U.S. patent application number 11/720639 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for cartridge for viscous fluid materials.
Invention is credited to Hideyuki Mori, Tohru Nakayama.
Application Number | 20080156831 11/720639 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36565062 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080156831 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakayama; Tohru ; et
al. |
July 3, 2008 |
Cartridge for Viscous Fluid Materials
Abstract
A cartridge for storing and dispensing viscous fluid materials
providing excellent productivity and gas barrier properties and
free from external appearance defects at the site of film wrapping.
The inventive cartridge for viscous fluid materials has a plunger 3
inserted into the bottom portion of a cartridge body 2 fabricated
using insert injection molding by integrally molding a cylindrical
barrel portion 5 of a multilayer structure produced by laminating a
gas barrier layer 8 including a metal thin layer 8a on the exterior
periphery or interior periphery of a plastic layer 7, and a lid 6
covering the top of said cylindrical barrel portion.
Inventors: |
Nakayama; Tohru; (Saitama,
JP) ; Mori; Hideyuki; (Fukui, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY LLP
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
36565062 |
Appl. No.: |
11/720639 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
November 30, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2005/021964 |
371 Date: |
November 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/327 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B 1/02 20130101; B32B
15/08 20130101; B65D 83/0005 20130101; B32B 2307/7242 20130101;
B32B 2255/10 20130101; B65D 23/02 20130101; B65D 23/0835 20130101;
B32B 15/20 20130101; B32B 27/36 20130101; B32B 27/08 20130101; B05C
17/00576 20130101; B32B 2439/00 20130101; B32B 27/32 20130101; B32B
2255/205 20130101; B05C 17/01 20130101; B32B 2307/514 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/327 |
International
Class: |
B65D 88/54 20060101
B65D088/54 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 1, 2004 |
JP |
2004-349075 |
Claims
1. A cartridge for viscous fluid materials, wherein a plunger used
for dispensing contents filling a cartridge body is inserted in the
bottom side of the cartridge body fabricated using insert injection
molding by integrally molding a cylindrical barrel portion of a
multilayer structure in which a gas barrier layer comprising a
metal thin layer is laminated on the exterior periphery or interior
periphery of a plastic layer used to maintain the shape and
strength of the cylindrical barrel portion itself, and a lid
covering the top of said cylindrical barrel portion.
2. The cartridge for viscous fluid materials according to claim 1,
wherein the gas barrier layer comprising the metal thin layer is
laminated on the exterior periphery of the plastic layer of the
cylindrical barrel portion.
3. The cartridge for viscous fluid materials according to claim 1,
wherein the gas barrier layer comprising the metal thin layer and a
layer producing no interaction with the contents or allowing no
components from the contents to pass therethrough is laminated on
the interior periphery of the plastic layer of the cylindrical
barrel portion.
4. The cartridge for viscous fluid materials according to claim 3,
wherein the cylindrical barrel portion and the lid portion are
formed using injection molding by injecting PE, the layer producing
no interaction with the contents or allowing no components from the
contents to pass therethrough is formed from any one of polyesters,
polyamides, polyacrylic resins, heat-curable epoxy resins,
UV-curable epoxy resins, or mixed resins of two or more components
selected therefrom, and the contents include at least one component
selected from organic solvents, hydrocarbon oils, and ketones.
5. The cartridge for viscous fluid materials according to claim 1,
which is filled with a moisture-curable composition.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge used for
storing viscous fluid materials, and, especially suitably,
moisture-curable compositions such as sealing agents, and
dispensing the materials onto surfaces to be coated at the moment
of use.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Well-known containers used for storing sealing agents
include plastic cartridges obtained by molding a lid having a
discharge outlet integrally with the top end of a barrel portion
made of plastic and, after filling it with a sealing agent,
installing a plunger in the opening in the lower end of the barrel
portion. Although polyethylene is typically used as the material
used for the barrel portion and lid and the thickness of the barrel
portion walls, with account taken of the required strength, weight,
economic efficiency, etc., is normally set to 1-1.5 mm, due to the
characteristics of the material and the pinholes formed during
molding, the walls exhibit a certain degree of air permeability and
their outside air-barrier properties are imperfect.
[0003] The use of such containers as containers for
moisture-curable sealing agents has led to various problems
associated with the penetration of outside air, and, in particular,
permeation of moisture (water) inside the containers. For instance,
sealing agent curing occurs in the portion, where the sealing agent
comes into contact with the surface of the interior walls of the
barrel portion and in the portion around the plunger, as a result
of which storage life deteriorates, the nonconforming article
percentage increases, and dispensing the sealing agent using the
plunger becomes difficult. In addition, if the temperature of
adherends such as glass plates, metal plates, metal sash, etc. is
elevated, applying a sealing agent that has been stored in the
container for an extended period of time to said adherends results
in the formation of air bubbles at the interface between the
sealing and the adherends.
[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No.
2001-240154 and JP-A No. 2003-104461 describe plastic cartridges
for sealing agents produced by wrapping a composite film comprising
an aluminum film around the exterior periphery of a cylindrical
barrel portion constituted by a plastic molding. In such
cartridges, gas barrier properties are imparted and the storage
life of the sealing agents inside is improved by wrapping a
composite film including an aluminum film around the exterior
periphery of the cylindrical barrel portion.
[0005] However, the manufacture of the cartridges described in JP-A
No. 2001-240154 requires a composite film wrapping step separate
from the step of molding of the cartridge body, and consequently
its productivity is not very high.
[0006] Moreover, when the composite film is wrapped around the
exterior periphery of the cylindrical barrel portion, external
appearance is damaged because wrinkles tend to form easily and air
remains in the wrinkled portions.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0007] With account taken of the above-described problems, it is an
object of the invention to provide a cartridge for storing and
dispensing viscous fluid materials offering excellent productivity
and gas barrier properties and free from external appearance
defects at the site of film wrapping.
[0008] To attain the above-mentioned object, the present invention
provides a cartridge for viscous fluid materials, wherein a plunger
used for dispensing contents filling a cartridge body is inserted
in the bottom side of the cartridge body fabricated using insert
injection molding by integrally molding a cylindrical barrel
portion of a multilayer structure in which a gas barrier layer
comprising a metal thin layer is laminated on the exterior
periphery or interior periphery of a plastic layer used to maintain
the shape and strength of the cylindrical barrel portion itself,
and a lid covering the top of said cylindrical barrel portion.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the cartridge for viscous
fluid materials provided by the present invention, a gas barrier
layer comprising the above-mentioned metal thin layer may be
laminated on the exterior periphery of the plastic layer of the
above-mentioned cylindrical barrel portion.
[0010] According to another embodiment of the cartridge for viscous
fluid materials provided by the present invention, the gas barrier
layer comprising the metal thin layer and a layer producing no
interaction with the contents or allowing no components from the
contents to pass therethrough may be laminated on the interior
periphery of the plastic layer of the cylindrical barrel
portion.
[0011] Furthermore, in an embodiment having the gas barrier layer
laminated on the interior periphery of the plastic layer of the
cylindrical barrel portion, the cylindrical barrel portion and the
lid portion may be formed using injection molding by injecting PE,
the layer producing no interaction with the contents or allowing no
components from the contents to pass therethrough may be formed
from any one of polyesters, polyamides, polyacrylic resins,
heat-curable epoxy resins, UV-curable epoxy resins, or mixed resins
of two or more components selected therefrom, and the contents
include at least one component selected from organic solvents,
hydrocarbon oils, and ketones.
[0012] The inventive cartridge for viscous fluid materials offers
high productivity because it permits integral molding of the
cartridge body and the location of the gas barrier arranged in its
cylindrical barrel portion using a single molding process.
[0013] In addition, because the cylindrical barrel portion of the
cartridge body is enclosed in the gas barrier layer comprising a
metal thin layer, it has excellent gas barrier properties, in
particular, moisture barrier properties.
[0014] In the present invention, when the gas barrier layer is
laminated on the exterior periphery of the plastic layer of the
cylindrical barrel portion, the gas barrier layer is molded
integrally with the cylindrical barrel portion of cartridge body by
insert injection molding, as a result of which, unlike in case of
wrapping a gas barrier film around the barrel portion, no external
appearance defects are produced at the site of film wrapping
because of wrinkles and residual air.
