Polyethylene squeezable pouches

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for producing polyethylene aseptic squeezable pouches. The invention also covers said pouches and their use for medical packaging applications.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for producing a container product including a squeezable pouch comprising
 a) extruding a metallocene catalyzed ethylene polymer having a density within the range of 0.928-0.942 g/cm 3  into a parison;   b) blow molding said parison into a pouch;   c) introducing a liquid into said pouch;   d) sealing said pouch containing said liquid to produce a sealed liquid containing pouch; and   e) sterilizing said pouch at a temperature of at least 118° C.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said ethylene polymer is a copolymer of ethylene and a C 3 -C 8  alpha olefin comonomer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said comonomer is selected from the group consisting of propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, and 4-methyl-1-pentene. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said comonomer is 1-hexene. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said metallocene catalyzed ethylene polymer is catalyzed by a metallocene having a bridged bis indenyl or bridged his tetrahydroindenyl ligand structure which is substituted or unsubstituted. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said metallocene is a bridged his tetrahydroindenyl ligand structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said metallocene is a bridged bis indenyl or bridged bis tetrahydroindenyl ligand zirconium dichloride. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said metallocene is a bridged bis tetrahydro indenyl zirconium dichloride. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said metallocene is ethylene bis(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl) zirconium dichloride. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said metallocene catalyzed polyethylene has a melt index M12 as measured according to ASTM D 1238 at 190° C. under a load of 2.16 kilograms within the range of 0.3-2.5 g/10 minutes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said ethylene polymer has a melt index M12 within the range of 0.5-1.5 g/10 minutes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said ethylene polymer has a melt index M12 within the range of 0.7-1.05 g/10 minutes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of claim  1  wherein said pouch is sterilized at a sterilization temperature of 119° C. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the said pouch is sterilized for 15 minutes.