Multilayered Medical Container With Adhesive-Free Cyclic Polyolefin Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cyclic polyolefins used in medical containers face issues with adhesion, barrier properties, heat resistance, and sterilization compatibility, particularly when exposed to high-pressure steam, leading to potential medication absorption and loss of transparency and peel strength.
Innovation Solution
A multilayered body composed of an innermost cyclic polyolefin layer, an intermediate linear low-density polyethylene layer produced using a single-site catalyst, and an outermost high-density polyethylene layer, which eliminates the need for adhesives and enhances heat resistance and blocking resistance without compromising transparency or peel strength during sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cyclic polyolefin is used for the innermost layer to suppress medication adsorption, then barrier properties and transparency are improved, but adhesion to other layers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate layer between the cyclic polyolefin innermost layer and the outer layer. This intermediate layer acts as a mediator that provides adhesion promotion without requiring adhesives, thereby maintaining the barrier properties of the cyclic polyolefin while solving the adhesion problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite multilayer structure where the intermediate layer is made from a composite of specific resins (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and polyethylene). This composite material approach allows the intermediate layer to simultaneously provide adhesion, flexibility, and compatibility with both the cyclic polyolefin innermost layer and the outer layer.
2Ease of manufacture
If adhesive is used to improve adhesion between layers, then ease of manufacture is improved, but sanitation properties deteriorate due to adhesive components bleeding out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the adhesive component from the multilayer structure by using an intermediate layer made from specific resins that provide adhesion inherently. This removes the source of harmful adhesive components that would otherwise bleed out and compromise sanitation properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate layer is designed to provide self-adhesion properties through its resin composition (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and polyethylene), eliminating the need for external adhesives. The material serves its own adhesion function, ensuring sanitation compliance while maintaining manufacturing ease.
3Reliability
If cyclic polyolefin is used to maintain transparency and heat resistance, then reliability is improved, but adhesion and sterilization compatibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate layer acts as a mediator that protects the cyclic polyolefin innermost layer from direct contact with the outer layer during sterilization and bonding processes. This intermediate layer ensures adhesion while allowing the cyclic polyolefin to maintain its heat resistance and transparency properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate layer uses a composite resin system (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and polyethylene) that is specifically designed to withstand sterilization conditions while providing adhesion. This composite material approach allows the structure to maintain both adhesion and sterilization compatibility without compromising the heat resistance of the cyclic polyolefin.
4Reliability
If barrier layer thickness is increased to improve barrier properties, then medication protection is improved, but flexibility and transparency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the barrier function across multiple layers: the cyclic polyolefin innermost layer provides the primary barrier against medication adsorption, while the intermediate and outer layers provide additional protection and structural support. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function, maintaining flexibility while achieving superior overall barrier properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of composite materials in the intermediate layer (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and polyethylene) provides enhanced barrier properties without requiring excessive thickness. The composite structure delivers effective medication protection while maintaining the flexibility and transparency needed for practical medical container applications.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a multilayered body for medical containers, in which the innermost layer formed from a cyclic polyolefin exhibits favorable adhesion to another layer without using an adhesive, which exhibits excellent heat resistance, and which provides favorable blocking resistance when formed as a film, as well as a medical container formed from this multilayered body for medical containers, which suffers minimal deterioration in properties such as transparency and peel strength even when subjected to sterilization with high-pressure steam or the like.