Cyclodextrin compositions, articles, and methods

Abstract

Cyclodextrin compositions including one or more radiation polymerizable monomers and a cyclodextrin inclusion complex, the cyclodextrin inclusion complex including a cyclodextrin compound and an olefinic inhibitor of an ethylene generation in produce, are coated onto packaging materials and cured. Treated containers and treated package inserts having the cured cyclodextrin compositions are useful in packaging of respiring plant materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A curable composition comprising a mixture of:
 one or more radiation polymerizable monomers,   a prepolymer, and   a cyclodextrin inclusion complex comprising α-cyclodextrin and 1-methylcyclopropene.   
     
     
         2 . The curable composition of  claim 1  wherein the mixture comprises about 0.001 wt % to 25 wt % of the cyclodextrin inclusion complex. 
     
     
         3 . The curable composition of  claim 1  wherein the curable composition has a viscosity of about 10 cP to 2000 cP. 
     
     
         4 . The curable composition of  claim 1  further comprising one or more additional components selected from adhesion promoters, antifouling agents, thermal or oxidative stabilizers, colorants, adjuvants, plasticizers, water scavengers and dessicants. 
     
     
         5 . The curable composition of  claim 1  further comprising a photoinitiator. 
     
     
         6 . The curable composition of  claim 5  wherein the photoinitiator is present in the mixture at about 0.01 wt % to 5 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . The curable composition of  claim 1  further comprising a crosslinker comprising more than one unsaturated, polymerizable bond. 
     
     
         8 . The curable composition of  claim 7  wherein the crosslinker is present in the mixture at about 0.1 wt % to 5 wt %. 
     
     
         9 . A method of making a treated packaging material, the method comprising
 a. combining one or more radiation polymerizable monomers with a cyclodextrin inclusion complex comprising α-cyclodextrin and 1-methylcyclopropene to form a first polymerizable mixture;   b. prepolymerizing the first polymerizable mixture to form a prepolymerized mixture, the prepolymerized mixture having a viscosity of 10 cP to 2000 cP;   c. adding one or more additional monomers and optionally a crosslinker to the prepolymerized mixture to form a second polymerizable mixture;   d. coating the second polymerizable mixture onto at least a portion of one surface of a packaging material; and   e. exposing the coating to a source of radiation to form a treated packaging material.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second polymerizable mixture is coated at a thickness of 0.001 micron to 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second polymerizable mixture is coated at a thickness of 0.01 micron to 1 millimeter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second polymerizable mixture is coated at a thickness of 0.1 micron to 500 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second polymerizable mixture is coated at a thickness of 1 microns to 250 microns. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second polymerizable mixture is coated at a thickness of 2 microns to 100 microns. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second polymerizable mixture is coated at a thickness of 25 microns to 100 microns. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising combining a photoinitiator with the second polymerizable mixture, wherein exposing the coating to a source of radiation is exposing the coating to UV radiation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the exposing the coating to a source of radiation is exposing the coating to electron beam radiation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising cutting the treated packaging material into portions, wherein the portions are treated package inserts. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising adding a treated package insert to an enclosed volume comprising produce. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the produce comprises a flower. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the flower is a cut flower. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  comprising adding two or more treated package inserts to a package. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the treated package inserts are cut to variable size. 
     
     
         24 . A treated package insert formed by cutting the treated packaging material of  claim 9  into portions. 
     
     
         25 . A group of treated package inserts formed by cutting the treated packaging material of  claim 9  into variable size portions.