[0015] Moreover, when the gas barrier layer is laminated on the
interior periphery of the plastic layer of the cylindrical barrel
portion, even if the injection molding resin constituting the
primary molding material of the cartridge body is a material that
readily exhibits interaction with the contents, the plastic layer
made up of the injection molding resin is protected from the
contents by the gas barrier layer, thereby yielding a cartridge
offering high durability to the contents or high storage stability
for the contents.
[0016] The above-mentioned cartridge is suitable for use as a
cartridge filled with a moisture-curable composition, such as a
sealing agent, especially a silicone-, silicone modified-, or
polyurethane-based sealing agent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] In the accompanying drawings,
[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
example of the inventive cartridge for viscous fluid materials;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of
the inventive cartridge for viscous fluid materials; and
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another
example of the inventive cartridge for viscous fluid materials.
[0021] The reference numeral in each figure refers to the
following: 1: cartridge, 2: cartridge body, 3: plunger, 4: nozzle,
5: cylindrical barrel portion, 6: lid, 7: plastic layer, 8: gas
barrier layer, 8a: metal thin layer, 8b: bonding layer, 8c:
outermost layer, 8d: metal thin layer, 8e: bonding layer, 8f:
outermost layer, 9: cylindrical opening portion, 9a: Helical
groove, 10: seal film, 11: pressure-application surface, and 12:
cylindrical side surface.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0022] The inventive cartridge for viscous fluid materials is a
cartridge, wherein a plunger used for dispensing contents filling a
cartridge body is inserted in the bottom side of the cartridge body
fabricated using insert injection molding by integrally molding a
cylindrical barrel portion of a multilayer structure in which a gas
barrier layer comprising a metal thin layer is laminated on the
exterior periphery or interior periphery of a plastic layer used to
maintain the shape and strength of the cylindrical barrel portion
itself, and a lid covering the top of said cylindrical barrel
portion.
[0023] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an exploded perspective view and a
schematic cross-sectional view of an example of the present
invention, wherein a cartridge, 1A, has a gas barrier layer
laminated on the exterior periphery of the barrel portion of the
cartridge body. As shown in FIG. 1, cartridge 1A is composed of a
cartridge body 2, in which a lid 6 covers the top side of a
cylindrical barrel portion 5; a plunger 3, which is inserted into
the bottom of the cartridge body 2; and a nozzle 4, which is
attached as the occasion demands.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of cartridge 1A with the
plunger 3 and nozzle 4 installed in the cartridge body 2. The
cylindrical barrel portion 5 of the cartridge body 2 has a
multilayer structure produced by laminating, in the direction from
the inside towards the outside on the exterior periphery of a
plastic layer 7 used to maintain the shape and strength of the
cylindrical barrel portion itself, a gas barrier layer 8 made up of
a bonding layer 8b used for boding to the plastic layer, a metal
thin layer 8a, and an outermost layer 8c. In addition, a protruding
cylindrical opening portion 9 is formed in the center of the lid 6,
a helical groove 9a is provided on the exterior periphery of the
cylindrical opening portion for threaded engagement with the nozzle
4, and a suitable seal film 10 made of aluminum foil etc. is
attached using an appropriate method, such as adhesion, fusion,
etc., to the interior surface of the lid 6 in order to cover the
cylindrical opening portion.
[0025] In the cartridge body 2, which is an integral molding formed
using insert injection molding by arranging a gas barrier film
serving as a gas barrier layer inside a mold in a location
corresponding to the exterior periphery of the cylindrical body and
injecting molten resin into the mold, the plastic layer 7 of the
cylindrical barrel portion and lid portion 6 are made up of the
resin injected into the mold and the gas barrier layer portion 8 is
made up of the gas barrier film inserted into the mold.
[0026] The injection molding resin, which constitutes the primary
molding material of the cartridge body 2, is subject to no
particular limitations so long as it is a plastic material
satisfying requirements in terms of the shape, strength and other
physical properties required for the cartridge body and so long as
it has the stability required to prevent interaction with the
contents. In general, suitable resins include polyolefin resins,
such as LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, and other polyethylenes (PE),
polypropylene, etc., as well as mixed resins comprising said
polyolefin resins as the main ingredients.
[0027] In order to ensure gas barrier properties and, in
particular, sufficient moisture barrier properties, the gas barrier
film serving as the gas barrier layer of the cartridge body has at
least a metal thin layer. Aluminum foil and aluminum
deposition-layers are preferred as the metal thin layers, but foil
and deposition-layers of other metallic materials may be used as
well. It is only necessary for the gas barrier film to comprise a
metal thin layer, which may be a single layer film made up of metal
foil or a composite film where other layers are provided on one or
both sides of a metal thin layer.
[0028] For instance, in order to firmly bond the injection molding
resin to the gas barrier film, the gas barrier film is preferably a
composite film, in which a bonding layer 8b made up of a resin
exhibiting high adhesive properties with respect to the injection
molding resin is provided on one side of a metal thin layer.
Moreover, the gas barrier film may be represented by a composite
film having an outermost layer 8c used for protecting the metal
thin layer provided on one side of the metal thin layer. From the
standpoint of adhesive properties, the same type of material as the
material of the plastic layer (e. g. either one of LDPE, HDPE, or
LLDPE in case of LDPE, HDPE, or LLDPE) is preferable for use in the
bonding layer 8b. In addition, the outermost layer 8c may be formed
from the same type of plastic material as the bonding layer 8b.
[0029] When PE is used as the injection molding resin, a suitable
gas barrier film is obtained by laminating a PET layer with a
thickness of 5-100 .mu.m and a biaxially-oriented polypropylene
layer (OPP layer) with a thickness of 5-100 .mu.pm, which serves as
the outermost layer, on one side of aluminum foil with a thickness
of 5-100 .mu.m and laminating a PE layer with a thickness of 10-50
.mu.m, which serves as the bonding layer, on the other side.
Moreover, also suitable is a gas barrier film obtained by
laminating an OPP layer with a thickness of 5-100 .mu.m serving as
an outermost layer on one side of an aluminum deposition PET film
produced by providing a 1-10 nm aluminum deposition-layer on one
side of a PET base film with a thickness of 10-100 .mu.m, and
laminating a PE layer with a thickness of 10-50 .mu.m serving as a
bonding layer on the other side.
[0030] The thickness of the aluminum foil and aluminum deposition
film is preferably within the above-described ranges, because in
such a case few pinholes develop in the aluminum layer and its
flexibility may not be impaired. In addition, the thickness of the
PE layer is preferably within the above-described range because the
bonding layer then may exhibit sufficient adhesion and may not be
excessively thick.
[0031] A cartridge body with an outside diameter of 30 to 100 mm, a
length of 150 to 250 mm (excluding the cylindrical opening
portion), a wall thickness of 0.5 to 2 mm in the cylindrical barrel
portion, and a lid thickness of 0.5 to 2 mm can be molded by
inserting such a barrier film into a mold in the position
corresponding to the exterior periphery of the cylindrical body and
injecting molten PE into the mold. The name of the product and the
contents, manufacture date, manufacturer, and other information can
be indicated by printing it on the exterior periphery of the barrel
portion of the cartridge body.
[0032] The plunger 3, which is inserted into the bottom portion of
the cartridge body 2, has a pressure-application surface 11, which
comes into contact with the contents, and a cylindrical side
surface 12, which is tightly engaged with the interior surface of
the cylindrical barrel portion 5 of the cartridge body 2 and is
slidably movable therein in a fluid-tight manner when pressed
inside the cartridge body. The plunger 3 is typically a bottomless
hollow cylinder, with the piston of a dispensing implement, not
shown, pressing against the hollow recessed portion thereof. There
are no particular limitations concerning the material used for the
plunger, which may be molded from the same plastic material as the
cartridge body.
[0033] In addition, it is only necessary to install the nozzle 4 in
the cylindrical opening portion 9 of the lid at the moment of use
and it does not have to be installed when the cartridge is in
storage. There are no particular limitations concerning the
material used for the nozzle, which may be molded from the same
plastic material as the cartridge body.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another
example of the present invention, wherein a cartridge, 1B, has a
gas barrier layer laminated on the interior periphery of the barrel
portion of the cartridge body.
[0035] In the explanations of cartridge 1B provided below,
explanations concerning portions common with cartridge 1A are
omitted, with the explanations focusing mainly on the portions
characteristic of cartridge 1B. In addition, for portions common
with cartridge 1A, the same reference numerals are used in the
figure illustrating cartridge 1B as in the figure illustrating
cartridge 1A.
[0036] Although cartridge 1B has the same external appearance as
cartridge 1A illustrated in the above-described FIG. 1, the
cross-sectional structure of the barrel portion of the cartridge
body is different from that of cartridge 1A.
[0037] Namely, as shown in FIG. 3, in the cartridge body 2 of
cartridge 1B, the cylindrical barrel portion 5 has a multilayer
structure produced by laminating, in the direction from the outside
towards the inside on the interior periphery of a plastic layer 7
used for maintaining the shape and strength of the cylindrical
barrel portion itself, a gas barrier layer 8 made up of a bonding
layer 8e, which is used for bonding to the plastic layer, a metal
thin layer 8d, and an innermost layer 8f.
[0038] In this case the cartridge body 2 is an integral molding
formed using insert injection molding by arranging a gas barrier
film serving as a gas barrier layer inside a mold in a location
corresponding to the interior periphery of the cylindrical body and
injecting molten resin into the mold, wherein the plastic layer 7
of the cylindrical barrel portion and the lid portion 6 are made up
of the resin injected into the mold and the gas barrier layer
portion 8 is made up of the gas barrier film inserted into the
mold.
[0039] In general, if the injection molding resin used to form the
plastic layer 7 of the cylindrical barrel portion of the cartridge
body 2 is a material readily producing interaction with the
contents (in other words, a material readily swelling in the
presence of the contents, a material quickly deteriorating in the
presence of the contents, or a material quickly dissolving in the
contents and causing its deterioration), the swelling of the
cartridge body 2 results in the leakage of the contents, imperfect
engagement between the plunger and the body, and aeration of the
contents, or, otherwise, contact between the injection molding
resin and the contents causes the contents and the cartridge to
deteriorate.
[0040] For instance, if solvents such as toluene, benzene, xylene,
and other organic solvents; liquid paraffin and other hydrocarbon
oils; acetone and other ketones are included in the contents, the
resin of the cartridge body swells, gaps appear between the
interior surface of the barrel portion and the pressing plunger
fitted inside, the contents leak, and dispensing is unstable when
applying pressure to the contents.
[0041] Moreover, if air is incorporated into the contents through
such gaps between the interior surface of the barrel portion and
the plunger, this may negatively affect the quality of the
contents. For instance, if the content is a sealing agent, there
may be a chance that moisture contained in the air may damage the
stability of the contents and sealing may be defective due to the
inclusion of air in the location where the contents are
injected.
[0042] By contrast, contact between the plastic layer 7 of the
cylindrical barrel portion and the contents is avoided by providing
the gas barrier layer 8 on the interior periphery of the
cylindrical barrel portion of the cartridge body 2 and, as a
result, the occurrence of the above-described interaction is
prevented and a cartridge is obtained that has high durability to
the contents, or offers high storage stability for the
contents.
[0043] If the metal thin layer of the gas barrier film is made up
of metal foil, contact with the plastic layer 7 of the cylindrical
barrel portion and the contents can usually be easily avoided. From
the standpoint of further improving the durability of the container
and the storage life of the contents, it is preferable to provide a
layer that does not allow the contents to pass therethrough (in
particular, organic solvents, hydrocarbon oils, and ketones in the
contents) adjacent the metal thin layer or between the metal thin
layer and another layer.
[0044] In the present invention, the expression "a layer producing
no interaction with the contents or allowing no components from the
contents to pass therethrough" means that a certain layer, which
that does not cause any alteration of the contents or the container
or degradation in the storage life of the contents or the
durability of the container, does not produce any interaction with
the entire formulation of the contents or any interaction with one,
two, or more components in the formulation, and, even if the
interaction does occur, the interaction does not present any
problems in practical terms; and, that a layer does not allow any
components from the contents to pass therethrough, or even if it
does, it does not allow an amount to pass therethrough that would
cause any alteration of the contents or the container or any
degradation in the storage life of the contents or the durability
of the container that would present problems in practical terms. In
this sense, interaction or penetration at levels that can be
ignored in practical use is permissible.
