The present invention relates to improvements in packages and, in particular, to a container as more closely defined hereinbelow, with improved material properties, in particular oxygen barrier properties.

In cases of packages of plastic, both of the monolayer and multilayer type, such as cans, bottles, trays, etc., intended for foods, beverages including, for example, juice, wine, carbonated beverages, there is a constantly growing need for new materials with improved barrier properties in order to satisfy consumer demands for acceptable shelf-life.

Plastic materials possessing good barrier properties are previously known. For example, Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 100, 193165, 1984, describes polyester compositions with good oxygen barrier properties. Further examples of material with good oxygen barrier properties are a copolymer between vinyl alcohol and ethylene (EVOH), as well as polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC). One drawback inherent in EVOH is, int.al., that the barrier properties deteriorate drastically at elevated temperature and humidity. This entails that containers with EVOH layers, on autoclaving, lose the good oxygen barrier properties. In order further to improve such barrier properties, EP-A-301 719 has- proposed polymer material intended for packages containing minor quantities of metal for obtaining a metal-catalyst governed oxidation which provides a barrier-promoting oxygen scavenger effect. However, the materials disclosed in this publication suffer from the drawback that the improved oxygen barrier properties do not manifest themselves fully until after a certain period of time, entitled by those skilled in the art an induction period. In aftertreatment at elevated temperature, the induction period may be shortened or eliminated. (According to this European publication, the induction period may be eliminated by means of ageing (during which a redistribution of the molecules probably takes place so that "reactive seats" are formed)).

In the search for materials with improved barrier properties, there has now been devised a plastic material which, when constituting at

least a part of a container (for example one or more layers) imparts thereto immediately manifest oxygen barrier properties and of such dignity that the demands placed on the quality and shelf-life of the contents of the container will be satisfied with a generous margin. In such instance, the container referred to in the preamble to appended claim 1 has been given the characterizing features as disclosed therein.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to preferred embodiments, there follow below definitions of expressions and concepts which occur often in the body of this specifi¬ cation.

"Oxygen barrier" is the ability of a plastic material to prevent the passage of oxygen. Its magnitude or value is often expressed as the reciprocal magnitude OTR ("Oxygen Transmission Rate") and is indicated in cc/24h. The lower the value, the better the barrier properties.

The term "layer" is to be interpreted very broadly. A container may consist of one "layer" which is homogeneous or inhomogeneous, or of a plurality of "layers" of different material compositions. "Layer" may also relate to a coating of normally slight extent (thickness). "Bounding definition" relates, in conjunction with containers, for example to a wall, a bottom or a mouth portion.

That effect which, according to the present invention, is responsible for the oxygen barrier properties, i.e. the ability of the material to withstand the passage of oxygen, is also entitled, in skilled circles, "the oxygen scavenger" effect. This will be described below with reference to such expressions as "consume", "destroy", "entrap", "eliminate", "oxygen-binding", etc.

The polyamide which at least in part is included in the barrier layer or barrier layers is, hereinbelow, often entitled "activated" poly- amide, by which is taken to mean that a polyamide of optional variety

has been subjected to partial splitting in order thereby to increase sensitivity to reaction with oxygen in the presence of certain metal ions. "Partial splitting" (alternatively "partial degradation") implies such a treatment of the polyamide that a portion of its molecules and/or groups is dissociated, with a restructuring thereof as a consequence. According to one preferred embodiment, this partial splitting is realized in that a polyamide is caused to react with a nucleoph lic reagent, possibly in the presence of an activator, preferably under the melting conditions of the polyamide. According to another embodiment, this partial splitting is achieved in that a polyamide is subjected to thermal degradation, for example in an extruder (under melting conditions).

The activated polyamide included in the barrier layer or barrier layers has thus been obtained by partial splitting of a polyamide. The polyamides which are subjected to partial splitting are commercially available and may be of both aromatic and al phatic nature. So-called copolyamides, i.e. copolymers of polyamides and other polymers are also encompassed within the scope of the present invention.

