Multilayered Package with Barrier Properties

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions useful as a barrier layer in, for example, packaging products. The compositions generally comprise a blend of (i) a polyester material, preferably an aromatic polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and (ii) a vinyl alcohol material. The blend optionally may further comprise (iii) a polyolefin material (preferably a functionalized polyolefin material, e.g., a BYNEL material); and/or (iv) a polyamide material (preferably an amorphous polyamide material, e.g., a GRIVORY material), that optionally further comprises an oxygen scavenging material. The present invention also provides containers (e.g., containers formed by expansion of preforms) having a multilayered body-forming portion including: a core layer comprising the aforementioned blend, and inner and outer layers of a formable polymer composition. The present invention also provides methods of making such containers.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A composition, comprising a blend of:
 a polyester material;   a vinyl alcohol material, wherein the blend comprises less than 55% by weight of the vinyl alcohol material; and   a polyolefin material.   
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the polyolefin material comprises high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), or polypropylene (PP). 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the polyolefin material comprises a functionalized polyolefin material. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 36 , wherein the functionalized polyolefin material comprises a maleic anhydride functional polyolefin material. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 36 , wherein the composition includes less than 25% by weight of functionalized polyolefin material. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 36 , wherein the composition includes between 1 and 10% by weight of functionalized polyolefin material. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the blend comprises less than 50% by weight of the vinyl alcohol material. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the blend comprises between 25 and 50% by weight of the vinyl alcohol material. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the vinyl alcohol material comprises an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer material. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer has a melt index of about 15 to 1.5. 
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the vinyl alcohol material is an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having a copolymerized ethylene content of between 20 and 80 mole %. 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the vinyl alcohol material is an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having a copolymerized ethylene content of between 25 and 50 mole %. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the polyester material comprises PET, PC-PET, PETG, PEN, or PBT. 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the polyester material is based on terephthalic or isophthalic acid. 
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the polyester material is PET having a viscosity average molecular weight between 36,000 and 103,000 Dalton. 
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the composition further comprises a polyamide material. 
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 49 , wherein the polyamide material comprises an amorphous polyamide. 
     
     
         51 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the composition further comprises an oxygen scavenging material. 
     
     
         52 . A barrier layer comprising the composition of  claim 34 . 
     
     
         53 . A packaging product comprising the barrier layer of  claim 52 . 
     
     
         54 . A composition, comprising a blend of
 between 20 and 80% by weight of a polyester material;   between 25 to 54% by weight of a vinyl alcohol material; and   between 0.5 and 25% by weight of a functionalized polyolefin material.