Polyester composition with enhanced gas barrier, articles made therewith, and methods

Abstract

A polyester composition with enhanced gas barrier properties comprises a polyester and an organic gas barrier enhancing additive having the chemical formula OH-AR—OH, wherein AR is substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene. Articles with enhanced gas barrier and methods for making gas barrier enhanced polyesters and articles are disclosed.

1 . A polyester composition comprising: 
 a polyester; and    an organic gas barrier enhancing additive having the chemical formula OH-AR—OH, wherein AR is substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene.    
   
   
       2 . A polyester composition as in  claim 1  wherein the polyester is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 90% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       3 . A polyester composition as in  claim 1  wherein the additive is selected from the group comprising 1,2-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,3-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,6-dihydroxy naphthalene, and 2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene.  
   
   
       4 . A polyester composition as in  claim 1  wherein the additive is 1,3-dihydroxy naphthalene.  
   
   
       5 . A polyester composition as in  claim 1  wherein the polyester comprises a poly(ethylene terephthalate) based copolymer (PET copolymer) having less than 20% diacid component modification and/or less than 10% diol component modification, based on 100 mole % diacid component and 100 mole % diol component.  
   
   
       6 . A polyester composition as in  claim 5  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 90% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       7 . A polyester composition as in  claim 5  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 95% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       8 . A polyester composition as in  claim 5  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 97% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       9 . A polyester composition as in  claim 5  wherein the additive is selected from the group comprising 1,2-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,3-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,6-dihydroxy naphthalene, and 2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene.  
   
   
       10 . A polyester composition as in  claim 1  wherein the polyester has a free volume and at least a portion of the additive is unreacted with the polyester and disposed in the free volume of the polyester.  
   
   
       11 . A polyester composition as in  claim 1  wherein the polyester comprises a poly(ethylene terephthalate) based copolymer (PET copolymer) and, based on 100 mole % diacid component and 100 mole % diol component, the PET copolymer has less than 20% diacid component modification and less than 10% diol component modification, and at least a portion of the additive is reacted with the PET copolymer such that the diol component comprises 0.1 to about 5 mole % of the additive.  
   
   
       12 . Method for enhancing gas barrier or gas scavenging capability of a polyester composition comprising blending a polyester and an organic gas barrier enhancing additive having the chemical formula OH-AR—OH, wherein AR is substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene.  
   
   
       13 . Method as in  claim 12  wherein the polyester is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 90% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       14 . Method as in  claim 12  wherein the additive is selected from the group comprising 1,2-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,3-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,6-dihydroxy naphthalene, and 2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene.  
   
   
       15 . Method as in  claim 12  wherein the additive is 1,3-dihydroxy naphthalene.  
   
   
       16 . Method as in  claim 12  wherein the polyester comprises a poly(ethylene terephthalate) based copolymer (PET copolymer) having less than 20% diacid component modification and/or less than 10% diol component modification, based on 100 mole % diacid component and 100 mole % diol component.  
   
   
       17 . Method as in  claim 16  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 90% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       18 . Method as in  claim 16  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 95% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       19 . Method as in  claim 16  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 97% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       20 . Method as in  claim 16  wherein the additive is selected from the group comprising 1,2-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,3-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,6-dihydroxy naphthalene, and 2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene.  
   
   
       21 . Method as in  claim 12  wherein the polyester has a free volume and at least a portion of the additive is unreacted with the polyester and disposed in the free volume of the polyester.  
   
   
       22 . Method as in  claim 12  wherein the polyester comprises a poly(ethylene terephthalate) based copolymer (PET copolymer) and, based on 100 mole % diacid component and 100 mole % diol component, the PET copolymer has less than 20% diacid component modification and less than 10% diol component modification, and at least a portion of the additive is reacted with the PET copolymer such that the diol component comprises 0.1 to about 5 mole % of the additive.  
   
   
       23 . A container comprising a polyester composition comprising: 
 a polyester; and    an organic gas barrier enhancing additive having the chemical formula OH-AR—OH, wherein AR is substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene.    
   
   
       24 . A container as in  claim 23  wherein the container is a stretch blow molded container comprising a base, an open ended mouth, and a body extending from the base to the open ended mouth.  
   
   
       25 . A container as in  claim 23  wherein the polyester is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 90% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       26 . A container as in  claim 23  wherein the additive is selected from the group comprising 1,2-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,3-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,6-dihydroxy naphthalene, and 2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene.  
   
   
       27 . A container as in  claim 23  wherein the polyester comprises a poly(ethylene terephthalate) based copolymer (PET copolymer) having less than 20% diacid component modification and/or less than 10% diol component modification, based on 100 mole % diacid component and 100 mole % diol component.  
   
   
       28 . A container as in  claim 27  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 90% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       29 . A container as in  claim 27  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 95% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       30 . A container as in  claim 27  wherein the PET copolymer is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 99.9% to about 97% by weight of the polyester composition and the additive is present in the polyester composition in an amount from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the polyester composition.  
   
   
       31 . A container as in  claim 27  wherein the additive is selected from the group comprising 1,2-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,3-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, 1,6-dihydroxy naphthalene, and 2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene.  
   
   
       32 . A container as in  claim 23  wherein the polyester has a free volume and at least a portion of the additive is unreacted with the polyester and disposed in the free volume of the polyester.  
   
   
       33 . A container as in  claim 23  wherein the polyester comprises a poly(ethylene terephthalate) based copolymer (PET copolymer) and, based on 100 mole % diacid component and 100 mole % diol component, the PET copolymer has less than 20% diacid component modification and less than 10% diol component modification, and at least a portion of the additive is reacted with the PET copolymer such that the diol component comprises 0.1 to about 5 mole % of the additive.