One preferred aromatic polyamide is a polymer which has been obtained by polymerization of meta-xylylene-diamine of the formula H2NCH2-m-C6H4-CH2NH2 and adipic acid of the formula H02C(CH2)4 C02H, for example a product manufactured and marketed by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Japan under the title MXD6. Pre¬ ferred polyamides of aliphatic nature are nylon 6 (PA 6) and nylon 6.6 (PA 66). The choice of polymer is not critical, being determined rather by economic factors.

According one preferred embodiment, the activated polyamide is produced in that a polyamide is caused to react with a nucleophilic reagent, possibly in the presence of an activator in the form of a hydrogen donor, under such conditions that a uniform, homogeneous polyamide product, or an inhomogeneous polyamide product is obtained. According to a further preferred embodiment, the reaction is carried out in an extruder, in which the reaction temperature, at least during a part of the reaction, exceeds the melting temperature of the polyamide component. In such instance, the polyamide is present in

granulate form or in powder form, while the nucleophilic reagent and the possible activator are present in granulate form, as a powder or as liquid. As non-restrictive examples of a liquid form nucleophilic reagent, mention might be made of lower polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols. The choice of the nucleophilic reagent and, where applicable, the activator is critical inasmuch as the nucleophilic reagent and the activator must be stable up to the melting point of the polyamide component.

As preferred examples of the nucleophilic reagent, the following might be mentioned: Compounds containing at least one carboxylate group, compounds containing at least one amino group, compounds containing at least one hydroxyl group, compounds containing at least one alkoxide group, phosphate compounds, pyrophosphate compounds, or polyphosphate compounds. According to one preferred embodiment, the nucleophilic reagent consists of a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and ethylene (EVOH). In this case, the polyamide is subjected to alcohol sis. As activator (hydrogen donor), use may be made of any optional activator, with the proviso that the activator is stable up to the melting point of the polyamide component. As preferred examples, mention might be made of compounds containing at least one carboxyl group, such as polycar- boxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, or simple carboxylic acids. One preferred aliphatic carboxylic acid is adipic acid, and one preferred aromatic carboxylic acid is phthalic acid (together with its isomers). Fatty acids such as stearic acid have proved to be highly suitable. An extremely suitable activator according to the present invention is marketed under the trade name "Admer QF 551".

The skilled reader of this specification will readily perceive that the nucleophilic reagent and the activator may be selected from a large number of compounds, but that this number is drastically limited as a consequence of the requirement of stability at the melting point of the polyamide. A standard value of the melting point (for selection of "stable" reagent) is set at approx. 2500 C, with upward and down- ward variations by some ten degrees. The stability requirement may also be expressed such that the nucleophilic reagent and, where applicable, the activator must have retained ability to react with the polyamide under temperature conditions about its melting temperature.

As was mentioned above, according to one preferred embodiment, the nucleophilic reagent is selected from among carboxylates, amines, alcohols and phosphate compounds. As representative examples of com¬ pounds within these categories and observing the stability require- ment, mention might be made of ionomeric material of such type as is marketed under the trade mark "Surlyn"; salts of organic acids, such as calcium stearate; tetraethylene pentamine; polyethylene glycol 400 or 600; EVOH and tetrasodium phosphate.

While not being linked to any theory, it is believed that the improve¬ ment of the oxygen barrier properties is because the groups in the activated polyamide are, as a result of the restructuring, more sensitive to reaction with oxygen in the presence of metal ions than the non-activated polyamide. In other words, when a container is exposed to an oxygenaceous atmosphere, oxygen is entrapped in the barrier layer or barrier layers and reacts with the activated poly¬ amide. Oxygen being consumed in the layer, no passage of oxygen will take place therethrough. In cases of a barrier layer containing activated polyamide, the "scavenger" effect occurs immediately, i.e. without any aftertreatment.

