Squeezable containers for flowable products having improved barrier and mechanical properties

Abstract

The present invention relates to squeezable containers for flowable products having improved barrier and/or mechanical properties and methods for making said sqeezable containers. These improvements are achieved by incorporating into the squeezable container a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.

1 . A squeezable container for flowable material having improved barrier and/or mechanical properties comprising a sleeve and a head wherein at least one of said sleeve or said head comprises a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.  
     
     
         2 . A squeezable container comprising a sleeve and a head wherein the squeezable container is coated with a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.  
     
     
         3 . The squeezable container of  claim 1  wherein the modified clay comprises montmorillonite.  
     
     
         4 . The squeezable container of  claim 1  wherein the polymer comprises a polyolefin.  
     
     
         5 . The squeezable container of  claim 4  wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene and polypropylene.  
     
     
         6 . A squeezable container for flowable material having improved barrier and/or mechanical properties comprising a mono or multilayer sleeve and a mono or multilayer head wherein at least one of said sleeve or said head comprises a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.  
     
     
         7 . The squeezable container of  claim 6  wherein the modified clay comprises a phyllosilicate.  
     
     
         8 . The squeezable container of  claim 7  wherein the phyllosilicate comprises montmorillonite.  
     
     
         9 . The squeezable container according to  claim 6  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of.  
     
     
         10 . The squeezable container according to  claim 6  wherein the sleeve comprises an outer layer comprising low density poly(ethylene) and an inner layer comprising low density poly(ethylene), wherein at least one of said surface layers or said inner layers comprises a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.  
     
     
         11 . The squeezable container according to  claim 6  wherein the sleeve comprises an inner layer comprising low density polyethylene; a first tie layer comprising polyethylene; a barrier layer comprising a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of Nylon 6, MXD6, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyketone, ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer; a second tie layer comprising polyethylene and an outer layer comprising low density polyethylene.  
     
     
         12 . The squeezable container according to  claim 6  wherein the head comprises an inner layer comprising a polymer which is selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene and polypropylene; a barrier layer comprising a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of Nylon 6, MXD6, ethylene vinyl alcohol, copolymer poly(acrylonitrile), poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyketone thermoplastic ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer; and an outer layer comprising a polymer which is selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene and polypropylene.  
     
     
         13 . A multilayer, foilless laminate squeezable container comprising a mono or multilayer sleeve and a mono or multilayer head wherein at least one of said sleeve or said head comprises a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.  
     
     
         14 . A multilayer, foilless laminate squeezable container according to  claim 13  wherein the sleeve comprises an outer layer comprising low density poly(ethylene); a bulk layer comprising low density poly(ethylene) linear low density poly(ethylene) and high density poly(ethylene); a first tie layer comprising linear low density poly(ethylene); a barrier layer comprising a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.  
     
     
         15 . A multilayer, foilless laminate squeezable container according to  claim 13  wherein the sleeve comprises an outer layer comprising low density poly(ethylene); a first tie layer comprising poly(ethylene); a barrier layer comprising a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay wherein the polymer is selected form the group consisting of EVOH, Nylon 6, MXD6, PAN, PET, polyketone, thermoplastic and EMA; a second tie layer comprising poly(ethylene), a bulk layer comprising high density poly(ethylene); a third tie layer comprising poly(ethylene); a second barrier layer which is the same as the first; a fourth tie layer comprising poly(ethylene) and an inner layer comprising low density poly(ethylene) and linear low density poly(ethylene).  
     
     
         16 . A label for a squeezable container comprising a sleeve and a head wherein the label comprises a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.  
     
     
         17 . An overwrap for a squeezable container comprising a sleeve and a head wherein the overwrap comprises a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.  
     
     
         18 . A squeezable container for flowable material having improved barrier and/or mechanical properties comprising at least one layer of a polymeric nanocomposite comprising a polymer and nanosize particles of a modified clay.