Bottle cap made from a material comprising polypropylene, particulate calcium carbonate and additives

Abstract

An injection moulded polymeric household bottle cap made of a polypropylene composition comprising: particulate CaCO 3 ; additive; and polypropylene; wherein the polypropylene composition in its solid form and with average wall thickness T has a flexural modulus, measured according to ASTM D790-07, being at least 95% of the flexural modulus measured on a reference polypropylene composition being substantially free of CaCO 3 and having average wall thickness of at least T+10%.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An injection moulded polymeric household bottle cap made of a polypropylene composition comprising:
 from about 3% to about 17% particulate CaCO 3  by total weight of the composition;   from about 0% to about 6% additive by total weight of the composition; and,   qsp polypropylene;   
       wherein the polypropylene composition in its solid form and with average wall thickness T has a flexural modulus being at least about 95% of the flexural modulus measured on a reference polypropylene composition substantially free of CaCO 3  and having average wall thickness of at least about T+10%. 
     
     
         2 . A bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypropylene composition in its solid form has a compression stability of at least about 10% higher than compression stability of a reference polypropylene composition substantially free of CaCO 3 . 
     
     
         3 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypropylene composition is stable over a period of time of at least 6 months, preferably from about 12 to about 24 months, when exposed to a temperature from about 25 to about 45° C., a relative humidity from about 20% to about 60%, and exposure to light of about 2700 Kelvin to about 3300 Kelvin. 
     
     
         4 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypropylene composition comprises from about 5% to about 14% particulate CaCO 3 , by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
         5 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypropylene composition comprises from about 8% to about 11% particulate CaCO 3 , by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
         6 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein said polypropylene composition comprises from about 0% to about 3% additive, by weight of the final composition. 
     
     
         7 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein additive is selected from the group consisting of: impact modifiers; dispersants; fillers; filler coatings; foaming agents; processing agents; lubricants; particles; dyes and colorants; UV filters; anti-static agents; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cap is suitable for sealing a container comprising a household composition and for dispensing said household composition. 
     
     
         9 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , comprising a dispensing orifice, a receiving portion, and hinged sealing portion. 
     
     
         10 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottle cap has an average wall thickness T of at least about 10% lower than the average wall thickness of a reference polypropylene bottle cap substantially free of CaCO 3 . 
     
     
         11 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottle cap has an average wall thickness T is reduced by at least about 20% than the average wall thickness of a reference polypropylene bottle cap substantially free of CaCO 3 . 
     
     
         12 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , having an average wall thickness from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , having an average wall thickness from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , said particulate CaCO 3  has a particle size of about 2 to about 4 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypropylene composition comprises microspheres and/or foaming agents. 
     
     
         16 . Packaging for a household product comprising:
 a container suitable for containing a household composition;   an injection moulded polymeric household bottle cap according to  claim 1 , mounted onto said container and being suitable for sealing said container and for dispensing said household composition.   
     
     
         17 . A household product comprising:
 a container;   a household composition, contained in said container;   an injection moulded polymeric household bottle cap according to  claim 1 , mounted onto said container.   
     
     
         18 . The household product, according to  claim 17 , wherein said household composition is selected from the group consisting of personal care compositions, cleansing compositions, fabric care compositions, homecare compositions, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A household product, according to  claim 18 , wherein said household composition is a hair care composition comprising a component selected from the group of hair conditioning agents, hair styling agents, perming and waving agents, hair cleansing agents, hair colouring, dying or bleaching agents, hair shine or gloss imparting agents, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A method of producing an injection moulded bottle cap, according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a polypropylene composition in a molten form;   (b) injecting said polypropylene composition into a mould to form said bottle cap;   (c) cooling said polypropylene composition to solidify it;   (d) ejecting said bottle cap from the mould;   (e) preparing the mould for moulding the next bottle cap.