US4816342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polymeric structure having improved barrier properties and method of making same
Assignee: Pechiney Plastic Packaging Inc
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Filing: 1986-12-11
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Granted: 1989-03-28
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Expires: 2006-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A polymeric structure having an oxygen barrier layer (e.g., ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer) is heated in the presence of moisture to improve its resistance to oxygen and moisture penetration. A drying agent is incorporated in the multi-layer structure to control the rate of water penetration to, and the amount of water in, the barrier layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher J. Farrell
- 👤 Boh Tsai
- 👤 James A. Wachtel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:11
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31725; Y10T428/31739; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of increasing the oxygen resistance of an oxygen barrier film of a polymeric material, said polymeric material being selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol and nylon, which comprises heating said film at a temperature of from about 210 ° to about 250° F. in the presence of a moisture environment of at least about 20% relative humidity, said oxygen barrier film having a low initial water content when the heating step is commenced.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of increasing the oxygen resistance of an oxygen barrier film of a polymeric material, said polymeric material being selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol and nylon, which comprises heating said film at a temperature of from about 210 ° to about 250° F. in the presence of a moisture environment of at least about 20% relative humidity, said oxygen barrier film having a low initial water content when the heating step is commenced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said film is heated at environment of at least 40 percent relative humidity.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of increasing the oxygen resistance of a polymeric structure comprising a film made of an oxygen barrier polymeric material, said polymeric material being selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol and nylon, which method comprises heating said structure at a temperature of from about 210° to about 250° F. in the presence of a moisture environment of at least about 20% relative humidity, said polymeric material having a low initial water content when the heating step is commenced.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of increasing the oxygen resistance of a polymeric structure comprising a film made of an oxygen barrier polymeric material, said polymeric material being selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol and nylon, which method comprises heating said structure at a temperature of from about 210° to about 250° F. in the presence of a moisture environment of at least about 20% relative humidity, said polymeric material having a low initial water content when the heating step is commenced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said polymeric structure is heated in an environment of at least 40 percent relative humidity.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of increasing the oxygen resistance of a multi-layer polymeric structure having a moisture sensitive oxygen barrier layer, said barrier layer being made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and polyvinyl alcohol and nylon, which method comprises heating said polymeric structure at a temperature of from about 210° to about 250° F. in the presence of a moisture environment of at least about 20% relative humidity, said oxygen barrier layer having a low initial water content when the heating step is commenced.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of increasing the oxygen resistance of a multi-layer polymeric structure having a moisture sensitive oxygen barrier layer, said barrier layer being made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and polyvinyl alcohol and nylon, which method comprises heating said polymeric structure at a temperature of from about 210° to about 250° F. in the presence of a moisture environment of at least about 20% relative humidity, said oxygen barrier layer having a low initial water content when the heating step is commenced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said multilayer polymeric structure is heated in an environment of at least 40 percent relative humidity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 16% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 16% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 16% water in the oxygen barrier layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 13.5% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 13.5% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 13.5% in the oxygen barrier layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 10% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 10% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of up to about 10% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of from about 6% to about 7% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of from about 6% to about 7% water in the polymeric material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said film is heated while maintaining a low water level of from about 6% to about 7% water in the oxygen barrier layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material has an initial water content of about zero.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the polymeric material has an initial water content of about zero.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the oxygen barrier layer has an initial water content of about zero.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material has an initial water content of below about 6.5 wt.%.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the polymeric material has an initial water content of below about 6.5 wt.%.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the oxygen barrier layer has an initial water content of below about 6.5 wt.%.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
49 words
A method as in claims 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 wherein the maintaining of a low water level in the oxygen barrier layer is effected by employing a layer which has a desiccant incorporated therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4082854A
Cited
US4407897A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-27 | 1992-09-26 | 1993-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-27 | 1996-09-26 | 1997-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-27 | 2000-09-26 | 2001-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |