Hollow structures and associated method for conveying refrigerant fluids

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of flexible hollow structure suitable to convey a refrigerant fluid and methods for their use. Disclosed hollow structures comprising a layer made of a resin composition comprising one or more semi-aromatic polyamides and one or more functionalized polyolefins show a balance of properties in terms of flexibility, permeation barrier against a refrigerant fluid and retention of properties upon heat and refrigerant fluid exposure.

1 . A use of a hollow structure for conveying a refrigerant fluid, said hollow structure comprising a layer made of a resin composition comprising one or more semi-aromatic polyamides and one or more functionalized polyolefins,
 wherein the one or more semi-aromatic polyamides are selected from copolyamides made from:   a) group A monomers selected from:
 i) aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and aliphatic diamines having 4 to 20 carbon atoms; or 
 ii) aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 6 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic diamine having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; or 
 iii) aromatic aminocarboxylic acids having 7 to 20 carbon atoms and 
   b) group B monomers selected from:
 iv) aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 6 to 20 carbon atoms and aliphatic diamines having 4 to 20 carbon atoms; or 
 v) lactams and/or aliphatic aminocarboxylic acids having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, 
   wherein the monomers of group A are present in an amount from at or about 10 mole-percent to at or about 40 mole-percent based on the copolyamide, and the monomers of group B are present in an amount from at or about 60 mole-percent to at or about 90 mole-percent based on the copolyamide.   
     
     
         2 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more functionalized polyolefins are maleic anhydride grafted polyolefins. 
     
     
         3 . The use to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the one or more functionalized polyolefins are selected from maleic anhydride grafted polyethylenes, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylenes, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers or maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-propylene diene rubber and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The use according to  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the one or functionalized polyolefins are present in an amount from 10 to 30 weight percent, the weight percentages being based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The use according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more semi-aromatic polyamides are selected from copolyamides made from:
 a) group A monomers selected from terephthalic acid and hexamethylenediamine; terephthalic acid and tetramethylenediamine; and b) group B monomers selected from adipic acid and tetramethylenediamine; adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine; decanedioic acid and hexamethylenediamine; dodecanedioic acid and hexamethylenediamine; caprolactam; laurolactam; 11-aminoundecanoic acid;   a) group A monomers selected terephthalic acid and decamethylenediamine; and b) group B monomers selected from decanedioic acid and decamethylenediamine;   a) group A monomers selected adipic acid and m-xylylenediamine; and b) group B monomers selected from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine;   and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         6 . The use according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more semi-aromatic polyamides are selected from copolyamides made from a) group A monomers selected from terephthalic acid and hexamethylenediamine; and b) group B monomers selected from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine. 
     
     
         7 . The use according to any preceding claim, wherein the resin composition further comprises one or more unfunctionalized polyolefins selected from polyethylenes, unfunctionalized polypropylenes, unfunctionalized ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers, unfunctionalized ethylene propylene diene rubbers (EPDM) and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The use according to any preceding claim, wherein the resin composition further comprises one or more plasticizers selected from sulfonamides, esters of hydroxybenzoic acids, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol esters or ethers, esters of citric acid or of hydroxymalonic acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The use according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow structure further comprises an innermost layer made of a material other than the resin composition. 
     
     
         10 . The use according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow structure further comprises an outermost layer made of a material other than the resin composition. 
     
     
         11 . The use according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow structure further comprises one or more functional layers. 
     
     
         12 . The use according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow structure is in the form of a hose, a pipe, a duct, a tube, tubing or a conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The use according to any preceding claim, wherein the refrigerant fluid comprises a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). 
     
     
         14 . The use according to  claim 13 , wherein the hydrofluoroolefin is 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerant device comprising the hollow structure as recited in anyone of  claims 1  to  12 . 
     
     
         16 . A method for conveying a refrigerant fluid comprising passing the refrigerant fluid through a hollow structure comprising a layer made of a resin composition comprising one or more semi-aromatic polyamides and one or more functionalized polyolefins,
 wherein the one or more semi-aromatic polyamides are selected from copolyamides made from:   a) group A monomers selected from:
 i) aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and aliphatic diamines having 4 to 20 carbon atoms; or 
 ii) aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 6 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic diamine having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; or 
 iii) aromatic aminocarboxylic acid having 7 to 20 carbon atoms and 
   b) group B monomers selected from:
 iii) aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 6 to 20 carbon atoms and aliphatic diamines having 4 to 20 carbon atoms; or 
 iv) lactams and/or aliphatic aminocarboxylic acids having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, 
 i) wherein the monomers of group A are present in an amount from at or about 10 mole-percent to at or about 40 mole-percent based on the copolyamide, and the monomers of group B are present in an amount from at or about 60 mole-percent to at or about 90 mole-percent based on the copolyamide. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more functionalized polyolefins are maleic anhydride grafted polyolefins. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more functionalized polyolefins are selected from maleic anhydride grafted polyethylenes, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylenes, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers or maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-propylene diene rubber and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or functionalized polyolefins are present in an amount from 10 to 30 weight percent, the weight percentages being based on the total weight of the resin composition. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more semi-aromatic polyamides are selected from copolyamides made from:
 a) group A monomers selected from terephthalic acid and hexamethylenediamine; terephthalic acid and tetramethylenediamine; and b) group B monomers selected from adipic acid and tetramethylenediamine; adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine; decanedioic acid and hexamethylenediamine; dodecanedioic acid and hexamethylenediamine; caprolactam; laurolactam; 11-aminoundecanoic acid;   a) group A monomers selected terephthalic acid and decamethylenediamine; and b) group B monomers selected from decanedioic acid and decamethylenediamine;   a) group A monomers selected adipic acid and m-xylylenediamine; and b) group B monomers selected from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine;   and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more semi-aromatic polyamides are selected from copolyamides made from a) group A monomers selected from terephthalic acid and hexamethylenediamine; and b) group B monomers selected from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the resin composition further comprises one or more unfunctionalized polyolefins are selected from polyethylenes, unfunctionalized polypropylenes, unfunctionalized ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers, unfunctionalized ethylene propylene diene rubbers (EPDM) and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the resin composition further comprises one or more ionomers. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the composition resin further comprises one or more plasticizers selected from sulfonamides, esters of hydroxybenzoic acids, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol esters or ethers, esters of citric acid or of hydroxymalonic acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the hollow structure further comprises an innermost layer made of a material other than the resin composition. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the hollow structure further comprises an outermost layer made of a material other than the resin composition. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the hollow structure further comprises one or more functional layers. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the hollow structure is in the form of a hose, a pipe, a duct, a tube, tubing or a conduit. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the refrigerant fluid comprises a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the refrigerant fluid comprises 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. 
     
     
         31 . A refrigerant device comprising the hollow structure recited in  claim 16 .