U.S. patent application number 10/843351 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for sealing member for a cap featuring excellent safety and environmental friendliness, and metal cap.
This patent application is currently assigned to Japan Crown Cork Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Aoyama, Naoki, Komaki, Takashi, Moriga, Toshinori, Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki.
Application Number | 20040209970 10/843351 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26624319 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040209970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moriga, Toshinori ; et
al. |
October 21, 2004 |
Sealing member for a cap featuring excellent safety and
environmental friendliness, and metal cap
Abstract
A sealing member for a cap featuring excellent cap performance
as well as excellent safety and environmental friendliness, and a
metallic cap. A foamed polyurethane elastomer having a JIS A
hardness of from 15 to 65 and a foaming magnification of from 1.1
to 10 times is used as the sealing member so as to obtain excellent
sealing performance, durability, safety and environmental
friendliness. The sealing member is provided for a metallic cap
shell that has a polyester film formed on the inner surface of the
cap, thereby to obtain a cap featuring excellent sealing
performance, durability, safety and environmental friendliness.
Inventors: |
Moriga, Toshinori;
(Kanagawa-ken, JP) ; Aoyama, Naoki; (Kanagawa-ken,
JP) ; Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki; (Tochigi-ken, JP) ;
Komaki, Takashi; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Leonard W. Sherman
Sherman & Shalloway
413 N. Washington Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Japan Crown Cork Co., Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
26624319 |
Appl. No.: |
10/843351 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10843351 |
May 12, 2004 |
|
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10286769 |
Nov 4, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
521/155 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C08G 2190/00 20130101;
C08G 18/6674 20130101; Y10T 428/139 20150115; Y10T 428/31565
20150401; Y10T 428/31551 20150401; C08G 18/8016 20130101; Y10T
428/1355 20150115; B65D 53/00 20130101; Y10T 428/1376 20150115;
Y10T 428/249953 20150401; C08G 18/8077 20130101; Y10T 428/31605
20150401; C08G 18/4018 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
521/155 |
International
Class: |
C08G 018/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 2, 2001 |
JP |
2001-337983 |
Jun 24, 2002 |
JP |
2002-183215 |
Claims
1. A sealing member comprising a foamed polyurethane elastomer
having a hardness (JIS A hardness) of from 15 to 65 and a foaming
magnification of from 1.1 to 10 times.
2. A sealing member according to claim 1, wherein said foamed
polyurethane elastomer is the one that is formed by containing
thermally expanding hollow particles in the polyurethane elastomer
so as to be foamed.
3. A sealing member according to claim 1, wherein said polyurethane
elastomer is a two-part type polyurethane elastomer comprising a
polyisocyanate and a polyol, and at least either the polyisocyanate
or the polyol is blended with the thermally expanding hollow
particles.
4. A sealing member according to claim 3, wherein said two-part
type polyurethane elastomer comprises: (A) a polyisocyanate
containing 5 to 38% by mass of isocyanate groups obtained by
modifying an aliphatic isocyanate and/or an alicyclic isocyanate,
and having functional groups in an average number of 2 to 3; and
(B) a polyol having a hydroxy value of from 20 to 350 (mgKOH/g) and
functional groups in an average number of 2 to 3.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a sealing member for a cap
featuring excellent cap performance as well as excellent safety and
environmental friendliness, and to a metallic cap.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A cap has a sealing member such as a gasket formed in a
portion to where at least the mouth of a container comes in contact
to maintain sealing performance. Most of the conventional caps are
employing a sealing member made of a plastisol of vinyl chloride
since it has a suitable degree of elasticity and workability.
[0005] In the case of a metallic cap, the inner surface of the cap
comes into direct contact with the content and must, hence, protect
the metal body and must prevent the metallic component from eluting
out. For this purpose, a resin film has been formed on the surface
of the metal body. As the film applied onto the inner surfaces of
the caps, there has been used an epoxy film or a vinyl chloride
resin film owing to their adhesiveness and workability.
[0006] However, the vinyl chloride is a substance that could cause
the formation of dioxin and is further often treated by using a
large amount of a plasticizer such as dioctyl phthalate which is
harmful to the human body. Further, the epoxy resin used for the
film uses a bisphenol A (BPA) which is becoming a problem as an
environmental hormone, a bisphenol glycidyl ether (BADGE) which is
harmful to the human body and a novolak glycidyl ether (NOGE)
accompanied by such a probability that these substances may elute
out. It is desired to avoid their use particularly as the sealing
member or the inner film of the caps that are used in the field of
foods.
[0007] It has also been known to use a polyurethane resin as a
sealing member for the caps (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
(Kokai) No. 9481/1986). This prior art uses a polyurethane
elastomer which contains an aromatic isocyanate.
[0008] In order to offer satisfactory sealing performance,
easy-to-open performance and durability, on the other hand, the
sealing member for the caps must have a hardness of from 10 to 70
(JIS A hardness), a tensile strength of from 1 to 40 Ma and a
compressive permanent distortion in a range of from 0.1 to 60%.
[0009] There, however, exists a correlation between the hardness
and the compressive permanent distortion, and it is difficult to
set their properties to lie within the above optimum ranges. That
is, there is available no sealing member that satisfies all of the
sealing performance, easy-to-open performance and durability. If it
is attempted to obtain a polyurethane elastomer containing the
aromatic isocyanate and having a low hardness, then, the mechanical
strength decreases. Besides, the polyurethane elastomer is colored
through the aging.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a sealing member for a cap featuring excellent safety and
environmental friendliness as well as excellent cap performance
such as sealing performance, easy-to-open performance and
durability without using the above-mentioned materials that involve
problems, and to provide a metallic cap.
[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a
sealing member for a cap comprising a foamed polyurethane elastomer
having a hardness (JIS A hardness) of from 15 to 65 and a foaming
magnification of from 1.1 to 10 times.
