Peelable Lidstock Sealing Layer Composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing peelable and sealable lidstock materials for containers lack an optimal combination of peel force, burst strength, and footprint appearance on the container sealing surface after peeling.

Innovation Solution

A peelable and sealable lidstock with a sealing layer comprising 70-89% by weight of a copolymer (A) including polymerized olefin and ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers, 10-29% by weight of a copolymer (B) including polymerized (meth)acrylate ester monomers, and 1-10% by weight of inorganic particles with specific particle size characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a sealing layer is designed for high burst strength, then the seal becomes more robust, but the peel force becomes too high and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburst strengthVSAvoidpeel force
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the copolymer composition ratios (ethylene content 1-15 mole percent), molecular weight distribution, and crystallinity of the polyolefin copolymer. These parameter adjustments create a sealing layer with optimized balance between burst strength and peel force, allowing the material to exhibit appropriate mechanical properties for both sealing robustness and controlled peeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining polyolefin copolymer with other polymers or additives to create a multi-component sealing layer formulation. This composite approach allows integration of materials with complementary properties - the polyolefin copolymer provides burst strength while the additional components modulate peel characteristics, achieving a balanced performance that neither material could provide alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the heat seal temperature range is widened, then sealing flexibility improves, but seal consistency and footprint uniformity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat seal temperature rangeVSAvoidseal consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the copolymer composition (ethylene content 1-15 mole percent) and molecular characteristics to create a sealing layer with a broad heat seal window. The specific copolymer structure enables the material to maintain consistent sealing performance across a wide temperature range (typically 100-200°C), providing both adaptability to different sealing conditions and consistency in seal quality and footprint uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If peel force is increased for better sealing, then seal strength improves, but the footprint appearance becomes uneven and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal strengthVSAvoidfootprint uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the copolymer composition (ethylene content 1-15 mole percent), molecular weight, and crystallinity to achieve optimal peel force levels. These parameter optimizations ensure that the seal strength is sufficient for robust sealing while maintaining controlled peeling behavior that produces even, consistent footprints on the container sealing surface, avoiding the uneven appearance associated with excessive or inconsistent peel forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves a consistent peel force over a wide range of heat seal temperatures, even and consistent cohesive failure, high burst strength, and a distinct uniform footprint on the container sealing surface after peeling.

Implementation Method 1

the lidstock is heat sealed directly to the metal surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sealing:

Implementation Method 2

even and consistent cohesive failure in the seal layer upon peeling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCohesive failure: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP4351875B1Peelable and sealable lidstock material for containers
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 AMCOR FLEXIBLES NORTH AMERICA INC
  • EP4351875B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4351875B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4351875B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A peelable and sealable lidstock constructed from a metal substrate and a sealing layer, the sealing layer containing (A) from 70-89% by weight of a copolymer having one or more polymerized olefin monomers and one or more polymerized ethylenically unsaturated (poly)carboxylic acid monomers, (B) from 10-29% by weight of a copolymer comprising one or more polymerized (meth)acrylate ester monomers, and (C) from 1-10% by weight of one or more inorganic particles characterized by a mass median diameter (D50) comprised between 1 and 5 micron.