Polytrimethylene ether ester elastomer flexible films

Abstract

Polytrimethylene ether ester elastomer flexible films are provided. The films have desirable physical properties, including tenacity, that enable their use in making robust packaging from relatively thin films.

1 . An elastomeric film comprising a polytrimethylene ether ester elastomer, said polytrimethylene ether ester elastomer comprising about 95 to about 5 weight % polytrimethylene ether ester soft segment and about 5 to about 95 weight % alkylene ester hard segment, wherein the polytrimethylene ether ester elastomer comprises: about 5 to about 95 weight % polytrimethylene ether ester soft segment having the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where x is about 9 to about 86; and about 95 to about 5 weight % alkylene ester hard segment having the formula: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein y is 2 to 15 and R 1  and R, which may be the same or different, are divalent radicals remaining after removal of carboxyl functionalities from a dicarboxylic acid equivalent, said film having an elongation at break of 20 to 2000%. 
     
     
         2 . The film *of  claim 1  wherein said film having an elongation at break of 100 to 1200%. 
     
     
         3 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomer comprise at least one ingredient derived from a renewable source. 
     
     
         4 . The film of  claim 3  wherein said ingredient derived from a renewable source is 1,3-propanediol. 
     
     
         5 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomer has a weight average molecular weight of about 35000 or greater 
     
     
         6 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomer has an inherent viscosity in the range of 1.0 dL/g to 2.4 dL/g. 
     
     
         7 . The film  claim 1  wherein said elastomer comprise at least one additive selected from the group consisting of delusterants, colorants, stabilizers, fillers, flame retardants, pigments, antimicrobial agents, antistatic agents, optical brighteners, extenders, processing aids, branching agents and viscosity boosters. 
     
     
         8 . The film of  claim 1 , comprising at least one other polymer, wherein said other polymer is a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The film of  claim 8 , wherein said thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethanes, polyurethane ureas, acrylic polymers and polyolefins. 
     
     
         10 . A laminate comprising the film of  claim 1  and a substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The laminate of  claim 10 , wherein said substrate is paper, paperboard, inorganic foam, organic foam, inorganic-organic foam, polymeric film or sheet, metal, woven fabric or nonwoven fabric.