[0012] In the sealing member for the cap of the present-invention,
it is particularly desired that:
[0013] 1. the foamed polyurethane elastomer is the one that is
formed by containing thermally expanding hollow particles in the
polyurethane elastomer so as to be foamed;
[0014] 2. the polyurethane elastomer is a two-can type polyurethane
elastomer comprising a polyisocyanate and a polyol, and at least
either the polyisocyanate or the polyol is blended with the
thermally expanding hollow particles; and
[0015] 3. the polyurethane elastomer comprises;
[0016] (A) a polyisocyanate containing 5 to 38% by mass of
isocyanate groups obtained by modifying an aliphatic isocyanate
and/or an alicyclic isocyanate, and having functional groups in an
average number of 2 to 3; and
[0017] (B) a polyol having a hydroxyl value of from 20 to 350
(mgKOH/g) and functional groups in an average number of 2 to 3.
[0018] According to the present invention, there is further
provided a metallic cap having a sealing member formed on the inner
surface of a metallic cap shell via a film, the film being a
polyester film, and the sealing member being a foamed polyurethane
elastomer having a hardness (JIS A hardness) of from 15 to 65 and a
foaming magnification of from 1.1 to 10 times.
[0019] In the metallic cap of the present invention, it is
particularly desired that:
[0020] 1. the polyester-film comprises a polyethylene terephthalate
film or a polyester coating material; and
[0021] 2. the polyester coating material is any one of a
polyester/amino coating material, a polyester/phenol coating
material, a polyester/isocyanate coating material or an aqueous
polyester coating material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] In order to maintain sealing performance, the sealing member
for a cap must, generally, have a flexibility which, if expressed
in terms of the JIS A hardness, lies in a range of from 10 to 70.
As described above, however, if the hardness of the polyurethane
elastomer is adjusted so as to lie within the above range, the
compressive permanent distortion increases, the sealing member
undergoes a creep deformation due to a reduction in the pressure
and an accumulation of the pressure in the container, causing the
durability to decrease.
[0023] In order to solve the above problem inherent in the prior
art, the present invention uses, as a sealing member, a foamed
polyurethane elastomer having a hardness (JIA A hardness) of from
15 to 65 and a foaming magnification of from 1.1 to 10 times.
[0024] The foaming magnification is defined as a value obtained by
dividing the specific gravity of before foaming by the specific
gravity of after foaming, i.e., defined as (specific gravity of
before foaming)/(specific gravity of after foaming).
[0025] That is, the polyurethane elastomer is a high molecular
material having excellent adaptability to living body, ire., to
human body, without containing the above-mentioned materials that
involve problems, but offering excellent safety and environmental
friendliness.
[0026] According to the present invention, the elasticity required
for the sealing member is not obtained by adjusting the hardness of
the polyurethane elastomer itself that is done with the
conventional sealing members. But, instead, the polyurethane
elastomer to be used is foamed, and the required elasticity
(flexibility) is maintained relying upon the degree of foaming. It
is therefore allowed to prevent an increase in the compressive
permanent distortion that stems from a decrease in the hardness of
the polyurethane elastomer, to obtain excellent sealing performance
and to sustain sealing performance, i.e., to obtain excellent
durability.
[0027] It is important that the foamed urethane elastomer used as
the sealing member for a cap of the invention has a foaming
magnification after the polyurethane elastomer is foamed of from
1.1 to 10 times and, particularly, from 1.2 to 5 times. When the
foaming magnification is smaller than the above range, the sealing
member exhibits insufficient flexibility and, hence, lacks sealing
performance. When the foaming magnification is greater than the
above range, on the other hand, the sealing member exhibits
flexibility to a sufficient degree. However, too much foaming
portion spoils the elasticity of the elastomer. Therefore, the
sealing member lacks sealing performance, either.
[0028] It is desired that the foamed polyurethane elastomer used in
the present invention has a specific gravity of from 1.1 to 2
before being foamed and has a specific gravity which is decreased
to be from 0.2 to 1.1 after being foamed.
[0029] In the present invention, it is particularly desired to
prepare the foamed polyurethane elastomer for forming the sealing
member by containing thermally expanding hollow particles as a
foaming agent in the polyurethane elastomer.
[0030] The thermally expanding hollow particles are those hollow
particles of a resin such as methyl methacrylate entrapping a gas
that expands upon the heating. By using such a foaming agent, the
polyurethane elastomer can be foamed after it is applied to the
inner surfaces of the caps, and the sealing agent can be easily
formed on the inner surfaces of the caps.
[0031] Foaming by using the thermally expanding hollow particles is
different from foaming the polyurethane elastomer by using a gas
generated by the chemical reaction, and is irrelevant to the
reaction of preparing the polyurethane elastomer, and does not
impair the reaction. Further, foaming by using the thermally
expanding hollow particles does not permit the gas in the particles
to easily leak from the interior of the particles. Therefore, the
foamed body exhibits the elasticity for extended periods of time
and, hence, the sealing member of the present invention exhibits
excellent durability moreover, outer wrapping portions which are
the hollow particles are made of a substance which is harmless to
the human body, are not subject to be eluted out, and are excellent
from the standpoint of safety and sanitation.
[0032] In the present invention, further, it is particularly
desired to provide the sealing member in a metallic cap shell which
has a polyester film formed in the inner surface thereof. This
makes it possible to provide a metallic cap featuring excellent
safety and environmental friendliness yet maintaining a function as
the metallic cap.
[0033] That is, in the metallic cap of the invention, the polyester
film formed on the inner surface thereof comprises chiefly a
polyester of a carboxylic acid component and an alcohol component,
and is formed by applying a polyester coating material containing
the polyester as a chief component or by applying a polyester
resin.
[0034] The polyester does not contain the above-mentioned materials
such as bisphenol A and the like that involve problems and, hence,
offers excellent safety as well as excellent adhesiveness to the
metallic materials, resistance against the content,
flavor-retaining property and workability. In the present
invention, the polyester having such excellent features is formed
as a protection film on the inner surfaces of the caps to protect
the metal body
[0035] (Foamed Polyurethane Elastomer)
[0036] As the polyurethane elastomer used as a sealing member for a
cap of the present invention, there can be preferably used a
two-can type polyurethane elastomer obtained by reacting a
polyisocyanate component with a polyol component. As the
isocyanate, there can be exemplified an aliphatic isocyanate. As
the alicyclic isocyanate, there can be exemplified a hydrogenated
aromatic isocyanate, a hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), an
isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and a lysine diisocyanate.
