Laminate structure for barrier packaging

Abstract

Laminate structure comprising an alternating stack of layers from polymer blends AC and BD having the sequence -AC-[BD-AC-]n with n from 4 to 36, wherein the layer thickness of layers AC and layers BD is less than 3 μm, wherein A and B are thermoplastic polymers and C and D are thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the thermoplastic polymer B has functional barrier properties, wherein the amount of the thermoplastic elastomers C and D in the polymer blends AC and BD is each from 3 to 45 wt.-%, and polymer B and elastomer D are essentially incompatible.

1 . A method for packaging of (liquid) (total) parenteral, enteral, IV, CAPD, and topical medication, drugs, or nutrition, cell culture, food, cosmetics and personal hygiene articles, wherein a laminate structure comprising an alternating stack of layers of different types of polymer blends AC and BD having the sequence -AC-[BD-AC-] n  with n from 4 to 36, a layer thickness of layers AC and layers BD of less than 3 μm, wherein A and B are thermoplastic polymers, the thermoplastic polymer B has functional barrier properties against transmission of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, organic vapors and moisture, the polymers A and B are each blended with a thermoplastic elastomer C and D forming the polymer blends AC and BD, in which the amount of the thermoplastic elastomers C and D in the blends is each from 3 to 45 wt.-%, and the thermoplastic polymer B and elastomer D are essentially incompatible forming separate phases, and the structure has a water vapor transmission rate of less than 5 g H 2 O per m 2  in 24 hours at 23° C. and 85 Vol.-% relative humidity (DIN 53122) and an oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cm 3  O 2  per m 2  in 24 hours at 23° C. and 50 Vol.-% relative humidity (ASTM D 3985), is used as packaging film. 
     
     
         2 . A method for manufacturing ostomy film, storage (2D, 3D) single or multi compartment bags and containers, bag-in-box liners and lidding films, wherein a laminate structure comprising an alternating stack of layers of different types of polymer blends AC and BD having the sequence -AC-[BD-AC-] n  with n from 4 to 36, a layer thickness of layers AC and layers BD of less than 3 μm, wherein A and B are thermoplastic polymers, the thermoplastic polymer B has functional barrier properties against transmission of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, organic vapors and moisture, the polymers A and B are each blended with a thermoplastic elastomer C and D forming the polymer blends AC and BD, in which the amount of the thermoplastic elastomers C and D in the blends is each from 3 to 45 wt.-%, and the thermoplastic polymer B and elastomer D are essentially incompatible forming separate phases, and the structure has a water vapor transmission rate of less than 5 g H 2 O per m 2  in 24 hours at 23° C. and 85 Vol.-% relative humidity (DIN 53122) and an oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cm 3  O 2  per m 2  in 24 hours at 23° C. and 50 Vol.-% relative humidity (ASTM D 3985), is formed into the ostomy film, storage (2D, 3D) single or multi compartment bag or container, bag-in-box liner or lidding film. 
     
     
         3 . A method of using a laminate structure comprising an alternating stack of layers of different types of polymer blends AC and BD having the sequence -AC-[BD-AC-] n  with n from 4 to 36, a layer thickness of layers AC and layers BD of less than 3 μm, wherein A and B are thermoplastic polymers, the thermoplastic polymer B has functional barrier properties against transmission of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, organic vapors and moisture, the polymers A and B are each blended with a thermoplastic elastomer C and D forming the polymer blends AC and BD, in which the amount of the thermoplastic elastomers C and D in the blends is each from 3 to 45 wt.-%, and the thermoplastic polymer B and elastomer D are essentially incompatible forming separate phases, and the structure has a water vapor transmission rate of less than 5 g H 2 O per m 2  in 24 hours at 23° C. and 85 Vol.-% relative humidity (DIN 53122) and an oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cm 3  O 2  per m 2  in 24 hours at 23° C. and 50 Vol.-% relative humidity (ASTM D 3985), the method comprising
 forming the laminate structure into a packaging film, 
 preparing a package using the packaging film. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 further using the package as a single or multi-compartment bag or container, an ostomy film, a bag-in-box liner, a lidding film, or as storage for a medical or food item selected from the group consisting of (i) a (liquid) (total) parenteral, enteral, IV, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or topical medication, (ii) a cosmetic, (iii) a personal hygiene article, (iv) a food, and (v) a cell culture (2D, 3D).   
     
     
         5 . A laminate structure comprising an alternating stack of layers of different types of polymer blends AC and BD having the sequence -AC-[BD-AC-] n  with n from 4 to 36, a layer thickness of layers AC and layers BD of less than 3 μm, wherein A and B are thermoplastic polymers, the thermoplastic polymer B has functional barrier properties against transmission of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, organic vapors and moisture, the polymers A and B are each blended with a thermoplastic elastomer C and D forming the polymer blends AC and BD, in which the amount of the thermoplastic elastomers C and D in the blends is each from 3 to 45 wt.-%, and the thermoplastic polymer B and elastomer D are essentially incompatible forming separate phases, and the structure has a water vapor transmission rate of less than 5 g H 2 O per m 2  in 24 hours at 23° C. and 85 Vol.-% relative humidity (DIN 53122) and an oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cm 3  O 2  per m 2  in 24 hours at 23° C. and 50 Vol.-% relative humidity (ASTM D 3985). 
     
     
         6 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein polymer A is a polyamide or nucleated polyamide or a polyamide partly based on a renewable source; a blend of a polyamide with an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer or a polyalkylene carbonate or a polyketone; a copolymer of an olefin with a carboxylic acid or ester or ionomer or mixture thereof; a maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin or olefin carboxylic acid or ester copolymer or ionomer; a blend of a maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin or olefin carboxylic acid or ester copolymer or ionomer with a not grafted polyolefin or olefin carboxylic acid or ester copolymer or ionomer. 
     
     
         7 . The laminate structure according to  claim 6 , wherein polymer A is a polyamide or a nucleated polyamide, preferably at least partly made from a renewable source. 
     
     
         8 . The laminate structure according to  claim 6 , wherein polymer A is a copolymer of ethylene with a carboxylic acid or ester or ionomer or mixture thereof or a maleic anhydride grafted copolymer of ethylene with a carboxylic acid or ester or ionomer or mixture thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the monomeric building blocks of polymer A is from a renewable source being glycerol, diols, vanillin, ferulic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, succinic acid, 1,4-butanediamide, bio-1,4 butanediol, diacids, hydroxyacids, furans, esteramides, amides, esters, CO, CO 2 , or bio-alkylenes. 
     
     
         10 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein polymer B is an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a polyketone, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyalkylene carbonate, a poly(1,3 glycerol carbonate), a poly(1,3 glycerol carbonate) mixed with polytetramethylene succinate, or a mixture or blend of polyamide with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyvinyl alcohol or polyketone or polyalkylene carbonate. 
     
     
         11 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer C is a styrene block copolymer of styrene with at least one of butylene, isoprene, hydrogenated butylene, hydrogenated isoprene and isobutylene. 
     
     
         12 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer D is a styrene block copolymer of styrene with isobutylene. 
     
     
         13 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer C and/or D is an at least partly renewably sourced elastomer. 
     
     
         14 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein polymer A is a maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin and elastomer C is a block copolymer of styrene with at least partially hydrogenated butylene and/or isoprene or an at least partly renewable sourced elastomer. 
     
     
         15 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein polymer B is ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyketone, polyvinyl alcohol or polyalkylene carbonate and elastomer D is styrene block copolymer of styrene with isobutylene, a mixture of styrene block copolymer of styrene with isobutylene and polyamide or polyamide from renewable sources, or any of these with bio-based multiblock elastomers based on ether or etheramide building blocks. 
     
     
         16 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , comprising one or more functional layers on either side of the alternating stack. 
     
     
         17 . The laminate structure according to  claim 16 , wherein one functional layer is a sealing layer. 
     
     
         18 . The laminate structure according to  claim 16  comprising at least two functional layers, wherein one of the functional layers is a tie layer promoting adhesion between the alternating stack and the second functional layer. 
     
     
         19 . The laminate structure according to  claim 16 , wherein one functional layer is at least partly from a polymer which has at least one monomeric building block from a renewable source. 
     
     
         20 . The laminate structure according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 a tensile modulus, measured according to ISO 527-1,2,3 or ASTM D882 (at 23° C. and 50% RH) is <250 MPa, preferably in the range from 75-150 MPa, and/or   a tensile strength at break measured according to ISO 527-1,2,3 or ASTM D882 is >10 MPa, preferably >15 MPa, but less than 40 MPa, and/or   an elongation at break measured according to ISO527-2,3 or ASTM D882 is >200% preferably >300%, but less than 800%, and/or   an Izod impact strength measured according to ASTM D256 at 23° C. notched/ISO 180 (1A) notched results in no break, and/or   a Charpy impact strength measured according to ISO 179 notched results in no break, and/or   a tensile impact strength measured according to ISO 8256 A1 notched at 23° C. is above 160 KJ/m 2 , and/or   a dart impact strength measured according to ASTM D1709 is above 250 g, and/or   a Spencer impact strength measured according to ASTM D3420 is above J/mm, and/or   an Elmendorf tear strength measured according to ISO 6383-2 or ASTM D1922 of at least about 2 N, preferably above 3 N, and/or   a tensile toughness determined by stress strain testing as described in ASTM D638, ASTM D882 and ISO 527 is >15 MJ/m 3 , preferably >25 MJ/m 3 , and most preferred >40 MJ/m 3 , and/or   a puncture resistance tested using a method similar to ASTM F1306-90 or DIN EN 14477 is at least 15 J, preferably more than 25 J.