Composition comprising ethylene copolymers and polyolefin

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions of ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymers, polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene), optional tackifier resins and optional fillers that provide very strong, tight hermetic heat seals yet are easily peelable. These compositions are useful as an adhesive layer in multilayer structures that are useful as packaging lidding films. Also disclosed are packages that comprise these multilayer structures.

1 . A composition consisting essentially of 
 (A) from about 10 to about 80 weight % of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; from about 5 to about 60 weight % of at least one polyolefin; from 0 to about 35 weight % of at least one tackifying resin; and from 0 to about 35 weight % of filler    (B) from about 10 to about 80 weight % of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; from about 5 to about 60 weight % of at least one polyolefin; from 0 to about 35 weight % of at least one tackifying resin; and from 0 to about 30 weight % of filler; or    (C) from about 40 to about 80 weight % of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; and from about 20 to about 60 weight % of at least one polyolefin.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 80 weight % of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; from about 5 to about 60 weight % of at least one polyolefin; from about 0.5 to about 35 weight % of at least one tackifying resin; and from 0 to about 30 weight % of filler.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  consisting essentially of from about 40 to about 80 weight % of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; from about 20 to about 60 weight % of at least one polyolefin; and from about 10 to about 20 weight % of at least one tackifying resin.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  consisting essentially of from about 40 to about 60 weight % of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; from about 20 to about 40 weight % of at least one polyolefin; from about 10 to about 20 weight % of at least one tackifying resin; and from about 5 to about 20 weight % of a filler.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer comprises repeat units derived from 5 to 30 weight % of alkyl (meth)acrylate.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the alkyl group in the alkyl (meth)acrylate has from one to four carbon atoms.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the alkyl (meth)acrylate is methyl acrylate.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer comprises repeat units derived from 9 to 24 weight % of the methyl acrylate.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymer has a melt index from about 0.1 to about 100 g/10 minute or about 0.5 to about 50 g/l 0 minute and the ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymer comprises two different ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the filler is an inorganic mineral or salt.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the filler is talc.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the filler is a polymeric material that is not fully compatible with the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate, the polyolefin of component, or both.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the filler is a polystyrene.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer comprises repeat units derived from maleic anhydride, glycidyl methacrylate, carbon monoxide, or combinations of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer comprises repeat units derived from maleic anhydride, glycidyl methacrylate, carbon monoxide, or combinations of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the filler is a polystyrene.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene homopolymer, polypropylene homopolymers, copolymer comprising ethylene, copolymer comprising propylene, or combinations of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein the polyolefin is a copolymer of ethylene and 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, or combinations of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the tackifying resin of is coumarone-indene resin, terpene resin, butadiene-styrene resin, hydrocarbon resin, rosin material, or combinations of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the tackifying resin is derived from poly-limonene.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymer is prepared in a tubular reactor.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein said ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymer is prepared in a tubular reactor.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein said ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymer is prepared in a tubular reactor.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein said ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymer is prepared in a tubular reactor.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 19  wherein said ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymer is prepared in a tubular reactor.  
     
     
         26 . A multilayer structure comprising at least one layer comprising or produced from a composition, at least one second layer, and optionally at least one third layer wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 1;  the second layer comprises or is produced from of foil, paper, polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, polyethylene vinyl alcohol, polyethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer, and ionomers of ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, or anhydride-modified polyolefin; and the third layer comprises or is produced from foil, paperboard, glass, high-density polyethylene polypropylene, polystyrene or high-impact polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, acrylic homopolymer, acrylic copolymer, polycarbonate, polysulfone, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate, crystalline polyethylene terephthalate, PVC, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyacrylonitrile homopolymer, polyacrylonitrile copolymer, polyacetal, or polyacetal copolymer.  
     
     
         27 . The multilayer of  claim 26  wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 3 .  
     
     
         28 . The multilayer of  claim 26  wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 4 .  
     
     
         29 . The multilayer of  claim 26  wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 24 .  
     
     
         30 . The multilayer of  claim 26  wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 25 .  
     
     
         31 . The multilayer of  claim 26  being used as a lidding material for containers.  
     
     
         32 . The multilayer of  claim 27  being used as a lidding material for containers.  
     
     
         33 . The multilayer of  claim 28  being used as a lidding material for containers.  
     
     
         34 . The multilayer of  claim 29  being used as a lidding material for containers.  
     
     
         35 . The multilayer of  claim 30  being used as a lidding material for containers.  
     
     
         36 . The multilayer of  claim 26  further comprising or produced from the third layer.  
     
     
         37 . The multilayer of  claim 27  further comprising or produced from the third layer.  
     
     
         38 . The multilayer of  claim 28  further comprising or produced from the third layer.  
     
     
         39 . The multilayer of  claim 29  further comprising or produced from the third layer.  
     
     
         40 . The multilayer of  claim 30  further comprising or produced from the third layer.  
     
     
         41 . A package or container comprising or produced from a composition or a multilayer structure wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         42 . The package or container of  claim 41  wherein the package or container comprises or is produced from the composition, which is as recited in  claim 2 .  
     
     
         43 . The package or container of  claim 42  wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 3 .  
     
     
         44 . The package or container of  claim 42  wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 4 .  
     
     
         45 . The package or container of  claim 42  wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 24 .  
     
     
         46 . The package or container of  claim 42  wherein the composition is as recited in  claim 25 .  
     
     
         47 . The package or container of  claim 41  wherein the package or container comprises or is produced from the multilayer, which is as recited in  claim 26 .  
     
     
         48 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 27 .  
     
     
         49 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 28 .  
     
     
         50 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 29 .  
     
     
         51 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 30 .  
     
     
         52 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 36 .  
     
     
         53 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 37 .  
     
     
         54 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 38 .  
     
     
         55 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer as recited in  claim 39 .  
     
     
         56 . The package or container of  claim 47  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 40 .  
     
     
         57 . The package or container of  claim 41  comprising the container and a peelable lid comprising a multilayer structure as recited in  claim 26 .  
     
     
         58 . The package or container of  claim 57  wherein the multilayer is as recited in  claim 36 .  
     
     
         59 . The package or container of  claim 57  wherein the second layer comprises a polychlorotrifluoroethylene fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         60 . The package or container of  claim 57  being a blister package, a pouch, a molded, a pressed or thermoformed container.