[0037] Among them, SDI and/or IPDI can be preferably used.
[0038] In the present invention, the polyisocyanate component that
can be used most desirably is (A) the polyisocyanate component
containing 5 to 38% by mass of isocyanate groups obtained by
modifying an aliphatic isocyanate and/or an alicyclic isocyanate,
and having functional groups in an average number of 2 to 3. It is
desired that the polyisocyanate (A) is obtained by modifying the
aliphatic isocyanate and/or the alicyclic isocyanate by the
dimerizing reaction, trimerizing reaction, polymerizing reaction,
or by the urethane-forming reaction, urea-forming reaction,
amide-forming reaction, allophanate-forming reaction or
biuret-forming reaction of the above isocyanates with a
polyfunctional active hydrogen group-containing compound.
[0039] The polyisocyanate component (A) contains the isocyanate
groups in an amount of from 5 to 38% by mass and, preferably, from
8 to 25% by mass. When the content of the isocyanate groups is
smaller than 5% by mass, the polyisocyanate component (A) has a too
great viscosity and cannot be easily handled. When the content of
the isocyanate groups exceeds 38% by mass, on the other hand, it
becomes virtually difficult to suppress the concentration of the
free starting isocyanate to be not larger than 1% by mass. The
content of the isocyanate groups referred to here stands for the
content that undergoes the reaction with the polyol component (B),
and is a concept including an isocyanate group blocked with a
hydroxyl group or an uretodione group with which two isocyanate
groups are cyclically polymerized, and including an isocyanate
group stemming from an uretonimine bond in which an isocyanate
group is added to a carbodiimide group, which does not exhibit the
activity as the isocyanate groups at normal temperature but
reproduces the isocyanate group at high temperatures. Here,
however, the so-called blocked isocyanate blocked with the hydroxyl
group is accompanied by a problem of scattering the blocking agent,
and is not desirable in the present invention. The polyisocyanate
component (A) has the functional groups in an average number of 2
to 3 from the standpoint of the amount of elution of the
polyurethane elastomer and the compressive permanent
distortion.
[0040] The polyol component that can be used in the present
invention is, concretely, a high molecular polyol, a low molecular
polyol or a mixture thereof. From the standpoint of easily
selecting the properties, it is desired to use a mixture of the
high molecular polyol and the low molecular polyol. The high
molecular polyol and the low molecular polyol may be those of a
single kind or a mixture of two or more kinds, respectively.
[0041] The high molecular polyol has a number average molecular
weight of not smaller than 500 and, preferably, from 500 to 10,000.
Concrete examples include polypropylene glycol, polyetherpolyol
(PPG), polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG), adipate
polyesterpolyol, polycaprolactone polyesterpolyol and polycarbonate
polyol, as represented by Preminol and Excenol of Asahi Glass Co.
and Acreim of Liondel Co.
[0042] Among them, preferred examples of the high molecular polyol
are PTMG and adipate polyesterpolyol from the standpoint of elution
of the polyurethane elastomer. PTMG and PPG are further preferred
from the standpoint of resistance against the hydrolysis. It is
desired that the number average molecular weight of the PTMG is
from 500 to 2000. When the number average molecular weight exceeds
2000, the PTMG exhibits an increased crystallinity and becomes less
easy to handle.
[0043] As the low molecular polyol, there can be exemplified
ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol,
1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol,
3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol- , neopentyl glycol, 1,8-octanediol,
1,9-nonanediol, diethylene glycol, cyclohexane-1, 4-diol,
cyclohexane-1, 4-dimethanol, cyclohexane-1,4-dimethanol,
dimethylolheptane, dimeric acid diol, trimethylolpropane,
glycerine, hexanetriol, quadrol, bisphenol A, hydrogenated
bisphenol A, and compounds having a number average molecular weight
of smaller than 500 obtained by adding an ethylene oxide or a
propylene oxide to the above compounds.
[0044] There is no particular limitation on the amount of using the
low molecular polyols, and the amount can be suitably selected
depending upon the hardness to be imparted to the object
polyurethane elastomer. Preferably, however, the low molecular
polyol is used in an amount of not larger than 5 mols and,
particularly, in a range of from 0.1 to 3 mols per mole of the high
molecular polyol.
[0045] The polyol component (B) which is most desirably used in the
present invention has a hydroxyl value of from 20 to 350 (mgKOE/g)
and, preferably, from 100 to 350 (mgKOH/g). When the hydroxyl value
is smaller than 20 (mgKOH/g), the obtained polyurethane elastomer
becomes too soft and the compressive permanent distortion becomes
too great. When the hydroxyl value becomes greater than 350
(mgKOH/g), on the other hand, the obtained polyurethane elastomer
becomes too hard and is not suited for use as a sealing member. It
is desired that a suitable amount of crosslinking structure is
introduced into the polyurethane elastomer. Therefore, the polyol
component (B) has functional groups in an average number of 2 to 3
to meet the average number of the functional groups of the
polyisocyanate component (A).
[0046] In synthesizing the polyurethane elastomer by reacting the
polyisocyanate component (A) with the polyol component (B),
further, it is desired that the polyisocyanate component (A) is
used at such a ratio that the mole number of the isocyanate groups
per mole of the active hydrogen atoms is from 0.9 to 1.5 mols and,
more preferably, from about 1.00 to about 1.10 mols with respect to
the whole amount of the active hydrogen atoms possessed by the
polyol component (B) and by other components.
[0047] As the method of synthesizing the polyurethane elastomer
according to the present invention, any known urethane-forming
reaction technology can be employed irrespective of whether it is a
prepolymer method or a one-shot method.
[0048] It is further desired that the polyurethane elastomer used
as the sealing member of the present invention consumes not more
than 30 ppm of potassium permanganate in the extraction solution
when the retort processing is effected by using 10 ml of water per
gram of the polyurethane elastomer at a temperature of 120.degree.
