Gas permeation resistant synthetic cork closure

Abstract

A synthetic cork closure having at least a portion thereof coated with a gas impermeable polymer coating composition.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A synthetic cork closure for a liquid container having at least a portion thereof coated with a gas impermeable polymer wherein the coating is applied using a process selected from the group consisting of analox gravure coating, offset coating, pad print coating, screen coating, stencil coating, brush coating, spray coating, pouring, painting, rolling, dipping, dripping a composition containing the gas impermeable polymer onto the surface of the cork, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 1  wherein only one end of the closure is coated with the gas impermeable polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 1  wherein both ends of the closure are coated with the gas impermeable polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 1  wherein the entire surface of the closure is coated with the gas impermeable polymer.  
     
     
         5 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 1  wherein the gas impermeable polymer is a vinylidene chloride polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 5  wherein the vinylidene chloride polymer is (1) a copolymer of (a) from about 80 to about 93 mole percent vinylidene chloride and (b) from about 20 to about 7 mole percent of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable therewith or (2) a copolymer of (a) from about 65 to about 75 mole percent vinylidene chloride and (b) from about 35 to about 25 mole percent of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable therewith.  
     
     
         7 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 6  wherein the closure is coated using a process which comprises a process selected from the group consisting of painting, rolling, dipping, dripping, pouring the composition containing the gas impermeable polymer onto the surface of the cork and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 6  wherein the closure is coated using a process which comprises a process selected from the group consisting of analox gravure coating, offset coating, pad print coating, screen coating, stencil coating, brush coating, spray coating, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 1  wherein the closure is coated using a process which comprises inserting a synthetic cork closure into a container, applying onto the free end of the synthetic cork closure a coating composition comprising a vinylidene chloride polymer dissolved in a solvent and allowing the solvent to evaporate.  
     
     
         10 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 1  wherein the closure is coated using a gas impermeable polymer coating composition comprising from about 5 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of a vinylidene chloride polymer, from about 70 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of an organic solvent or blend of organic solvents and from about 5 weight percent to about weight percent of a thixotropic agent.  
     
     
         11 . The synthetic cork closure of claim  24  wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, dibutyl ether, propylene oxide, dioxane, toluene, tetrahydrofuran and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 10  wherein the thixotropic agent is selected from fumed silica, kaopolite, bentonite, talc and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The synthetic cork closure of  claim 10  wherein the blend of organic solvents comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, dibutyl ether, propylene oxide, dioxane, toluene, tetrahydrofuran and mixtures thereof and at least one cosolvent selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, dialkylethers and mixtures thereof.