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US 9,845,388 B2Granted
Transparent poly(phenylene ether) compositions, their methods of manufacture, and food packaging films and containers derived therefrom
AssigneeSabic Global Technologies B.V.
InventorNorihiro Takamura
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Abstract
This invention generally relates to transparent compositions containing a blend of poly(phenylene ether) and styrenic polymer, methods for their manufacture, and food packaging films and containers derived therefrom.
Claims10
A microwavable food package or food wrapping film fabricated from a polymer composition which comprises a blend of 13 to 94 percent by weight of master batch and 87 to 6 percent by weight of styrenic polymer, wherein the master batch comprises:
- (a) 40 to 75 percent by weight of a poly(phenylene ether);
- (b) 25 to 60 percent by weight of a styrenic polymer;
- (c) 0.01 to 2.5 percent by weight of an optical enhancing additive;
- wherein the optical enhancing additive is an alpha-hydroxyketone selected from the group consisting of hydroxyacetone (1-hydroxy-2-propanone);
- acetoin (3-hydroxy-2-butanone);
- 2-hydroxyacetophenone;
- benzoin (2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetophenone);
- and 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-2-p-tolyl-ethanone;
- (d) 0.003 to 0.012 percent by weight of a colorant;
- (e) 0.01 to 2 percent by weight of a di- or trifunctional carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, and malic acid, and mixtures thereof;
- and wherein:
- the master batch is characterized by:
- (i) a heat deflection temperature that is 92° C. to 146° C. as measured according to ASTM D648 on 6.4 mm thick bars at 1.82 MPa;
- (ii) a Haze value of less than 5;
- and
- and the blend is characterized by:
- (i) a heat deflection temperature that is 92° C. to 146° C. as measured according to ASTM D648 on 6.4 mm thick bars at 1.82 MPa;
- and
- (ii) a Haze value of less than 3 as measured according to;
- and
- (iii) a Yellowness index for films that are 200 micrometers thick of between −5 and 2.5;
- and provided:
- when di- or trifunctional carboxylic acid is present, the microwavable food package or wrapping film contains 1250 or less specks that are 200 μm in size or larger in 1 m2 as measured according to film surface analyzer;
- and further provided:
- when there is 0.009 to 0.012 percent by weight of colorant present in the composition, the amount of di- or trifunctional carboxylic acid is greater than 0 percent by weight.
22 more elements
A process for preparing a polymer composition for microwavable food container and film fabrication, comprising:
- compounding to form a master batch comprising:
- (a) 40 to 75 percent by weight of a poly(phenylene ether);
- (b) 25 to 60 percent by weight of a styrenic polymer;
- (c) 0.01 to 2.5 percent by weight of an optical enhancing additive;
- wherein the optical enhancing additive is an alpha-hydroxyketone selected from the group consisting of hydroxyacetone (1-hydroxy-2-propanone);
- acetoin (3-hydroxy-2-butanone);
- 2-hydroxyacetophenone;
- benzoin (2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetophenone);
- and 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-2-p-tolyl-ethanone;
- (d) 0.003 to 0.012 percent by weight of a colorant;
- (e) 0.01 to 2 percent by weight of a di- or trifunctional carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, and malic acid, and mixtures thereof;
- and wherein:
- the master batch is characterized by:
- (i) a heat deflection temperature that is 92° C. to 146° C. as measured according to ASTM D648 on 6.4 mm thick bars at 1.82 MPa;
- (ii) a Haze value of less than 5;
- and
- blending the master batch with additional styrenic polymer to form a blend comprising 13 to 94 percent by weight of master batch and 87 to 6 percent by weight of styrenic polymer, wherein the blend is characterized by:
- (i) a heat deflection temperature that is 92° C. to 146° C. as measured according to ASTM D648 on 6.4 mm thick bars at 1.82 MPa;
- and
- (ii) a Haze value of less than 3 as measured according to;
- and
- (iii) a Yellowness index for films that are 200 micrometer in thick of between −5 and 2.5;
- and provided:
- when di- or trifunctional carboxylic acid is present, the microwavable food package or wrapping film contains 1250 or less specks that are 200 μm in size or larger in 1 m2 as measured according to film surface analyzer;
- and further provided:
- when there is 0.009 to 0.012 percent by weight of colorant present in the composition, the amount of di- or trifunctional carboxylic acid is greater than 0 percent by weight.
23 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.