Enhanced oxygen barrier performance from modification of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH)
AssigneeChevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
InventorsHu Yang, Ta Yen Ching, Gangfeng Cai
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Abstract
Herein is disclosed a modified ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer (EVOH) comprising an oxygen scavenging functional group. Preferably, the modified EVOH comprises structures IV, V, and VI: wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y is an integer greater than or equal to 1, z is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and R comprises a cycloalkenyl group. The modified EVOH is useful in oxygen barrier applications, such as a forming an oxygen barrier layer of a packaging article. Also disclosed are methods of modifying ethylene vinyl alcohol polymers, and using the modified EVOH to make packaging articles with a superior barrier to entry by atmospheric oxygen.
Claims20
A packaging article, comprising:
- an oxygen barrier layer, which comprises a blend of (i) a modified ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer (EVOH) comprising an oxygen scavenging functional group and (ii) an unmodified EVOH;
- wherein the modified EVOH comprises structures IV, V, and VI:
- wherein X is an integer greater than or equal to 1, Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1, Z is an integer treater than or equal to 1, and R comprises a cycloalkenyl group;
- and
- wherein the blend comprises from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % modified EVOH.
The packaging article of 1, further comprising a transition metal catalyst in the oxygen barrier layer or a layer adjacent to the oxygen barrier layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.