Plastic dispensing container having reduced moisture penetration and method for same

Abstract

Disclosed is a plastic dispensing tube container. The container has a head and a tube sleeve. The head also has a dessicant therein in an amount sufficient to reduce the permeation of moisture through a portion of or the entirety thereof.

1 . A plastic dispensing tube container, comprising: 
 a) a head, the head having a shoulder and a neck, the head having a dessicant therein in an amount sufficient to reduce the permeation of moisture through a portion of or the entirety of the head; and    b) a tube sleeve, the sleeve having two ends, one end of the sleeve being attached to the shoulder.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dessicant is present in the head in an amount about 0.1 to about 25 wt % based upon the total weight of the head.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dessicant is present in the head in an amount about 0.5 to about 10 wt % based upon the total weight of the head.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dessicant is present in the head in an amount about 0.5 to about 5 wt % based upon the total weight of the head.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dessicant is present in both the shoulder and the neck.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dessicant is dispersed substantially homogeneously throughout the entirety of the head.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tube sleeve has one or more barrier layers of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a metal foil, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations of the foregoing.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tube sleeve is a laminate having a) a first layer of a heat sealable, thermoplastic polymer, b) a first adhesive layer, c) a layer of an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, d) a second adhesive layer, e) a layer of a metal foil, f) a third adhesive layer, and g) a second layer of a thermoplastic polymer, wherein the ordering of the layers is from inside to outside.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tube sleeve is a laminate having a) a first layer of a heat sealable, thermoplastic polymer, b) a first adhesive layer, c) a barrier layer, d) a second adhesive layer, and e) a second layer of a thermoplastic polymer, wherein the ordering of the layers is from inside to outside.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dessicant is selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide potassium chloride, potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium phosphate di-basic, sodium pyrophosphate, sodium nitrate, molecular sieves, silica gels, clays, and starches.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a product within the tube sleeve and a seal end opposite the shoulder.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , further comprising a closure engaged with the neck.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the product is an RTV silicone adhesive.  
   
   
       14 . A method for reducing the permeation of moisture into a dispensing tube container having a head and a tube sleeve, wherein the head has a shoulder and a neck, and wherein the tube sleeve has two ends and one of those ends is attached to the shoulder; comprising: 
 adding a dessicant to the head in an amount sufficient to reduce the rate of permeation of moisture therethrough.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dessicant is added to the head in an amount about 0.1 to about 25 wt % based upon the total weight of the head.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dessicant is added to the head in an amount about 0.5 to about 10 wt % based upon the total weight of the head.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dessicant is added to the head in an amount about 0.5 to about 5 wt % based upon the total weight of the head.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dessicant is added to both the shoulder and the neck.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dessicant is dispersed substantially homogeneously throughout the entirety of the head.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tube sleeve has one or more barrier layers of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a metal foil, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations of the foregoing.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tube sleeve is a laminate having a) a first layer of a heat sealable, thermoplastic polymer, b) a first adhesive layer, c) a layer of an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, d) a second adhesive layer, e) a layer of a metal foil, f) a third adhesive layer, and g) a second layer of a thermoplastic polymer, wherein the ordering of the layers is from inside to outside.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tube sleeve is a laminate having a) a first layer of a heat sealable, thermoplastic polymer, b) a first adhesive layer, c) a barrier layer, d) a second adhesive layer, and e) a second layer of a thermoplastic polymer, wherein the ordering of the layers is from inside to outside.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dessicant is selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium phosphate di-basic, sodium pyrophosphate, sodium nitrate, molecular sieves, silica gels, clays, and starches.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dispensing tube container has a product within the tube sleeve and a seal at the end of the sleeve opposite the shoulder.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the dispensing tube container has a closure engaged with the neck.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the product is an RTV silicone adhesive.