C. for 30 minutes.
[0049] In the present invention, it is also possible to employ a
foaming method by using a known foaming agent such as
trichlorofluoromethane in order to foam the polyurethane elastomer.
As described above, however, it is particularly desired to use
thermally expanding hollow particles from the standpoint of safety
and environmental friendliness.
[0050] As the thermally expanding hollow particles, it is desired
that the outer wrapping portions constituting the particles
comprise methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile or methacrylonitride,
and an isopentane solution or a chemical foaming agent is contained
in the particles.
[0051] It is desired that the thermally expanding hollow particles
generally have a particle size of from 10 to 40 .mu.m, and are
expanded to possess a particle size of from 20 to 90 .mu.m through
the heating at a temperature of from 100 to 300.degree. C. and a
specific gravity that is decreased down to be from 0.001 to 0.5
times.
[0052] As the thermally expanding hollow particles, there can be
preferably used Expancel of Expancel Co., Matsumoto Microsphere of
Matsumoto Yushi Seiyaku Co., or Cell Powder of Eiwa Xasei Kogyosha
Co.
[0053] It is desired that the polyurethane elastomer is blended
with the thermally expanding hollow particles in an amount of from
0.1 to 9% by weight and, particularly, from 0.2 to 5% by
weight.
[0054] It is desired that the sealing member of the present
invention is a compound in which at least either (A) the liquid
polyisocyanate component or (B) the liquid polyol component is
blended with the thermally expanding hollow particles, and the
grooves of the cap are lined with the above compound which is,
then, reacted at 150 to 300.degree. C. for. 20 to 200 seconds to
thereby integrally form a polyurethane elastomer. When the heating
temperature is lower than 150.degree. C., the polyurethane
elastomer is not formed to a sufficient degree. When the heating
temperature exceeds 300.degree. C., on the other hand, the urethane
bond ma be decomposed. When the heating time is shorter than 20
seconds, the elastomer is not formed to a sufficient degree. When
the heating time exceeds 200 seconds, on the other hand, the
productivity decreases and, besides, the production line that is
now used for the vinyl chloride plastic sol cannot be used.
[0055] When the polyurethane elastomer that has been synthesized in
advance is to be used, the polyurethane elastomer is melted and is,
then, blended with the thermally expanding hollow particles, and is
extruded into the cap shell or is injection-molded therewith as a
unitary structure. Or, the polyurethane elastomer powder is blended
with the thermally expanding hollow particles and is molded,
followed by melting so as to be formed as a unitary structure. The
melting temperature is desirably from 150 to 300.degree. C.
[0056] The sealing member of the present invention can be blended,
as required, with a catalyst, a filler, a coloring agent and an
antioxidant that are usually used for the polyurethane resins, as
well as a lubricant, flame-retarding agent, an ultrasonic-ray
absorber, a photo stabilizer, an electric insulation-improving
agent, an anti-molding agent, a silicone surfactant, a metal salt
of an organic acid, waxes derived from organic acids, a metal
oxide, a metal hydroxide, an internal parting agent, a reinforcing
agent and the like agents.
[0057] The sealing member of the present invention has a JIS A
hardness in a range of from 15 to 65 and, particularly, from 20 to
60, a tensile strength of from 0.1 to 30 MPa, and a compressive
permanent stress of from 1 to 60% so as to exhibit excellent
sealing performance, easy-to-open performance and excellent
durability.
[0058] When the JIS A hardness is smaller than 15, the sealing
member bites into the mouth of the container excessively, and
cannot be easily opened. When the JIS A hardness is larger than 65,
the sealing member does not bite into the mouth of the container to
a sufficient degree, whereby the sealing area decreases and the
sealing becomes defective.
[0059] When the tensile strength is smaller than 0.1 MPa, the
sealing member lacks mechanical strength and is torn off to lose
the sealing performance due to the opening and closing of the
closure and due to the accumulation of pressure in the container.
When the tensile strength is larger than 30 MPa, the sealing member
does not bite into the mouth of the container to a sufficient
degree, whereby the sealing area decreases and the sealing becomes
defective.
[0060] When the compressive permanent distortion is smaller than
1%, the sealing member does not bite into the mouth of the
container to a sufficient degree, whereby the sealing area
decreases and the sealing becomes defective. When the compressive
permanent distortion is larger than 60%, the sealing member
undergoes a creep deformation due to a reduction in the pressure in
the container and the accumulation of pressure in the container.
Therefore, the sealing member is finally torn off along the mouth
of the container to lose durability.
[0061] (Polyester Film)
[0062] In the present invention, the polyester film applied onto
the inner surface of the cap shell is formed of the polyester resin
film or is formed by applying the polyester coating material as
described earlier.
[0063] [Polyester Resin Film]
[0064] As the polyester resin film, there can be used any film
formed of a known thermoplastic polyester resin. Particularly
preferably, there can be used a film of a polyester derived from a
carboxylic acid component comprising chiefly an aromatic
dicarboxylic acid and an alcohol component comprising chiefly an
aliphatic diol, and, particularly, a film of a polyester resin in
which not less than 50% by mol of the carboxylic acid component
comprises a terephthalic acid component and not less than 50% by
mol of the alcohol component comprises an ethylene glycol
component.
[0065] The polyester may be a homopolyester, a copolymerized
polyester, or a blend of two or more kinds thereof.
[0066] As the carboxylic acid component other than the terephthalic
acid component, there can be exemplified isophthalic acid,
naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, p-.beta.-oxyethoxybenzoic acid,
biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid, diphenoxyethane-4,4'-dicarboxylic
acid, 5-sodiumsulfoisophthalic acid, hexahydroterephthalic acid,
adipic acid, sebacic acid, trimellitic acid and pyromellitic
acid.
[0067] As the alcohol component other than the ethylene glycol,
there can be exemplified such alcohol components as 1,4-butanediol,
propylene glycol, neopentyl alcohol, 1,6-hexylene glycol,
diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, cyclohexanedimethanol,
ethylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A, glycerol, trimethylolpropane,
pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and sorbitan.