According to one preferred embodiment, the activated polyamide is present as a "masterbatch" to which is added, prior to forming into containers (or parts thereof), other polymer or polymers. This "master- batch" or this barrier concentrate is suitably present in the form of granules or pellets, which considerably facilitates the admixture of other polymers. The fact that the activated polyamide is present as a "masterbatch" enjoys the major advantage that freedom of choice concerning materials is increased, and further that containers which - for certain reasons - are produced of plastic material possessing no barrier properties, may be provided with oxygen barrier properties by the admixture of a relatively minor quantity of the above-mentioned "masterbatch". However, the quantity of this "masterbatch" is not critical as long as the desired effect is achieved. The quantity is determined by such factors as that barrier effect which is intended, its durability, the polymer material or polymer materials which are to be admixed, the contents of the finished container, etc. In the selection of quantity, such factors as economy and toxicity are also

considered. As a non-restrictive quantity range for the activated polyamide, mention might be made of 1-15 weight-%, although as a rule smaller quantities are to be preferred, preferably within the range of between 1 and 5 weight-%. Hence, the activated polyamide constitutes a minor fraction of the layer or layers, while another polymer or polymers constitute the major fraction. The polymer or polymers forming the major fraction of the layer are also designated matrix or structure polymers. It is surprising that a smaller quantity of activated polyamide in relation to the state of the art is required for achieving an improved oxygen barrier effect.

As non-restrictive examples of matrix or structure polymers for mixing with the activated polyamide prior to forming of the container, men¬ tion might be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, polypropylene and polyamide. In order to improve homogeneity, use is made, in certain cases, of a so-called compatibil zer, for example an ionomer of Surlyn type.

Prior to mixing in the structure polymer, there is incorporated, according to one embodiment, an activating metal (oxidation catalyst), such as Co, Fe, Mn, Cu, etc therein, for example in that the structure polymer in granulate form is mixed with a salt of the metal and the thus treated granules are compounded in an extruder and granulated once again.

According to another embodiment, there is incorporated, prior to mixing in the structure polymer, an activating metal (oxidation catalyst), such as Co, Fe, Mn, Cu, etc in the activated polyamide for example in the same manner as in the case of the structure polymer, as described above. In this embodiment, the masterbatch must be protected against the action of oxygen from production to use, for instance by being packed in bags of aluminium foil.

According to yet a further embodiment, no active admixture of metal compound takes place in the structure polymer, use being made instead of the residual quantities of metal which are already present in the polymer and which derive from catalysts employed in the production of the structure polymer. The granules of the structure polymer and the

granules of the activated polyamide are thereafter mixed in suitable portions prior to production of the container.

The mixing of structure polymer and activated polyamide is effected by mixing the components each one in the molten state. For example, both of the polymers may initially be individually present as granules or pellets. Each one of the components is weighed separately and then mixed physically in a suitable device, possibly with additives. After possible drying, a substantially uniform polymer melt mixture can be achieved. A suitable method of forming the "mixture" is by melt- extrusion. In the extruder, the polymers are mixed in the molten state and, thereafter, the mixture is extruded in the form of a strand which, after "hardening" can be cut or otherwise comminuted into granules or pellets which may thereafter be formed into objects in a conventional manner. The temperature in the extruder is adapted to the properties of the polymers and is as a rule 200-400 oc, suitably 230-300 oc, and preferably 240-270 oC.

The invention will now be described in greater detail below with particular reference to the appended examples.

EXAMPLE 1

Production of activated polyamide (masterbatch)

Granulate of nucleophilic agents (e.g. Selar OH 3003 (EVOH), 10 weight-%), possible activator (e.g. Admer QF 551, 2 weight-%) and polyamide (e.g. MXD6 6001, the remainder) were mixed and extruded using an extruder (AXON, type BX-25) with single screw and five heating zones (235-245 oc, 240-250 oc, 240-250 oc, 240-250 oc, 250-260 oc) in strands which were thereafter comminuted in a granulator. The thus produced granulate was dried at 70 oc for 4-5 hours and packed air-tight in bags of aluminium foil.

