Use of oxygen absorbing substances for making flexible tubes

Abstract

A metal tube for storing and distributing liquids, the tubes typically being manufactured of an aluminum alloy, comprising a cylindrical or truncated skirt having one end and another end linked to a dispensing head, the inner surface of the cylindrical skirt being covered, proximate to the open end, with an adhesive annular seal; and wherein the adhesive seal comprises an oxygen absorbing agent that is released when the tube is finally sealed; and wherein the oxygen absorbing agent is directly incorporated in the resin used for producing the seal to ensure that the oxygen absorbing agent is released only when the tube is finally sealed.

1 . Metallic tube comprising a cylindrical or truncated skirt with one open end and one end connected to a dispensing head, the inner surface of the said cylindrical skirt being covered by an annular adhesive seal near the said open end, characterised in that the said adhesive seal comprises an oxygen absorbing agent that is released when the tube is finally sealed.  
     
     
         2 . Tube according to  claim 1 , in which the oxygen absorbing agent is incorporated directly into the resin used to make the adhesive seal, in the form of a chemical that remains passive until it is brought into contact with the product to be packaged.  
     
     
         3 . Tube according to  claim 1 , in which the oxygen absorbing agent is included in at least one envelope incorporated in the resin used to make the said adhesive seal.  
     
     
         4 . Tube according to  claim 3 , in which the oxygen absorbing agent is included in microcapsules with diameter varying between 1 and 50 μm, and incorporated in the resin used to make the said adhesive seal.  
     
     
         5 . Tube according to  claim 3 , in which the envelope is selected from capsules capable of being destroyed mechanically during final sealing, by compression and then folding of the edges of the open end of the skirt.  
     
     
         6 . Tube according to  claim 3 , in which the envelope is selected from capsules capable of being destroyed using ultrasound.  
     
     
         7 . Tube according to  claim 3 , in which the envelope is selected from capsules capable of being destroyed or made permeable to oxygen by adding external energy, such as heat, electromagnetic radiation such as microwaves, ultraviolet or infrared radiation.  
     
     
         8 . Tube according to  claim 3 , in which the envelope is selected from capsules capable of being destroyed or made permeable to oxygen by a chemical method, such as addition of a solvent, water, lipids, modification due to the pH of the packaged product.  
     
     
         9 . Tube according to  claim 1 , in which the said substance absorbing the oxygen is provided in a sufficiently large quantity so that it can also absorb any oxygen that diffuses through the interface between the flattened, glued or folded parts of the seal while the product is being used.  
     
     
         10 . Tube according to  claim 1 , in which the said substance absorbing the oxygen belongs to the group containing iron powder, metallic salts such as a ferrous salt or a cobalt salt, oxidisable compounds chosen from the group containing reduced forms of quinone, or oxidisable compositions comprising an active oxygen absorbing compound chosen from among the group containing organic anti-oxidants, phosphites, phosphines and organic phosphates, hydroquinone, substituted hydroquinone, sulphates, sulphites, phosphites and metal nitrites, thiodipropinoic acid and its esters and salts, thio-bis (ethylene glycol beta-aminocrotonate), cysteine, cystine, methionine, primary, secondary and tertiary amines and derivatives thereof.  
     
     
         11 . Tube according to  claim 3 , in which the envelope is made of a material belonging to the group containing agar, alginate, wax, collagen, polylactate, polyglycolate, gelatine, chitosane, ethyl-cellulose, carboxymethyl-cellulose, polysaccharide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene-imine, vinyl acetate and mixes thereof.  
     
     
         12 . Tube according to  claim 4 , in which the microcapsules are selected from capsules capable of being destroyed mechanically during final sealing, by compression and then folding of the edges of the open end of the skirt.  
     
     
         13 . Tube according to  claim 4 , in which the microcapsules are selected from capsules capable of being destroyed using ultrasound.  
     
     
         14 . Tube according to  claim 4 , in which the microcapsules are selected from capsules capable of being destroyed or made permeable to oxygen by adding external energy, such as heat, electromagnetic radiation such as microwaves, ultraviolet or infrared radiation.  
     
     
         15 . Tube according to  claim 4 , in which the microcapsules are selected from capsules capable of being destroyed or made permeable to oxygen by a chemical method, such as addition of a solvent, water, lipids, modification due to the pH of the packaged product.  
     
     
         16 . Tube according to  claim 4 , in which the microcapsules are made of a material belonging to the group containing agar, alginate, wax, collagen, polylactate, polyglycolate, gelatine, chitosane, ethyl-cellulose, carboxymethyl-cellulose, polysaccharide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene-imine, vinyl acetate and mixes thereof.