[0068] Though not-limited thereto only, suitable examples of the
polyester constituting the polyester resin film include
polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate,
polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate, polyethylene
terephthalate/isophthalate, polybutylene
terephthalate/isophthalate,
polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate/terephthalate, polyethylene
terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate/adipate,
polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate/isophtha- late, polybutylene
terephthalate/adipate, or a blend of two or more kinds thereof.
[0069] Among them, the polyethylene terephthalate film can be
preferably used.
[0070] The polyester resin should have a molecular weight capable
of forming a film, and an inherent viscosity of from 0.6 to 1.5,
and a glass transition point of from 30 to 100.degree. C.
[0071] The poyester resin film used in the present invention may be
either an undrawn film or a biaxially drawn film.
[0072] The metal body can be coated with the resin film by any
means such as an extrusion-coating method, a method of thermally
adhering cast film, or a method of thermally adhering a biaxially
drawn film.
[0073] Though not limited thereto only, it is desired that the
resin film has a thickness generally in a range of from 3 to 30
.mu.m.
[0074] [Polyester Coating Material]
[0075] As the polyester coating material, there can be preferably
used a solvent-type coating material comprising the polyester resin
as a chief component and blended with a thermosetting resin such as
amino resin, phenol resin, isocyanate resin or thermosetting
acrylic resin, and an aqueous polyester coating material obtained
by modifying the polyester resin with an acrylic resin.
[0076] By using the polyester coating material comprising the
polyester resin and the thermosetting resin, the film of polyester
serves as a base, and the film is further constituted by curing
chiefly the thermosetting resin. That is, the polyester resin and
the thermosetting resin do not substantially react with each other,
and the resin in the coating material is cured as the thermosetting
resin-undergoes the reaction thereby to form an inter-penetrating
network (IPN) structure in the film. Upon forming the
inter-penetrating network structure, the curing property and the
barrier property against the corrosive component are improved while
maintaining excellent film-adhering property and workability.
[0077] The polyester resin which is the chief component is
preferably the one exemplified in connection with the polyester
resin film, and, generally, has a number average molecular weight
of from 4,000 to 25,000, a glass transition point of from 40 to
100.degree. C., and a reduced viscosity of from 0.25 to 0.70
dl/g.
[0078] Described below are examples of the thermosetting resin.
[0079] (a) Thermosetting Acrylic Resin.
[0080] The thermosetting acrylic resin which can be used for the
polyester coating material of the invention in combination with the
polyester resin, is a self-curing acrylic resin which, by itself,
undergoes the curing reaction without the need of using a curing
agent. It is desired that the thermosetting acrylic resin is an
acrylic resin comprising a (meth)acrylic acid ester as a chief
component, an aromatic vinyl monomer, and an ethylenically
unsaturated monomer having a crosslinking functional group.
[0081] (b) Amino Resin.
[0082] As the amino resin that can be used for the polyester
coating material of the invention in combination with the polyester
resin, there can be exemplified a melamine resin or a
benzoguanamine resin, which may be used alone or may be used being
blended together.
[0083] It is desired that the amino resin has a basic nitrogen atom
concentration of from 7 to 15 gram atoms per 100 grams of the
resin, and a concentration of methylol groups and etherified
methylol groups in a range of from 0.5 to 1.5 millimols.
[0084] (c) Isocyanate Resin.
[0085] The isocyanate resin which can be used for the polyester
coating material of the invention in combination with the polyester
resin, is (i) the one of the two-can type comprising a main agent
having an active hydrogen group, such as polyol or polyamine, and a
polyisocyanate curing agent, (ii) the one of the one-can type
comprising a chief agent having an active hydrogen group blended
with a blocked isocyanate, or (iii) the one of the one-can type
comprising a resin having an isocyanate group. Particularly
preferred examples of the isocyanate resin include hexamethylene
diisocyanate (EDI) trimer, isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) trimer,
HDI adduct and IPDI adduct.
[0086] (d) Phenol Resin.
[0087] It is desired that the phenolic resin which can be used for
the polyester coating material of the invention in combination with
the polyester resin, is a resol-type phenolic resin derived from
phenols comprising carbolic acid and/or metacresol and from a
formaldehyde or a functional derivative thereof.
[0088] It is desired that the polyester coating material is
obtained by blending the polyester resin and the thermosetting
resin at a ratio of from 95:5 to 60:40.
[0089] It is further desired that the coating material contains the
solvent in an amount of from 150 to 500 parts by weight per 100
parts by weight of the resin component.
[0090] Any known solvent can be used provided it is capable of
dissolving the above-mentioned resin component, such as isopropyl
alcohol, isobutyl acetate, n-butanol and Sorbesso 110.
[0091] Concretely speaking, there can be used, as the polyester
coating material, a polyester/thermosetting acrylic coating
material (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No.
290585/2000), polyester/amino coating materials (Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publications (Kokai) Nos. 19876/2001 and
19877/2001, and Japanese Patent Application No. 374890/2000), and a
polyester/phenolic coating material (Japanese Patent Application
No. 147058/2001) by the present inventors.
[0092] Further, a concrete example of the aqueous polyester coating
material is an aqueous coating material (Japanese Patent
Application No. 148339/2001) comprising an isocyanate curing agent
and an acrylic-modified aromatic polyester resin to which water
dispersing property is imparted by the modification with an acrylic
resin and by the neutralization with bases.
[0093] The polyester coating material used in the present invention
can be applied by any known method such as application by
immersion, roller coating, spray coating or electrodeposition. The
conditions for firing the coating material may vary depending upon
the kind of the coating material that is used, but is generally in
a range of from 150 to 300.degree. C. for 0.2 to 30 minutes.
[0094] The film obtained by heating and curing the polyester
coating material used in the present invention has a glass
transition point of not lower than 40.degree. C., an MEK extraction
factor of not larger than 40%, and exhibits excellent film
properties such as excellent workability, corrosion resistance and
adhesiveness.