[0045] For instance, in cartridge 1B, the innermost layer 8f of the
gas barrier layer 8 can be made chemically stable with respect to
the components and solvents included in the contents filling the
cartridge, or can be formed from resin that does not allow them to
pass therethrough.
[0046] Resins suitable for the innermost layer are exemplified by
polyethylene, polypropylene, and other polyolefins; Nylon-6,
Nylon-6,6, and other polyamides; polyethylene terephthalate,
polynaphthalates, and other polyesters; polyacrylic resins; and
heat-curable and UV-curable epoxy resins, etc. Among them,
polyester resins of superior solvent resistance and economic
efficiency are preferable, and among these, polyethylene
terephthalate is even more preferable.
[0047] When the gas barrier film is arranged on the interior of the
barrel portion, the gas barrier film is preferably a composite
film, in which the innermost layer is provided on one side of the
metal thin layer and, on the other side, there is provided a
bonding layer 8e made up of resin possessing high adhesive
properties with respect to the injection molding resin in order to
firmly bond the gas barrier film to the injection molding resin.
From the standpoint of adhesive properties, the same type of
material as the material of the plastic layer (e. g. either one of
LDPE, HDPE, or LLDPE in case of LDPE, HDPE, or LLDPE) is preferable
for use in the bonding layer 8e.
[0048] When PE is used as the injection molding resin, a gas
barrier film is suitably used that is obtained by laminating a PET
layer with a thickness of 5-100 .mu.m and an OPP layer with a
thickness of 5-100 .mu.m serving as the innermost layer on one side
of aluminum foil with a thickness of 5-100 .mu.m and laminating a
PE layer with a thickness of 10-50 .mu.m serving as a bonding layer
on the other side. Moreover, also suitable is a gas barrier film
obtained by laminating an OPP layer with a thickness of 5-100 .mu.m
serving as an innermost layer on one side of an aluminum deposition
PET film produced by providing a 1-10 nm aluminum deposition-layer
on one side of a PET base film with a thickness of 10-100 .mu.m and
laminating a PE layer with a thickness of 10-50 .mu.m serving as a
bonding layer on the other side.
[0049] The cartridge body 2 of cartridge 1B can be molded by
inserting such a gas barrier film into the mold in a position
corresponding to the interior periphery of the cylindrical body and
injecting molten PE into the mold.
[0050] In cartridge 1B, the same components as in cartridge 1A can
be used for the nozzle 4 and the plunger 3 inserted into the bottom
of the cartridge body 2. It should be noted that when the contents
filling the cartridge comprise solvents etc., it is preferable to
use a plunger 3 made of metal or a plunger 3 in which at least the
pressure-application surface 11 is formed from the same material as
the above-mentioned cartridge body 2.
[0051] At the time of use, the above-described cartridges 1A and 1B
are used to discharge the contents by breaking the seal film 10 to
open the cylindrical opening portion, attaching the nozzle 4, and
pushing the plunger 3 inside toward the top end of the cartridge
body 2.
[0052] Although the cartridge allows for various viscous fluid
materials to be filled, stored, and discharged as the contents, the
cartridge is suitable for use as a cartridge filled with a
moisture-curable composition, such as a sealing agent, and
especially a silicone-, silicone modified-, or polyurethane-based
sealing agent.
[0053] The above-described inventive cartridge for viscous fluid
materials offers high productivity and cost reductions because it
permits integral molding of the cartridge body with the location of
the gas barrier layer arranged in its cylindrical barrel using a
single molding process.
[0054] In addition, because the cylindrical barrel portion of the
cartridge body is enclosed in the gas barrier layer comprising a
metal thin layer, it has excellent gas barrier properties, in
particular, moisture barrier properties.
