Closure Oxygen Scavenging System for PET Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
PET containers are poor oxygen barriers, limiting the shelf life of food and beverages due to oxygen ingress, and existing oxygen scavenging systems face challenges with hydrogen generation and catalyst placement, especially in hydrophobic materials like HDPE and PP.
Innovation Solution
A PET container with a hydrogen generator and catalyst integrated into the closure, utilizing a polar liner material or eliminating internal liners for hydrogen generation, allowing for efficient hydrogen release without compromising the seal, and incorporating the hydrogen generator and catalyst in various configurations within the closure or foil seal to optimize performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydrogen generator and catalyst are placed in the closure for oxygen scavenging, then oxygen reduction effectiveness is improved, but the hydrophobic closure materials (HDPE, PP) limit water permeability and thus hydrogen generation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A polar liner material is introduced as an intermediary between the hydrophobic closure material and the hydrogen generator. This liner has high water permeability while the outer closure material maintains its hydrophobic sealing properties. The liner acts as a mediator that allows water to reach the hydrogen generator for efficient hydrogen production without compromising the closure's sealing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure is segmented into multiple functional layers: an outer hydrophobic layer (HDPE or PP) for sealing and an inner polar liner layer for water permeability. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specialized function - the outer layer maintains the hermetic seal while the inner layer enables water transport to the hydrogen generator.
2Ease of manufacture
If internal liners are used in the closure for hydrogen generation, then water permeability is improved, but the seal integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the closure have different properties: the inner polar liner has high water permeability localized to where the hydrogen generator is positioned, while the outer closure material maintains hydrophobic seal integrity at the sealing surface. This local differentiation of material properties allows both water permeability and seal integrity to be optimized in their respective locations.
3Reliability
If PET container crystallinity is increased through thermal processing to improve barrier properties, then oxygen barrier performance is improved, but light transmission is reduced due to spherulitic morphology
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen generator and catalyst are pre-positioned in the closure before the container is filled and sealed. This preliminary placement ensures that the oxygen scavenging system is already in position to immediately begin reducing oxygen ingress, providing proactive protection rather than relying solely on the container's passive barrier properties.
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 solution effectively reduces oxygen penetration into the container, extending the shelf life of contents by ensuring sufficient hydrogen generation and maintaining a hermetic seal, suitable for both hot-fill and cold-fill applications.
Implementation Method 1
The technology involves the slow release of hydrogen from the container using a hydrogen generator. The hydrogen subsequently reacts with oxygen in the presence of a metal catalyst to create water.
Implementation Method 2
The hydrogen subsequently reacts with oxygen in the presence of a metal catalyst to create water.
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a polar liner material or eliminating internal liners for hydrogen generation, allowing for efficient hydrogen release without compromising the seal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~5
AI summary
A container having a hydrogen generator and catalyst disposed or otherwise incorporated in components of the container. The container further comprises a system for providing at least a portion of the hydrogen generator and/or catalyst in an area defined within the closure of the container for improved performance.