[0095] (Metallic Cap)
[0096] The metallic cap of the present invention may assume any
shape that has been known per se. For example, there can be
employed the shapes of caps of the press screw type, such as screw
cap and twist-off cap, cap of roll-on type, such as pilfer-proof
cap, and cap of the crimp type, such as crown and maxi-cap.
[0097] The metal blank used for the present invention may be any
blank that has heretofore been used for the conventional metal
caps, such as tin plate, tin-free steel plate, laminated steel
plate, stainless steel plate and aluminum plate.
[0098] In producing the metallic cap of the present invention, the
resin-coated metal plate on which the polyester film has been
formed in advance may be formed in the shape of a desired cap shell
or the metal blank may be formed in the shape of a desired cap
shell and, then, may be coated with the polyester coating material
so as to form a film thereon.
[0099] To form the sealing member in the cap, the grooves in the
closure are lined with the mixture of the polyisocyanate component
(A) and the polyol component (B), which is, then, reacted at 150 to
240.degree. C. for 20 to 200 seconds in order to integrally form
the polyurethane elastomer in the cap.
[0100] When the polyurethane elastomer that has been synthesized in
advance is to be used for the production of the metallic caps for
food containers, the polyurethane elastomer is melted and is
extruded into the metallic cap shells on which the polyester film
has been formed already or is injection-molded so as to be formed
integrally therewith. Or, the polyurethane elastomer powder is
formed and is melted so as to be formed integrally together. The
melting temperature is desirably from 150 to 240.degree. C.
EXAMPLES
[0101] The invention will now be described by way of Examples in
which "parts", "%" and "ratio" are all by weight unless stated
otherwise.
Preparation Example 1: Polyisocyanate Component A
[0102] 78.9 Parts of an EDI (hexamethylene diisocyanate) and 21.1
parts of a 1,3-BG (butylene glycol) were fed into a reaction
vessel, and were reacted at 70.degree. C. for 5 hours to obtain a
viscous solution having functional groups in an average number of 2
and containing 19.7% of isocyanate groups. This was referred to as
a polyisocyanate component A.
[0103] The content of the isocyanate groups was measured in
compliance with the method of JIS-K7301.
Preparation Example 2: Polyisocyanate Component B
[0104] 70.7 Parts of the EDI, 7.6 parts of the 1,3-BG, 6.6 g of a
neopentyl glycol and 15.2 g a hydrogenated bisphenol A were fed
into a reaction vessel, and were reacted at 70.degree. C. for 5
hours to obtain a viscous solution having functional groups in an
average number of 2 and containing 17.6% of isocyanate groups. This
was referred to as a polyisocyanate component B.
Preparation Example 3: Polyol Component A
[0105] 41 Parts of a polytetramethylene glycol PTG-1000SN
manufactured by Hodogaya Kagaku Kogyo Co. (hydroxyl value of 112,
average number of functional groups of 2), 13 parts of an
adipate-type polyester glycol P-1010 manufactured by Kuraray Co.
(hydroxyl value of 112, average number of functional groups of 2),
and 8 parts of an adipate-type polyestertriol manufactured by
Kuraray Co. (hydroxyl value of 336, average number of functional
groups of 3) were mixed together in advance to prepare a polyol
component A in a liquid state.
[0106] The hydroxyl value of the polyol was measured in compliance
with the method of JIS-K1601.
Preparation Example 4: Polyol Component B
[0107] 63 Parts of a polytetramethylene glycol PTG-1000SN
manufactured by Hodogaya Kagaku Kogyo Co. (hydroxyl value of 112,
average number of functional groups of 2) and 1.5 parts of an
N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-hydroxyp- ropyl)ethylenediamine EDP-300
manufactured by Asahi Denka Co. were mixed together in advance to
prepare a polyol component B in a liquid state.
Preparation Example 5: Polyester/Isocyanate Coating Material
[0108] A polyester/blocked isocyanate coating material having 20%
of a solid component and a #4 Ford cup viscosity (25.degree. C.) of
40 seconds, was prepared from 90 parts of a polyester resin (Byron
200 manufactured by Toyo Boseki Co., Tg=67.degree. C., Mn=17,000,
hydroxyl value 6 mgKOH/g), 10 parts of a hexamethyene diisocyanate
blocked with a methyl ethyl ketone oxime and 400 parts of a mixed
solvent.
[0109] Further, titanium oxide was dispersed in the above coating
material to prepare a polyester/blocked isocyanate/white coating
material having 33% of a solid component, 19.8% of a resin
component, containing 13.2% of titanium oxide and having a #4 Ford
cup viscosity (25.degree. C.) of 70 seconds.
Preparation Example 6: Polyester/Phenol Coating Material
[0110] A polyester/phenol coating material having 25% of a solid
component and a #4 Ford cup viscosity (25.degree. C.) of 55
seconds, was prepared from 85 parts of a polyester resin of
terephthalic acid/propylene glycol/ethylene glycol/cyclohexane
dimethanol=66/17/7/10, Tg 73.degree. C., Mn=7000, hydroxyl value 20
mgKOH/g, 15 parts of a butyl alkylated phenol resin (number of
methylol groups or of etherified methylol groups =1.8 per a benzene
ring, Mn=900) derived from the starting materials of m-cresol,
formaldehyde and butanol, 0.3 parts of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid
catalyst and 300.9 parts of a mixed solvent.
[0111] [Evaluation Test]
[0112] Transverse Pressure Test.
[0113] A capped bottle is inverted, the load is exerted on the
closure portion from the side direction, and the load at a moment
when the content starts leaking is measured, and is regarded as the
transverse load. The load is measured by using the Tensilon, and
the test is conducted by exerting the load at a rate of 1
mm/min.
[0114] .largecircle.: 40 kgf or larger
[0115] .DELTA.: 20 to 40 kgf
[0116] X: smaller than 20 kgf
[0117] Falling Test.
[0118] The capped bottle is allowed to fall in an inverted state on
an inclined surface inclined at 30.degree. from a height of 30 cm.
