Hot melt container closure sealant

Abstract

A hot melt composition is used to form a closure liner, e.g. the circular, integral, gasket-like member adhered to the periphery of a circular top or closure for a food jar or the like. The hot melt composition is selected to have, in the solid state, sufficient deformabilty, resiliency, hardness, lubricity, and other requirements of closure liners. It has been found that silicone oil, used in a concentration of about 1-8% by weight of the total hot melt composition can provide a high degree of lubricity, similar to the type of lubricity in self-lubricated plastic bearings. The remainder of the hot melt system or composition generally comprises a rubbery block co-polymer (serving as a film former), a hydrocarbon wax, a hydrocarbon oil, and, if desired, a thermoplastic vinyl arene polymer such as poly(methylstyrene). To apply the hot melt composition to the closure, the hot melt is poured on in a molten or flowable state, and this flowable state is maintained, so that the resulting deposit of hot melt composition seeks its own level under the influence of gravity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.