Water-soluble films

Abstract

Water-soluble films made from copolymers of butene-diol and vinyl alcohol, wherein the films have improved barrier properties (such as low transmission rates for oxygen and water vapor) as well as good solubility. The water-soluble films may form at least a portion of a water-soluble unit dose article, a flexible package, and/or a personal care product or products.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water soluble unit dose article comprising:
 a compartment; and   a film comprising one or more extruded layers comprising a polymeric material comprising a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and butene-diol;   wherein the film has a crystallite size of about 10 Angstroms to about 35 Angstroms, when measured according to the Crystallite Size Test Method;   wherein the copolymer has a degree of hydrolysis of about 85% to about 100%, when measured according to the Hydrolysis Test Method;   wherein the film comprises about 8% to about 30%, by weight of the film, of a plasticizer;   wherein the film forms at least a portion of the compartment; and   wherein the compartment surrounds and encloses a composition.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the film has a crystallite size of about 15 Angstroms to about 25 Angstroms, when measured according to the Crystallite Size Test Method. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer has a degree of hydrolysis of about 90% to about 100%, when measured according to the Hydrolysis Test Method. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer has a degree of hydrolysis of about 95% to about 100%, when measured according to the Hydrolysis Test Method. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer has a degree of hydrolysis of about 98% to about 100%, when measured according to the Hydrolysis Test Method. 
     
     
         6 . The of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer is a terpolymer comprising:
 vinyl alcohol monomer units;   vinyl acetate monomer units; and   butene diol monomer units.   
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises about 8% to about 25%, by weight of the film, of a plasticizer. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises about 3.5% to about 7.5%, by weight of the film, of water. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 50,000 to about 95,000. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the film has an overall thickness of about 25 micrometers to about 200 micrometers. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a solid. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a liquid. 
     
     
         13 . A flexible package comprising:
 a compartment; and   a film comprising one or more extruded layers comprising a polymeric material comprising a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and butene-diol;   wherein the copolymer has a degree of hydrolysis of about 85% to about 100%, when measured according to the Hydrolysis Test Method;   wherein the film comprises about 8% to about 30%, by weight of the film, of a plasticizer; and   wherein the film forms at least a portion of the compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The flexible package of  claim 13 , comprising a flexible material, wherein the film is sealed to the flexible material, forming a continuous connection between the film and the flexible material. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible package of  claim 13 , comprising a flexible material, wherein the film and the flexible material form a laminate. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible package of  claim 13 , comprising a flexible material, wherein the film and the flexible material form at least a portion of a composite material. 
     
     
         17 . A flexible package comprising:
 a compartment; and   a film comprising one or more extruded layers comprising a polymeric material comprising a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and butene-diol;   wherein the copolymer has a degree of hydrolysis of about 85% to about 100%, when measured according to the Hydrolysis Test Method;   wherein the film comprises about 8% to about 30%, by weight of the film, of a plasticizer;   wherein the film forms at least a portion of the compartment; and   wherein the compartment surrounds and encloses a personal care product.   
     
     
         18 . The flexible package of  claim 17 , comprising a flexible material, wherein the film is sealed to the flexible material, forming a continuous connection between the film and the flexible material. 
     
     
         19 . The flexible package of  claim 17 , comprising a flexible material, wherein the film and the flexible material form a laminate. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible package of  claim 17 , comprising a flexible material, wherein the film and the flexible material form at least a portion of a composite material.