EXAMPLE 2 Production of containers and measurement of OTR

Containers were produced from a mixture of a structure polymer (PET, PP or PA) and activated polyamide so that the weight quantities

indicated in Tables I-III were achieved. The mixture contained metal ions which, on certain occasions, were added actively and on other occasions consisted of catalyst residues. Of the mixture of structure polymer and active polyamide, packaging was produced with the aid of the conventional technique described below, whereafter the oxygen barrier effect (OTR measurement) is indicated in Tables I-III.

TABLE I Experi- Structurepolymer Cobalt ACTIVATED POLYAMIDE (Weight-%) OTR-meas ment No (weight-%) ppn MXD66001 EVOH Admer QF 551 (cc/24h)

* ARNITE D-02-300 GL ** doped

*** mixture of MXD6 6001/activated polyamide 1:1 **** lower measurement limit

TABLE II

Experi- Structure- Cobalt Act. polyamide (weight-%) Compatibi- OTR-measu ent polymer ppm MXD66001 EVOH lizor ent No (weight-%) (weight-%) (cc/24h)

REF 5 PP*/MXD6 330 0,1360 (90/10)

VIII PP*(88,4) 270 10 Ca-stearate 0,0180 **(0,6)

IX PP*(79,0) 300 10 SURLYN 0,0280 1706 (10)

* PROPATHENE PXC 22265 ** RIEDEL - DE HAEN 24611

TABLE III Experi- Structurepolymer Copper Act. polyamide (weight-X) OTR-meas ment ( eight-%) ppm Polyam de EVOH ment)

No (cc/24h)

REF 6 PA6*(100) <1 0,0026

PA6*(96,6) 925 PA6* (3,0) 0,33 <0,001 *

REF 7 PA66** (100) <1 0,0037

XI PA66** (96,6) 800 PA66** (3,0) 0,33 <0,001

* ULTRAMID B4K

** ULTRAMID A4K

*** lower measurement limit

Departing from each one of the mixtures disclosed in Tables I-III, containers were manufactured using the technique selected below by way of example. For a complete disclosure, it might be mentioned that both the activated polyamide and the structure polymer intended for ad- mixture were present in granulate form and that the drying condi ions prior to infeed in the injection moulding machine corresponded to those recommended by each respective supplier. According to one preferred embodiment, the granules of activated polyamide and the granules of structure polymer are dried separately before being mixed with one another.

After the granules have dried, for example at a temperature of 100-140 oc for lOh, the granules were fed into an injection moulding machine where, in accordance with conventional technique, they were melted and the preform was injected of the molten material. The material was kept in the compression section of the injection moulding machine at a temperature within the range of between 255 and 280 oc, preferably between 260 and 275 oc, and also in the injection nozzle as a rule within the same temperature range. The material in the preform was rapidly cooled in order to form amorphous material. The amorphous preform was thereafter reformed into a container. In certain practical applications, this took place in that the preform of amorphous material was expanded in the axial direction of the mould and/or in its circumferential direction to form an intermediate preform, which hence, came to consist of thinner material than the preform and preferably of at least monoaxially oriented material. The intermediate preform thereafter underwent additional expansion so as to be reformed into the container. In other practical applications, the preform was reformed into the container in a single forming stage.

