Polyethylene Foam Closure Seal for Wine Bottle Oxygen Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foamed caps and closure seals, particularly in wine bottles, allow excessive oxygen ingress, which can negatively impact wine quality, and existing solutions like synthetic and screw caps have limitations in barrier effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The use of polyethylene foam obtained through a high-pressure polymerization process in the presence of 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, with a specific cell structure and nucleating agents, to create a foamed cap and closure seal with a low oxygen transmission rate and improved adhesion properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional foamed caps and closure seals are used, then manufacturing is simpler and cost is lower, but oxygen transmission rate is high leading to excessive oxygen ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes foamed polyethylene material with controlled cellular structure to create a closure system that maintains the benefits of foam (lightweight, compliant) while achieving superior oxygen barrier properties through specific foam density and cell structure control
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines polyethylene foam with specific additives including nucleating agents and antioxidants to create a composite material system that achieves both mechanical integrity and enhanced oxygen barrier properties, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and performance
2Reliability
If foam density is increased to reduce oxygen transmission, then oxygen barrier improves, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including foam density (0.03-0.08 g/cm³), molecular weight (10,000-100,000 g/mol), and additive concentrations to achieve the desired balance between oxygen barrier effectiveness and manufacturability, transforming an intractable contradiction into a solved problem through precise parameter control
3Reliability
If foam cell size is reduced to improve oxygen barrier, then oxygen transmission decreases, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates nucleating agents into the polyethylene foam matrix before foaming to pre-establish nucleation sites that control cell formation during the foaming process, ensuring uniform fine cell structure (5-50 micrometers) without requiring excessive manufacturing precision
4Reliability
If polyethylene foam is used to improve oxygen barrier, then oxygen transmission rate decreases, but adhesion to bottle rim may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local quality variations in the closure system by using a compliant foam body for oxygen barrier while incorporating specific surface treatments or adhesive layers at the sealing interface to ensure strong adhesion to the bottle rim, resolving the contradiction between barrier performance and bonding strength
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 results in a foamed cap and closure seal with a fine cell structure, low oxygen transmission rate, and enhanced adhesion, effectively reducing oxygen ingress and improving the quality of sealed products.
Implementation Method 1
low density polyethylene copolymer obtained by a high pressure polymerisation process in the presence of 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate
Implementation Method 2
polyethylene foam obtained by physically foaming of low density polyethylene
Implementation Method 3
with a specific cell structure and nucleating agents
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to foamed caps and closure seals comprising as one of the layers polyethylene foam. The polyethylene foam is obtained by foaming of low density polyethylene copolymer obtained by a high pressure polymerization process in the presence of 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate.