Pet Container and Compositions Having Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Gas Barrier Properties

Abstract

A container comprising a polyester composition with enhanced mechanical properties is provided. The polyester composition comprises a polyester and a creep control agent. In particular embodiments, the polyester composition comprises a polyester, a creep control agent, and a gas barrier additive. In particular embodiments, the creep control agents are molecules or polymers comprising dianhydrides, bis-lactams, bis-oxazoles, and epoxides.

1 . A container comprising a polyester composition comprising a polyester, a creep control agent, and a gas barrier enhancing additive; wherein the creep control agent comprises a compound having the chemical structure of Formula I: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 , independent of one another, may comprise a heteroatom, a tetravalent carbon atom, or a C 1 -C 3  divalent or trivalent hydrocarbon; wherein each heteroatom, tetravalent carbon atom, or C 1 -C 3  divalent or trivalent hydrocarbon may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more functional moieties or one or more C 1 -C 10  hydrocarbyls that may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more functional moieties; 
         wherein i, ii, iii, iv, v, and vi, independent of one another, comprise a single, double, or triple bond; wherein when i is a double bond, ii and vi are single bonds; wherein when ii is a double bond, i and iii are single bonds; wherein when iii is a double bond, ii and iv are single bonds; wherein when iv is a double bond iii and v are single bonds; wherein when v is a double bond, iv and vi are single bonds; wherein when vi is a double bond, i and v are single bonds; wherein vii may be a single bond, double bond, or no bond at all connects R 3  and R 4 ; 
         wherein m, n, o, and p, independent of one another, may be 0 or 1; wherein when m is 0, bonds ii and iii form a single continuous bond; wherein when n is 0, bonds vi and v form a single continuous bond; wherein when o is 0, R 4  is bonded to R 1  by a single bond; and wherein when p is 0, R 3  is bonded to R 2 by a single bond; 
         wherein the creep control agent is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 200 to about 2000 ppm; 
         wherein the gas barrier enhancing additive comprises a compound having the chemical structure of Formula A or Formula B: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein X and X 6 , independent of one another, comprise hydrogen, halide, heteroatom, hydroxyl, amino, amido, alkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, or a C 1 -C 10  monovalent hydrocarbon which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more functional moieties; 
         wherein X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 , and X 5 , independent of one another, comprise a heteroatom or a C 1 -C 10  divalent hydrocarbon, wherein each heteroatom or C 1 -C 10  divalent hydrocarbon is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more functional moieties or one or more C 1 -C 10  hydrocarbyls that are unsubstituted or substituted with one or more functional moieties; and 
         wherein s, t, u, and v, independent of one another, is a number from 0 to 10; 
         wherein when X 3  comprises a C 6  or C 10  divalent aromatic hydrocarbon, s and v are 0, and X and X 6 , independent of one another, comprise a hydrogen, halide, heteroatom, hydroxyl, amino, amido, alkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, or a C 3 -C 10  monovalent cyclic or heterocyclic non-aryl hydrocarbon that are unsubstituted or substituted with one or more functional moieties; and 
         wherein the container is substantially free of haze and color.