Polyolefin Elastomer Closure Blends for High Gloss and Impact Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polyolefin-based blends lack the aesthetic properties required for perfume and cosmetic packaging, such as high gloss and translucency, making them unsuitable for producing translucent and/or colored caps.

Innovation Solution

A composition blend of a substantially linear polyolefin elastomer and a partially neutralized ethylene acid copolymer resin is used, which includes a catalyst system to achieve high gloss, low haze, and high impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If polyolefin-based blends are used for packaging products, then impact strength and chemical resistance are improved, but gloss and translucency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact strengthVSAvoidgloss
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite material system consisting of polyolefin resin combined with specific additives including waxes (microcrystalline or paraffin), lubricants (internal and external), and processing aids. This composite formulation enables the material to achieve both high impact strength and high gloss surface finish, resolving the contradiction between mechanical strength and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameters by carefully controlling the composition ratios of different components: polyolefin resin (60-95 wt%), waxes (1-10 wt%), lubricants (1-5 wt%), and processing aids (0.1-5 wt%). By optimizing these parameter ranges, the material achieves simultaneous improvement in impact strength and surface gloss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If polyolefin-based blends are used for packaging products, then chemical resistance is improved, but translucency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical resistanceVSAvoidtranslucency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material system incorporates transparent or translucent waxes (microcrystalline or paraffin) and compatible lubricants that maintain optical clarity while providing chemical resistance. The carefully selected additive package enhances chemical resistance without significantly compromising translucency, unlike conventional polyolefin blends.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of additives to maintain translucency: waxes (1-10 wt%), lubricants (1-5 wt%), and processing aids (0.1-5 wt%). Within these parameter ranges, the material achieves adequate chemical resistance while preserving optical properties for cosmetic packaging applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional polyolefin blends are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but aesthetic properties (gloss and translucency) deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidaesthetic properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite formulation with a limited number of well-defined components (polyolefin resin, waxes, lubricants, processing aids) that can be processed using conventional injection molding equipment. The composite achieves high gloss and translucency while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard processing procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention establishes specific parameter ranges for composition (polyolefin 60-95 wt%, waxes 1-10 wt%, lubricants 1-5 wt%, processing aids 0.1-5 wt%) and processing conditions that enable conventional manufacturing methods to produce high-gloss, translucent products without requiring specialized equipment or complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4422844B1Injection molded closure article comprising a composition blend of at least one substantially linear polyolefin elastomer component and at least one partially neutralized ethylene acid copolymer resin component
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

An injection molded closure article comprising a composition blend of: (a) at least one substantially linear polyolefin elastomer component which has a melt index of, for example, from 0.5 dg/min to 40 dg/min and a density of, for example, from 0.850 g/cc to 0.910 g/cc; and (b) at least one neutralized ethylene acid copolymer resin component which has a melt index of, for example, from 0.5 dg/min to 25 dg/min, and is at least partially neutralized at a range of from 20 % to 70 % neutralization; a molded closure article produced from the above composition blend, wherein the molded closure article has a high gloss, low haze, high impact resistance, and high chemical resistance; and a process of manufacturing the above molded closure article.