Amine-Based Oxygen Scavenger Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current polymer compositions used in packaging materials are permeable to oxygen, leading to oxidative damage of contents, necessitating the development of improved oxygen scavenging capabilities to extend the shelf life and preserve the freshness of oxygen-sensitive materials like food, beverages, and cosmetics.
Innovation Solution
The development of oxygen scavenger molecules and compounds, including amine-based polymeric compositions that incorporate transition metals, which react with oxygen to mitigate oxidative damage, are integrated into packaging materials to create effective oxygen barriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymer compositions are used for packaging materials, then the packaging can be made and used, but oxygen permeates through the polymer causing oxidative damage to contents
Solution Approach 1:
An oxygen scavenger composition is introduced as an intermediary layer within the packaging structure. This composition includes a polymer matrix with incorporated oxygen scavenging compounds that actively react with permeating oxygen, preventing it from reaching and oxidizing the packaged contents. The scavenger acts as a chemical barrier between the external oxygen environment and the oxygen-sensitive products.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging material is designed as a composite structure combining a base polymer with an oxygen scavenger composition. The scavenger composition itself is a composite of polymer matrix, oxygen scavenging compounds, and potentially catalysts or promoters. This multi-component composite approach enables the packaging to simultaneously provide structural integrity and active oxygen scavenging functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If oxygen scavenger compounds are incorporated into packaging materials, then oxygen transmission rates are reduced, but the complexity of the packaging composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen scavenging functionality is merged directly into the packaging material matrix itself. The scavenger compounds are incorporated during polymer processing or coating, creating an integrated scavenging layer rather than a separate component. This merging approach reduces the number of discrete layers and simplifies the overall packaging structure while maintaining effective oxygen barrier properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer matrix serves multiple functions: it provides structural integrity, acts as a carrier for the oxygen scavenging compounds, and facilitates their distribution throughout the packaging material. The scavenger composition is designed to be universally applicable across different packaging types and oxygen-sensitive products, reducing the need for product-specific customization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The described oxygen scavenger compounds significantly reduce oxygen transmission rates in packaging materials, effectively extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of sensitive contents by reacting with permeating oxygen, thereby enhancing the barrier properties of packaging materials.
Implementation Method 1
oxygen scavenger molecules and compounds... which react with oxygen to mitigate oxidative damage
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to oxygen scavenging molecules, compositions, methods of making the compositions, articles prepared from the compositions, and methods of making the articles. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.