Polyether-Polyester Copolymer Oxygen Scavenging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging materials, particularly those made from PET, suffer from high oxygen permeability, which limits their ability to maintain the freshness and quality of oxygen-sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals, medical products, and food.
Innovation Solution
A polymer composition comprising an end-capped polyether-polyester copolymer, a transition metal catalyst, and an active material that interacts with moisture, which scavenges oxygen and provides an active oxygen barrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If PET is used as packaging material, then transparency, light weight, and fracture resistance are improved, but oxygen permeability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a multilayer composite structure combining PET with EVOH and polyamide layers. The PET layers provide mechanical strength and light weight, while the EVOH and polyamide layers provide high oxygen barrier properties, creating a composite material that achieves both light weight and low oxygen permeability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested multilayer structure where inner and outer PET layers contain intermediate EVOH and polyamide barrier layers. This nested arrangement allows the oxygen-scavenging materials to be embedded within the packaging structure, providing oxygen barrier functionality while maintaining the overall PET container's light weight and mechanical properties
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multilayer structures with barrier polymers are used, then oxygen barrier properties are improved, but recyclability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates oxygen-scavenging materials (polymer compositions with transition metal catalysts) that actively remove oxygen within the packaging structure itself. This self-service oxygen barrier mechanism reduces reliance on complex multilayer barrier structures, potentially simplifying the overall packaging design while maintaining oxygen barrier properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition and structure of the barrier layers, using specific ratios of EVOH and polyamide with controlled thicknesses. By optimizing these parameters, the patent achieves effective oxygen barrier properties while minimizing the complexity of the multilayer structure, making it more amenable to recycling processes
3Object-affected harmful factors
If oxygen scavengers are incorporated into polymer resin, then oxygen scavenging capacity is improved, but control over scavenging rate becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs transition metal catalysts (such as manganese, iron, cobalt, or copper salts) that catalyze the oxidation reaction of the oxygen-scavenging polymer composition. The catalyst activity provides a controlled feedback mechanism where the scavenging rate responds to oxygen concentration levels, automatically adjusting to maintain optimal oxygen removal without excessive or insufficient scavenging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the scavenging rate by adjusting parameters including the type and concentration of transition metal catalyst, the molecular weight and structure of the polyether-polyester copolymer, and the thickness of the oxygen-scavenging layer. These parameter changes allow precise tuning of the oxygen scavenging kinetics to match specific packaging requirements
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 polymer composition effectively controls the rate of oxygen scavenging, maintaining a desired low oxygen level within packaging, thereby extending the shelf life of sensitive products and providing a high oxygen scavenging capacity.
Implementation Method 1
oxygen-scavenging compositions comprising an oxidizable substituted or unsubstituted ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a transition metal catalyst
Implementation Method 2
a transition metal catalyst and an active material that acts on, interacts or reacts with moisture
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a polymer composition, comprising: a polyether-polyester copolymer, a transition metal catalyst, and an active material that acts on, interacts or reacts with moisture wherein the polyether-polyester copolymer comprises (i) polyether segments wherein at least one polyether segment contains at least one polytetramethylene oxide segment, (ii) polyester segments, (iii) bridging elements of the structure -CO-R2-CO-, wherein R2 represents an optionally substituted bivalent hydrocarbon residue consisting of 1 to 100 carbon atoms; (iv) one or two end-caps R1-O-(C2-C4-O-)e-*, wherein R1 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue and e is an integer of from 0 to 1000. The invention also concerns use of the polymer composition as well as an article of manufacture comprising the polymer composition.