Methods for dispensing and forming 3a molecular sieve hot melt entrained polymers onto substrates

A method for repeatedly forming and adhering precisely shaped entrained polymer structures to a substrate in an automated package production line, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. extruding an entrained polymer composition in molten form using an extruder of a hot melt dispensing apparatus, the extruder being in fluid communication with an applicator comprising a dispenser for dispensing the entrained polymer in molten form onto the substrate, wherein the entrained polymer composition comprises a mixture of a base polymer and 3 A molecular sieve;
• b. advancing the substrate in a first direction so as to position the substrate, which is in solid form, beneath the dispenser, the substrate having a surface comprising a polymer sealing layer for receiving application of the entrained polymer composition;
• c. while the substrate is beneath the dispenser, depositing the entrained polymer composition in molten form in a predetermined shape onto the surface of the substrate, wherein the first direction is transverse to a direction of depositing the entrained polymer composition in molten form, wherein the predetermined shape of entrained polymer composition in molten form adheres to the polymer sealing layer by thermal bonding, forming an entrained polymer structure in a precise shape upon cooling and solidification of the entrained polymer composition;
• d. repeating steps (b) and (c) so as to form and adhere additional entrained polymer structures, each in the precise shape, to the substrate in the automated package production line.

A method for forming and adhering an entrained polymer strip to a substrate, comprising the steps of:

• a. extruding an entrained polymer composition in molten form, wherein the entrained polymer composition comprises a mixture of a base polymer and 3 A molecular sieve, the 3 A molecular sieve being from 20% to 80% by weight with respect to the total weight of the entrained polymer;
• b. providing a substrate having a surface for receiving application of the entrained polymer composition, and
• c. applying the entrained polymer composition in molten form in the shape of a strip to a part of the surface of the substrate to form thereon a solidified entrained polymer strip, wherein the entrained polymer composition adheres to the part of the surface of the substrate by thermal bonding, wherein the entrained polymer structure is formed upon cooling and solidification of the entrained polymer composition,
• wherein the method is carried out using a hot melt dispensing apparatus comprising:
• i. an extruder for blending and melting the entrained polymer composition and for providing a flow of the entrained polymer composition in molten form through the apparatus;
• ii. a hose having an internal lumen in fluid communication with an exit of the extruder to receive the flow of the entrained polymer composition in molten form;
• and
• iii. an applicator in fluid communication with the hose, the applicator comprising a dispenser for dispensing the molten entrained polymer composition,
• wherein the lumen terminates at the applicator to which the entrained polymer composition in molten form is conveyed through the hose, and wherein the dispenser applies the entrained polymer composition in molten form to the surface of the substrate.

A method for forming and adhering entrained polymer structures to substrates in an automated package production line using a hot melt dispensing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a hot melt dispensing apparatus comprising:
• (i) an extruder for blending and melting entrained polymer composition and providing a flow of the entrained polymer composition in molten form through the extruder and from an exit of the extruder;
• and
• (ii) a manifold operatively connected to and in fluid communication with the exit of the extruder, the manifold being configured to convey the entrained polymer composition in molten form to a plurality of hoses operatively connected to and in fluid communication with the manifold, each hose having an internal lumen configured to receive flow of the entrained polymer composition in molten form, each hose leading to a dispenser for dispensing the molten entrained polymer composition;
• b. extruding through the extruder the entrained polymer composition in molten form, the entrained polymer composition comprising a mixture of a base polymer and 3 A molecular sieve;
• c. conveying the entrained polymer composition in molten form from the extruder, through the manifold, through each hose and through the dispenser of each respective hose;
• d. providing a substrate, which is in solid form, having a surface for receiving application of the entrained polymer composition, and
• e. dispensing from each dispenser the entrained polymer composition in molten form and applying the entrained polymer composition in a predetermined shape to the surface of the substrate to form thereon a solidified entrained polymer structure, wherein the entrained polymer composition adheres to the surface of the substrate by thermal bonding, wherein the entrained polymer structure is formed upon cooling and solidification of the entrained polymer composition, the solidified entrained polymer structure comprising an outer boundary, the surface of the substrate extending outwardly beyond the outer boundary.