Method of sealing a glass container with a thin membrane closure
AssigneeOwens-Illinois, Inc.
InventorsPaul W. L. Graham, Ronald W. Bradley, Norman M. Bouder, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a method of sealing a container mouth, and especially the mouth of a glass container, and the glass container so sealed. The method involves oxidizing the container rim portion, applying a first annular thin coating of an organo-functional silane compound and then a second annular thin coating of an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer over the first coating on the rim portion. A thin imperforate membrane such as aluminum foil having a thermoplastic sealing material such as Surlyn copolymer over its sealing surface is sealed to the container rim portion with heat and pressure.
Claims22
The method of sealing a container mouth, said mouth consisting of glass and having an upper rim portion, comprising the steps of heating at least the container rim portion to an elevated temperature to oxidize any existent materials thereon, applying a first thin coating of an organo-functional silane compound to said rim portion, applying a second thin coating of an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer over said first thin coating of said silane compound on said rim portion, pressing a thin imperforate membrane comprising a thermoplastic sealing material against the said second thin coating of ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, and heating at least said rim portion to a temperature above the softening point temperature of said thermoplastic sealing material to seal said thin membrane to said rim portion in liquid-tight relation.
The method of sealing an imperforate thermoplastic film or metal foil to the mouth portion of a glass container comprising the steps of heating at least the mouth rim portion of said glass container to an elevated temperature up to about 180.degree. F. to oxidize any existent materials thereon, applying a first thin coating of an organo-functional silane compound to the heated rim portion of said glass container, cooling the heated rim portion of said glass container to a temperature not in excess of about 140.degree. F., applying a second thin coating of an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer over the said first thin coating of silane compound, filling the said glass container with product, pressing a thin imperforate membrane having a third thin coating of thermoplastic ionomer material against the rim portion of said glass container while heating said third coating to a temperature above the softening point temperature of said thermoplastic ionomer material, whereby said thin imperforate membrane is securely adhered to said rim portion in vacuum-tight relation.
The method of sealing a thin imperforate thermoplastic film or metal foil to the mouth portion of a glass container comprising the steps of heating at least the mouth rim portion of said glass container to an elevated temperature up to about 180.degree. F., applying a first thin coating of an organo-functional silane compound to the heated rim portion of said glass container, said silane compound being in the form of about a 0.1 to 2 percent by weight solids in an aqueous dispersion, cooling the heated rim portion of said glass container to a temperature not in excess of about 140.degree. F., applying a second thin coating of an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer over the said first thin coating of silane compound on said rim portion, said copolymer being in the form of about a 25% by weight solids in an aqueous dispersion, filling the said glass container with product employing either a hot or cold filling process, pressing a thin imperforate membrane having a third coating of thermoplastic ionomer material comprising a metal salt of an ethylene/organic acid copolymer against the dual-coated rim portion of said glass container while simultaneously heating same to a temperature above the softening point temperature of said thermoplastic ionomer material, whereby said thin membrane is securely adhered annularly to said rim portion in vacuum and liquid-tight relation.
A glass container adapted to sealing its mouth portion with a thin imperforate thermoplastic film or metal foil comprising an open-mouth rim portion which has been heated to a temperature of about 180.degree. F. to oxidize the rim surface area, a first thin coating of an organo-functional silane compound applied over the heated rim portion of said glass container, and a second thin coating of an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer applied over the said first thin coating of silane compound adapted to be sealed to said thermoplastic film or foil by heat and pressure to form a liquid-tight long-lasting seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.