Polyester clay nanocomposites for barrier applications
OwnerDavid Williamson, Henry Schleinitz +1inventors
InventorsDavid Williamson, Henry Schleinitz, Richard Hayes
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Abstract
The present invention is a method for reducing the permeability of gases through polyester containers and films by incorporating into the polymer from which the container or film is formed an effective amount of exfoliated sepiolite-type clay.
Claims10
A method for reducing gas permeability of shaped thermoplastic polymeric articles wherein the article is formed from at least one polymer or polymeric blend selected from polyester homopolymers, polyester copolymers, and polymeric blends comprising at least one such homopolymer or copolymer and wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- (a) preparing a nanocomposite by mixing an amount of a sepiolite-type clay effective to reduce gas permeability with at least one polyester precursor selected from
- (i) at least one diacid or diester and at least one diol;
- (ii) at least one polymerizable polyester monomer;
- (iii) at least one linear polyester oligomer, and
- (iv) at least one macrocyclic polyester oligomer,
- (b) polymerizing the at least one polyester precursor;
- and
- (c) forming the shaped article.
A package or packaging component comprising a nanocomposite of exfoliated sepiolite-type clay in:
- a polyester homopolymer, polyester copolymer, or polymeric blend comprising at least one such homopolymer or copolymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.