In one preferred embodiment, the intermediate preform was formed in accordance with the technique described in US 4405546 and GB 2 168315-A. The technique described in both of these patent specifications entails that the material in the walls of the preform passes, under temperature control, a gap whereupon the material thickness is reduced during simultaneous stretching of the material in the axial direction of the preform. In such instance, there is obtained a monoaxial orientation of the material in the axial

direction of the preform. As a rule, the gap width is selected so as to be sufficiently small to realize material displacement in the transi¬ tion zone between amorphous material and material with reduced wall thickness, i.e. oriented material. A mandrel is inserted in the thus formed intermediate preform, the circumference of the mandrel in cross section exceeding the inner cross section of the intermediate preform, whereby the intermediate preform is expanded in the circumferential direction under abutment against the mandrel. As a result of the expansion, good contact will be obtained between the material wall in the intermediate preform and the outer defining surface of the mandrel. In the experiments, the surface temperature of the mandrel was in excess of 90 oc, preferably in excess of 150 oc, which entailed that the oriented material underwent a shrinkage in the axial direction of the preform. In the experiments, it surprisingly proved possible to carry out the material shrinkage within a very large temperature range, namely the range of between 90 and 245 oc. As a result of the heat treatment, the material also obtained a thermally conditioned crystalli¬ zation in addition to the crystallization which occurred as a result of the orientation of the material. The expanded intermediate preform, shrunk in the axial direction, was thereafter generally trimmed, so as to form an even mouth edge. In addition, where applicable the mouth - was, by reforming, given dimensions adapted to a seal or closure.

In yet a further embodiment, a preform was produced using a so-called two layer injection moulding machine, i.e. an injection moulding machine displaying a multilayer nozzle, the flow emitted by the nozzle comprising PET and a mixture of PET and activated MXD6 in accordance with experiments I-VII in Table I above. A preform of circular cross section was produced in this instance, comprising additionally a closed bottom, the outside of the preform consisting of PET and the inside consisting of each respective mixture according to experiments 1:1I-VII in Table I above.

According to a further embodiment, after the customary drying, the granules consisting of each of the mixtures according to experiments I-VII were fed into an injection moulding machine of conventional design so as to produce a finished container in one single operational phase.

According to still a further preferred embodiment, the layer included in the container consists of a lacquer layer which, by incorporation of the activated polyamide, has obtained improved oxygen barrier proper¬ ties. Such layers are generally applied by injection or coating on the inside of cans (of plastical metal), lids or the like. By replacing the polyamide component in conventional polyamide-based lacquers wholly or partly by the activated polyamide, these will obtain oxygen barrier properties as a result of which the shelf-life of contents in con¬ tainers provided with lacquer layers of such composition will be greatly increased. As a non-restrictive example of lacquer with

"scavenger" effect, mention might be made of thermosetting dual-com¬ ponent polyamide lacquer which, for instance, consists of an epoxy component and a polyamide component. This latter consists, for example, of a partially split condensation product of finally-divided vegetable oil acid and polyamino compounds. This lacquer type is resistant to chemicals, including solvents and water, and affords good corrosion protection when applied to substrates of, for instance, aluminium and steel. Certain beer varieties are highly sensitive to an oxygenaceous environment and undergo flavour deterioration when they are stored in such an environment. If these beer varieties are stored in containers (cans, bottles) interiorly coated with a lacquer and/or whose seal is interiorally coated with a lacquer of the above-described type, any tendencies to flavour deterioration by reaction with the residual volume of oxygen which is present in the "head-space" on sealing will be eliminated.

Another example of a preferred lacquer is a thermosetting one-component polyamide lacquer which, for example, consists of a combination of an activated polyamide (with free amino groups) and phenolic resin. Set¬ ting takes place at 150 oc or higher. A set thin layer (5-10 p) of such a lacquer has excellent oxygen barrier properties and s, more¬ over, resistant to most chemicals, for which reason it is extraordi¬ narily well suited for practical applications in which an oxygenaceous environment is harmful.

One highly preferred lacquer i s an epoxy-urea-f or al dehyde l acquer which, as a resul t of its modified amide group structure, di splays a "scavenger" effect.

A number of preferred embodiments have been described in the foregoing in respect of the practical application of the present invention, i.e. in the production of containers, particularly for packaging purposes, including embodiments in which multilayer structures have been employed, but the present invention is by no means restricted to these disclosed embodiments, it lying within the area of competence of a person skilled in this art to apply any optional prior art technique for producing containers of the type under consideration herein.