Polyester-based composition with high barrier properties and articles of packaging containing the same

A polymeric composition comprising:

• (A) a thermoplastic polyester selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, copolymers of polyethylene terephthalate containing up to 15% by moles of units derived from other aromatic acids selected from isophthalic acid and naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and/or with other diols selected from 1.4-butanediol (1.4-BDO) and cyclohexandimethanol (CHDM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and copolymers of polybutylene terephthalate containing up to 10% by moles of units derived from other aromatic acids selected from isophthalic and naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and/or with other diols selected from 1,2-ethanediol and cyclohexanediethanol (CHDM), and combinations thereof, and polylactic acid (PLA);
• and
• (B) a barrier additive consisting essentially of a polyalkylene glycol of the formula H—(O—R)n-OH, in which R is a linear or branched alkylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and n is from 4 to 1000;
• wherein the polyester A) is present in the polymeric composition in an amount from 80 to 99.5% by weight and the additive B) is present in the polymeric composition in a quantity from 0.5 to 20% by weight, said amounts being referred to the sum of components A) and B);
• and
• wherein the polymeric composition is free from polyamides and additives susceptible to catalytic oxidation by atmospheric oxygen.