The leaking ratio is evaluated, and a reduction in the pressure of
30 mmHg or less is counted as leaking.
[0119] .largecircle.: 0%
[0120] .DELTA.: 30% or less
[0121] X: not smaller than 30%
[0122] Cap-Opening Test.
[0123] The capped bottle is preserved at room temperature for 2
weeks and the torque for opening the cap is measured to evaluate
the cap-opening performance.
[0124] .largecircle.: 35 kgf.multidot.cm or less
[0125] .DELTA.: 35 to 50 kgf.multidot.cm
[0126] X: not smaller than 50 kgf.multidot.cm
Example 1
[0127] Into 62 parts of the polyol component A of Preparation
Example 3 were mixed 25 parts of talc, 2 parts of titanium oxide, 2
parts of amide oleate, 2 parts of erucic amide, 2 parts of silicone
oil, 0.3 parts of Irganox 1010, 300 ppm/polyol of di(n-octyl)tin
maleate polymer KS-1010A-1 of Kyodo Yakuhin Co., and 0.5 parts of
thermally expanding hollow particules (Expancel 091DU of Expancel
Co.) to prepare a polyol compound.
[0128] A tin plate (tin-plating amount, 2.8 g/m.sup.2) having a
thickness of 0.155 mm was prepared, and the polyester/blocked
isocyanate/white coating material of Preparation Example 5 was
applied onto the inner surface thereof in an amount of 80
mg/dm.sup.2 and was fired under a condition of 190.degree. C. for 8
minutes. Then, onto the outer surface were applied the size coating
material, white coating material and luster varnish in this order
and, finally, the polyester/blocked isocyanate coating material of
Preparation Example 5 was applied as the inner surface top coating
in an amount of 30 mg/dm.sup.2 followed by firing under a condition
of 180.degree. C. for 8 minutes to thereby prepare the coated
plate. The MEK extraction factor on the inner surface of the coated
plate was 30%.
[0129] A twist-off cap (white cap) shell having a diameter of 53 mm
was formed by press from the above coated plate.
[0130] 38 Parts of the polyisocyanate component A of the
preparation example 1 was quickly mixed into the above polyol
compound and was defoamed and with which the grooves in the outer
periphery on the inner surface of the cap shell were lined by using
a lining device, followed by firing at 215.degree. C. for 50
seconds to produce the twist-off cap and the sealing member for the
cap.
[0131] The sealing member for the cap was applied in an amount of
0.75 g, the foaming magnification was 1.54, the specific gravity
after foaming was 0.78, and the JIS A hardness was 41.
[0132] A glass bottle having a volume of 155 cm.sup.3 was filled
with 140 g of hot water heated at 90.degree. C., closed with the
above twist-off cap under a condition of a pull-up value of 8 mm,
and was retort-treated under a condition of 125.degree. C. for 30
minutes.
[0133] The retort extraction water was analyzed for bisphenol A
(BPA), bisphenol glycidyl ether (BADGE), novolak glycidyl ether
(NOGE) and phthalic acid plasticizer by the GCMS (gas-mass) method
at a detection limit of 1 ppb. However, none of these substances
were detected. Further, the amount of organic matter eluted in the
retort extraction water was measured as the amount of consumption
of potassium permanganate at a detection limit of 0.5 ppm to find
that the amount was not larger than the detection limit. The
pressure reduction value remained normal even after the passage of
one month at 37.degree. C. exhibiting good retort resistance and
long-term sealing performance. When the cap was opened, the sealing
member (liner) exhibited good appearance, and a good adhering state
was maintained between the sealing member and the closure.
[0134] Next, the glass bottle having the volume of 155 cm.sup.3 was
filled with 140 g of hot water heated at 90.degree. C., closed with
the above twist-off cap under a condition of a pull-up value of 8
mm, left to cool, preserved at room temperature for one week, and
was put to the transverse-pressure test and to the falling test.
There was exhibited excellent sealing performance such as a
transverse load of 70 kgf and a fall-leakage ratio of 0%.
[0135] After preserved for two weeks, the cap-opening performance
was evaluated to be favorable requiring a cap-opening torque of 26
kgf.multidot.cm.
[0136] The glass bottle was filled with a blueberry jam at
85.degree. C., closed with the twist-off cap, and was sterilized
with hot water heated at 90.degree. C. for 40 minutes. The glass
bottle was preserved at 50.degree. C. for one month and the cap was
opened to observe the inner surface of the cap. There was observed
no abnormal condition, and the inner surface of the cap exhibited
favorable resistance against the content withstanding the blueberry
jam.
Examples 2 to 5, Comparative Examples 1 and 2
[0137] Various sealing members for caps having different specific
gravities after foaming and different hardnesses as well as various
twist-off caps were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 but
changing the amount of addition, of the thermally expanding hollow
particulate Expancel. The sealing members for the caps were
adjusted to possess thicknesses in a range of from 1.3 to 1.5 mm by
adjusting the amount of application. The sealing members for caps
of Examples 2 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were evaluated
in the same manner as in Example 1.
[0138] The tested results were as shown in Table 1.
[0139] It will be understood from these results that when the
hardness exceeds 65 and the foaming magnification becomes smaller
than 1.1, the results of the transverse-pressure test and of the
falling test become inferior and, besides, the cap-opening
performance becomes inferior since the force of the sealing member
pushing the mouth of the bottle becomes too strong. When the
hardness becomes smaller than 15 and the foaming magnification
exceeds 10, on the other hand, cracks (cut throughs) occur in the
sealing member in the retort testing, and the pressure reduction
value decreases in the long-term preservation testing. This is
considered to be stemming from the lack of mechanical strength of
the sealing member and the lack of resistance against creeping. The
cap-opening performance, too, becomes inferior since the sealing
member bites greatly into the mouth of the bottle.
[0140] As for the jam preservation testing, no abnormal condition
was recognized in the sealing members of Examples 2 to 5 and of
Comparative Examples 1 and 2.
