Bulk Container Liner Flex-Crack Resistance via Polyolefin-Silicone Copolymer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bulk container liners are prone to flex-cracking, especially when transporting liquid products, due to the constant sloshing motion which fatigues the liner material, leading to leakage. The use of dunnage can reduce flex-cracking but adds additional costs and labor.

Innovation Solution

A liner for bulk containers is developed using a polyolefin-silicone copolymer in the sidewall plies, which provides improved flex-crack resistance. The liner can include multiple plies with the copolymer, along with a first linear low density polyethylene, and may incorporate an oxygen scavenger for enhanced performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dunnage is used to reduce flex-cracking, then the liner's resistance to flex-cracking is improved, but the manufacturing cost and labor cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflex-crack resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for dunnage by incorporating flex-crack resistance directly into the liner material itself through the polyolefin-silicone copolymer, removing the separate protective component and its associated costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters of the liner by using a polyolefin-silicone copolymer with specific silicone content (0.1-10.0% by weight), which fundamentally alters the material's flexibility and crack resistance properties to achieve protection without dunnage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If dunnage is used to reduce flex-cracking, then the liner's resistance to flex-cracking is improved, but the labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflex-crack resistanceVSAvoidlabor requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the need for manual placement of dunnage by integrating the protective function into the liner material itself, eliminating the labor step of installing dunnage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The liner material provides its own flex-crack protection through the inherent properties of the polyolefin-silicone copolymer, making the system self-protecting without requiring external components or manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the liner material is made more flexible to resist sloshing, then the resistance to flex-cracking is improved, but the liner strength may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflex-crack resistanceVSAvoidliner strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the silicone content parameter within a specific range (0.1-10.0% by weight) to achieve the right balance between flexibility for sloshing resistance and sufficient strength for structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system by combining polyolefin and silicone in a copolymer structure, leveraging the complementary properties of both materials to achieve both flexibility and strength simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12291386B2Liners for bulk containers

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 AMCOR FLEXIBLES NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

Described are liners for bulk containers that are abuse resistant. The liners include at least one sidewall. The sidewall includes at least an exterior ply and an interior ply. Optionally, the sidewall may include at least one intermediate ply. One of the plies includes a first polyolefin-silicone copolymer. The adhesion between the plies is from 0 g/2.54 cm to 50 g/2.54 cm (0 g/in to 50 g/in).