight, of a component which is liquid at 20 ° C. and 1000 hPa, particularly preferably the polymer composition comprises no component which is liquid at 20 ° C. and 1000 hPa.

13. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the

Polymer composition is a polyolefin composition.

14. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the

Polymer composition has a static coefficient of friction, determined according to DIN EN ISO 8295, of a maximum of 0.50, preferably of at most 0.40.

15. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the

Polymer composition up to 15 wt .-%, preferably up to 8 wt .-%, particularly preferably up to 4 wt .-%, additives.

16. The vascular closure of claim 15, wherein the additives are selected from the group consisting of: pigments, nucleating agents, brighteners, stabilizers, surfactants, lubricants, antioxidants, and combinations thereof.

17. A vascular closure according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the vascular closure comprises a support (11, 31, 51, 71) and the sealing element (3, 23, 43, 63), wherein the support (11, 31, 51, 71 ) Comprises metal and / or plastic, in particular metal or plastic as the main component comprises.

18. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the vessel closure

(1, 21, 41, 61) is a screw cap, in particular a cam twist lock (1), a press-on twist-off closure (21) or a composite closure (41, 61).

19. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the

Polymer composition an oxygen transmission rate, determined according to DIN 53380, of less than 500 cm ³ nr ² d ¹ bar ¹ , preferably less than

400 cm ³ nr ² d ¹ bar ¹ , has.

20. Vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the

Polymer composition has a total migration, determined according to DIN-EN 1186-14, of at most 1.0 mg cm ² , preferably of at most 0.8 mg cm ² .

21. A vascular closure according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the sealing member (3, 23, 43, 63) consists of the polymer composition.

22, vessel (5, 25, 45) having a vessel mouth (5a, 25a, 45a) and a closable opening at the end of the vessel mouth, wherein the opening with a vessel closure (1, 21, 41, 61) according to one of claims 1 to 21 is closed.

23. A vessel according to claim 22, wherein the vessel is a glass vessel, plastic vessel or

Metal vessel is.

24. A vessel according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the vessel closure comprises a carrier (11, 31, 51, 71) and the sealing element (3, 23, 43, 63), and wherein the

Sealing element between an upper end (4, 24, 44) of the vessel mouth and a lower side of the carrier (11, 31, 51, 71) has a height (h ₃ ) of at most 1.0 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm, especially preferably has a maximum of 0.7 mm, in the axial direction of the vessel.

25. A vessel according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the vessel closure comprises a support (11, 31, 51, 71) and the sealing element (3, 23, 43, 63), and wherein the sealing element between an upper end (4, 24, 44) of the vessel mouth and a lower side of the carrier (11, 31, 51, 71) has a height (h ₃ ) of at least

0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm, more preferably at least 0.5 mm, in the axial direction of the vessel.

26. A vessel according to any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the absolute pressure in the

sealed vessel is at most 200 hPa, preferably at most 100 hPa.

27. A vessel according to any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein the vessel has a maximum security of 10 mm, preferably not more than 8 mm, more preferably not more than 6 mm, most preferably not more than 4 mm.

28. A process for producing a sealed and filled vessel, comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a vessel (1, 21, 41, 61) with a vessel mouth (5a, 25a, 45a) and a closable opening at the end of the vessel mouth;

(b) filling the vessel with a food through the opening of the vessel; (c) closing the opening of the vessel with a vessel closure according to one of claims 1 to 21.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the opening of the vessel has a diameter of at least 20 mm, in particular a diameter of at most

120 mm.

30. The method of claim 28 or 29, wherein the vessel is a glass jar,

Plastic vessel or metal vessel is.

31. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the vessel closure is treated at a temperature of at least 90 ° C, before the opening of the vessel is closed with the vessel closure.

32. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 31, wherein the vessel after filling with a food having a head space, which does not comprise food, and the head space steam, in particular water vapor, is supplied before the opening of the vessel is closed with the vessel closure ,

33. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein the absolute pressure in the closed and filled vessel is at most 200 hPa, preferably at most 100 hPa.

34. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the sealing element of the vessel closure during the closing of the opening of the vessel with the vessel closure and / or a thermal treatment of the closed and filled vessel by at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm , Particularly preferably at least 0.5 mm, is deformed in the axial direction of the vessel to form an impression of the vessel mouth in the sealing element.

35. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 34, wherein the sealing element of the vessel closure during the closing of the opening of the vessel with the vessel closure and / or a thermal treatment of the closed and filled vessel by a maximum of 1.0 mm, preferably a maximum of 0.8 mm , particularly preferably not more than 0.7 mm, is deformed in the axial direction of the vessel to form an impression of the vessel mouth in the sealing element.

36. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 35, wherein the sealed and

filled vessel is thermally treated at a temperature which is above the temperature of the food during the filling of the vessel.

37. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 36, wherein the sealed and

filled vessel is thermally treated at a temperature of at least 60 ° C.

38. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 36, wherein the closed and filled vessel at a temperature between 60 ° C and 135 ° C, preferably at a surrounding the vessel absolute pressure of not more than 4.0 bar, is thermally treated.

39. The method according to any one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the pressure in the

closed and filled vessel during the thermal treatment is lower than pressure outside the sealed vessel.

40. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein the food with a temperature of at most 10 ° C, is filled into the vessel.

41. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 40, wherein the food is aseptically filled into the vessel.

42. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein the food is filled at a temperature between 70 ° C and 98 ° C in the vessel.

43. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein the food is filled at a temperature between 10 ° C and 70 ° C in the vessel.