Example 6
[0141] Into 62 parts of the polyol component B of Preparation
Example 4 were mixed 25 parts of talc, 2 parts of titanium oxide, 2
parts of amide oleate, 2 parts of erucic amide, 2 parts of silicone
oil, 0.3 parts of Irganox 1010, 250 ppm/polyol of dioctyltin
dilaurate, and 1.0 part of thermally expanding hollow particules
(Matsumoto Microsphere F-50D of Matsumoto Yushi Seiyaku Co.) to
prepare a polyol compound.
[0142] A tin plate (tin-plating amount, 2.8 g/m.sup.2) a thickness
of 0.155 mm was prepared, and the polyester phenol coating material
of Preparation Example 6 was applied onto the inner surface thereof
in an amount of 40 mg/dm.sup.2 and was fired under a condition of
190.degree. C. for 8 minutes. Then, onto the outer surface were
applied the size coating material, white coating material and
luster varnish in this order and, finally, the polyester/blocked
isocyanate white coating material of Preparation Example 5 was
applied as the inner surface top coating in an amount of 80
mg/dm.sup.2 followed by firing under a condition of 190.degree. C.
for 8 minutes to thereby prepare the coated plate. The MEK
extraction factor on the inner surface of the coated plate was
25%.
[0143] A twist-off cap (white cap) shell having a diameter of 53 mm
was formed by press from the above coated plate.
[0144] 38 Parts of the polyisocyanate component B of the
preparation example 2 was quickly mixed into the above polyol
compound and was defoamed and with which the grooves in the outer
periphery on the inner surface of the cap shell were lined by using
a lining device, followed by firing at 215.degree. C. for 50
seconds to produce the twist-off cap and the sealing member for the
cap.
[0145] The sealing member for the cap was applied in an amount of
0.75 g, the foaming magnification was 1.5, the specific gravity
after foaming was 0.80, and the JIS A hardness was 45.
[0146] A glass bottle having a volume of 155 cm.sup.3 was filled
with 140 g of hot water heated at 90.degree. C., closed with the
above twist-off cap under a condition of a pull-up value of 8 mm,
and was retort-treated under a condition of 125.degree. C. for 30
minutes.
[0147] The retort extraction water was analyzed for BPA, BADGE,
NOGE and phthalic acid plasticizer by the GC-MS (gas-mass) method
at a detection limit of 1 ppb. However, none of these substances
were detected. Further, the amount of organic matter eluted in the
retort extraction water was measured as the amount of consumption
of potassium permanganate at a detection limit of 0.5 ppm to find
that the amount was not larger than the detection limit. The
pressure reduction value remained normal even after the passage of
one month at 37.degree. C. exhibiting good retort resistance and
long-term sealing performance. When the cap was opened, the sealing
member (liner) exhibited good appearance, and a good adhering state
was maintained between the sealing member and the closure.
[0148] Next, the glass bottle having the volume of 155 cm.sup.3 was
filled with 140 g of hot water heated at 90.degree. C., closed with
the above twist-off cap under a condition of a pull-up value of 8
mm, left to cool, preserved at room temperature for one week, and
was put to the transverse-pressure test and to the falling test.
There was exhibited excellent sealing performance such as a
transverse load of 65 kgf and a fall-leakage ratio of 0%.
[0149] After preserved for two weeks, the cap-opening performance
was evaluated to be favorable requiring a cap-opening torque of 31
kgf.multidot.cm.
[0150] The glass bottle was filled with pickled scallions at
50.degree. C., closed with the twist-off cap, and was sterilized
with hot water heated at 90.degree. C. for 10 minutes. The glass
bottle was preserved at 37.degree. C. for two months and the cap
was opened to observe the inner surface of the cap. There was
observed no abnormal condition, and the inner surface of the cap
exhibited favorable resistance against the content withstanding the
pickled scallions.
[0151] In Examples and in Comparative Examples, the MEK extraction
factors were measured in a manner as described below.
[0152] The film on the outer surface of the coated plate was peeled
by a decomposition method using concentrated sulfuric acid. After
dried, the coated plate was cut out and was used as a sample. After
the weight is measured (W.sub.1), the extraction is conducted by
using MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) in an amount of 1 ml per 2 cm.sup.2
of the film at a boiling point thereof for one hour. After the
extraction, the coated plate was dried under a condition of
130.degree. C. for one hour, and the weight (W.sub.2) of the coated
plate after the extraction was measured. The film is further peeled
by the decomposition method using concentrated sulfuric acid, and
the weight (W.sub.3) of the plate was measured. The MEK extraction
factor of the coated plate was found in compliance with the
following formula,
(MEK extraction factor
%)=100.times.(W.sub.1-W.sub.2)/(W.sub.1-W.sub.3)
1TABLE 1 (Examples 1 to 5, Comparative Examples 1 and 2) Example
Example Example Example Example Comparative Comparative Ex. No.,
Comp. Ex. No. 1 2 3 4 5 Example 1 Example 2 Amount of Expancel
(parts) 0.5 2 0.3 5 0.2 10 0.05 Hardness JIS-A 41 33 52 20 60 10 70
Foaming maganification 1.54 2.35 1.3 4.8 1.2 11 1.03 BPA (ppb) ND
ND ND ND ND ND ND BADGE (ppb) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND NOGE (ppb) ND ND
ND ND ND ND ND Phthalic plasticizer (ppb) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND
Consumption of KmnO.sub.4 (ppm) ND ND ND 0.6 ND 1.0 ND Retort
resistance .largecircle. .largecircle. .largecircle. .DELTA.
.largecircle. X .largecircle. Long-term sealing .largecircle.
.largecircle. .largecircle. .DELTA. .largecircle. X .largecircle.
Trans-pressure test .largecircle. .largecircle. .largecircle.
.largecircle. .DELTA. .largecircle. X Falling test .largecircle.
.largecircle. .largecircle. .largecircle. .DELTA. .largecircle. X
Cap-opening test .largecircle. .largecircle. .largecircle. .DELTA.
.DELTA. X X Amount of Expancel: Amount of addition per 100 parts of
polyurethane elastomer ND: Not detected
* * * * *