Hollow Plastic Preform Barrier Using Polyurethane

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Solution Overview

Problem

Nylon-MXD6 plastic materials face issues with loss of transparency upon water absorption, poor adhesion properties, and corrosion in injection moulding machines, limiting their use in applications requiring transparency and compatibility with polyolefins and PET.

Innovation Solution

Development of hollow articles with a secondary plastic material formed by a cyclic diisocyanate, specifically polyurethanes, which provide improved adhesion, maintain transparency upon water absorption, and reduce corrosion, while offering enhanced gas and water vapour barrier properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nylon-MXD6 is used as a barrier layer, then good gas barrier properties are achieved, but transparency is lost when water is absorbed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas barrier propertiesVSAvoidtransparency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a multi-layer composite structure where a polyolefin base layer is combined with a barrier layer made of polyamide 6 and a specific inorganic compound. This composite approach allows the polyolefin to provide structural integrity and transparency, while the polyamide 6 + inorganic compound barrier layer provides gas barrier properties without the transparency loss issue of nylon-MXD6.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the barrier layer by using polyamide 6 combined with a specific inorganic compound (such as montmorillonite, hydrotalcite, or boehmite) instead of nylon-MXD6. This parameter change maintains gas barrier effectiveness while preventing the water-induced transparency loss that occurs with nylon-MXD6.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If nylon-MXD6 is used as a barrier layer, then gas barrier properties are improved, but adhesion to polyolefins and PET is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas barrier propertiesVSAvoidadhesion properties

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite barrier layer using polyamide 6 combined with an inorganic compound that improves adhesion to both polyolefin and PET base materials. This composite approach resolves the adhesion problem of nylon-MXD6 while maintaining gas barrier effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The inorganic compound acts as an intermediary between the polyolefin/PET base material and the polyamide 6 barrier layer, improving interfacial adhesion. This mediator approach allows the barrier layer to adhere properly to different base materials without the adhesion problems encountered with nylon-MXD6.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If nylon-MXD6 is used as a barrier layer, then gas barrier properties are achieved, but corrosion of metal surfaces in injection moulding machines occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas barrier propertiesVSAvoidcorrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition of the barrier layer from nylon-MXD6 to polyamide 6 combined with an inorganic compound. This parameter change eliminates the corrosive properties of nylon-MXD6 while maintaining effective gas barrier performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

By using polyamide 6 with inorganic compounds instead of nylon-MXD6, the patent selects materials that are less aggressive toward metal surfaces, reducing maintenance costs and extending the service life of injection molding equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 use of polyurethane-based secondary materials in hollow articles ensures reliable barrier layers with reduced delamination risk, maintains transparency, and enhances flexibility and barrier performance, expanding the range of compatible primary base materials and reducing maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

a secondary plastic material is provided, consisting of a polymer... wherein this secondary plastic material forms a barrier in the hollow article

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation barrier: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

maintain transparency upon water absorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWater absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

improved adhesion properties... reduced delamination risk

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3283289B1Hollow plastic object, particularly preform, resp. container, with a polymer barrier and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2023.06.07 RESILUX NV

Figure 1~18
Figure 19~32
Figure 33~39

AI summary

The invention relates to a hollow article with rigid walls (18 98), surrounding an enclosed space (19,..., 99) that occupies the interior of the hollow article (10,..., 90), made of a primary plastic base material (1) in which there is provided a secondary plastic material (2), consisting of a polymer, characterized in that this secondary polymer (2) is formed by a first component (A), being a cyclic diisocyanate as a cyclic compound, with an aromatic or optionally an aliphatic structure, and by at least one additional component (B), wherein this secondary plastic material (2) forms a barrier (12,..., 92) in the hollow article (10,..., 90), and method for producing thereof.