Polyamide MXD6 Packaging Light Irrigation Oxygen Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging materials, such as polyolefin and polyester films, lack effective gas barrier properties against oxygen and carbon dioxide, leading to spoilage and short shelf life of packaged contents, especially in high humidity or during heat treatment.
Innovation Solution
Irradiation of packaging materials containing a specific polyamide resin, composed of 70 mol % or more m-xylylenediamine and α,ω-linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, with light of wavelengths between 400 to 750 nm, enhances gas barrier properties by reducing oxygen transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If polyolefin or polyester films are used as packaging material, then ease of handling and processing and transparency are improved, but gas barrier properties against oxygen and carbon dioxide deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a multi-layer composite structure combining polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the base material with polyamide MXD6 as a barrier layer. This composite structure maintains the ease of handling and processing of PET while adding the superior gas barrier properties of polyamide MXD6, resolving the contradiction between processability and gas barrier performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a specific polyamide MXD6 layer only in the regions where gas barrier properties are most critical, rather than using it throughout the entire packaging structure. This localized application maintains overall ease of processing while providing enhanced oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier properties where needed.
2Productivity
If small-sized bottles are used, then distribution efficiency is improved, but shelf life deteriorates due to increased surface area per unit volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite bottle structure with PET and polyamide MXD6 layers, where the polyamide MXD6 provides enhanced gas barrier properties that compensate for the increased surface area-to-volume ratio in small bottles. This allows small-sized bottles to maintain both distribution efficiency and extended shelf life.
3Reliability
If polyvinylidene chloride is used to improve gas barrier properties, then oxygen barrier properties are improved, but environmental pollution increases due to dioxin production during combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces polyvinylidene chloride with polyamide MXD6, which, while providing comparable or superior gas barrier properties, does not produce dioxin during combustion. This substitution eliminates the environmental pollution issue while maintaining the required oxygen barrier performance.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyvinyl alcohol is used as barrier layer, then environmental pollution is reduced, but gas barrier properties deteriorate under high humidity or during heat treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyvinyl alcohol to polyamide MXD6, which maintains stable gas barrier properties across a wide range of humidity conditions and temperature ranges. This parameter change ensures both environmental friendliness and consistent oxygen barrier performance under various storage and processing conditions.
5Reliability
If transition metal catalyst is added to polyamide MXD6 to improve oxygen absorption speed, then oxygen-capturing ability is improved, but resin strength deteriorates due to oxidative decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the transition metal catalyst from the polyamide MXD6 composition, eliminating the cause of oxidative decomposition and associated strength loss. The system achieves oxygen barrier functionality through the inherent properties of pure polyamide MXD6 and the multi-layer structure, without requiring metal catalysts that compromise resin integrity.
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
This method significantly improves the gas barrier properties of packaging, extending the shelf life of contents by reducing oxygen transmission to 1-75% of the original value after irradiation, effectively protecting against spoilage.
Implementation Method 1
storing the package containing the product under irradiation of light having a wavelength of 400 to 750 nm, thereby reducing an oxygen transmission of the package
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
A storage method of storing a package with its contents under irradiation of light. At least part of the package is made of polyamide (A) which is obtained by polycondensation of a diamine component comprising 70 mol % or more of m-xylylenediamine and a dicarboxylic acid component comprising 70 mol % or more of α,ω-linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 4 to 20 carbon atoms. The oxygen transmission of the package including polyamide (A) is reduced by irradiation of light, to prevent the spoilage of the contents.