[0055] Moreover, unlike wrapping a gas barrier film around the
barrel portion, no external appearance defects, such as wrinkles
and air inclusions (air bubbles remaining between the film and the
cylindrical barrel portion), are generated because the gas barrier
layer is made integrally with the cylindrical barrel portion of the
cartridge body using insert injection molding even when the gas
barrier layer 8 is laminated on the exterior periphery of the
cartridge body, as in case of the above-mentioned cartridge 1A.
[0056] Furthermore, when the gas barrier layer is laminated on the
interior periphery of the cartridge body, as in the above-mentioned
cartridge 1B, even if the injection molding resin constituting the
primary molding material of the cartridge body is a material that
readily exhibits interaction with the contents, the plastic layer
made up of the injection molding resin is protected from the
contents by the gas barrier layer and, as a result, a cartridge is
obtained that provides high durability to the contents or high
storage stability for the contents.
EXAMPLES
[0057] The moisture permeability of the inventive cartridge, as
well as the storage stability of sealing agents (micro-particles of
cured material, foaming), were investigated to confirm the effects
of the invention.
Example 1
[0058] A cartridge body A having a cylindrical barrel portion
provided with a gas barrier layer 8 on its exterior periphery, such
as the one shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, was fabricated by insert
injection molding using polyethylene resin as the injection molding
resin and a composite film having a layered structured obtained by
laminating a PE layer, AL foil, a PET layer, and an OPP layer as an
insert film for a gas barrier layer.
[0059] The resultant cartridge body 1A has a shape, in which one
end of the cylindrical barrel portion is covered with a lid portion
6 provided with a cylindrical opening portion (discharge portion)
in the center thereof, with the body having an internal diameter of
48 mm, a total inner length of 213 mm, and a volume of
approximately 381 mm.sup.3. Its cross-sectional structure is a
layered structure, in which there is a plastic layer 7 made
entirely of high-density polyethylene resin, the wall thickness of
the cylindrical barrel portion is 1.15 mm, and a gas barrier layer
made up of a PE bonding layer, an AL foil layer, a PET layer, and
an outermost OPP layer is provided on the exterior periphery
thereof.
[0060] The cylindrical opening portion 9 of cartridge body A is
sealed by fusing a seal film 10 made up of aluminum laminated film
to the interior surface of the lid portion 6. A tapered nozzle 4
made of low-density polyethylene is threadedly engaged with the
cylindrical opening portion 9.
[0061] In order to enhance airtightness when fitting the pressing
plunger inside the interior surface of the opening portion at the
other end of cartridge body A, a mixture of polybutene and
microcrystalline wax (mixing ratio: 6:4) is applied to a region
extending up to 50 mm from the other end of the interior peripheral
surface of the cartridge body.
Example 2
[0062] A cartridge body B having a cylindrical barrel portion
provided with a gas barrier layer on the interior periphery
thereof, such as the one shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, was fabricated
by insert injection molding using the same injection molding resin
and composite film as in Example 1.
[0063] The shape and dimensions of the resultant cartridge body B
were identical to those of Example 1. Its cross-sectional
structure, however, was a layered structure, wherein a gas barrier
layer made up of a PE bonding layer, an AL foil layer, a PET layer,
and an innermost OPP layer was provided on the interior periphery
of the cylindrical barrel portion.
[0064] In the same manner as in Example 1, cartridge body B had a
seal film 10 fused to the lid portion 6, a threadedly engaged
nozzle 4, and a mixture of polybutene and microcrystalline wax
(mixing ratio: 6:4) applied to the interior peripheral surface of
the opening portion at the other end.
Comparative Example 1
[0065] A cartridge body C with a cylindrical barrel portion that
did not have a gas barrier layer was fabricated by insert injection
molding using the same injection molding resin and lid portion as
in Example 1, but without using the composite film.
[0066] The shape and dimensions of the resultant cartridge body C
were identical to those of Example 1. However, its cross-sectional
structure did not have a gas barrier layer.
[0067] In the same manner as in Example 1, cartridge body C had a
seal film 10 fused to the lid portion 6, a threadedly engaged
nozzle 4, and a mixture of polybutene and microcrystalline wax
(mixing ratio: 6:4) applied to the interior peripheral surface of
the opening portion at the other end.
<Tests>
(1) Moisture Permeability of Cartridge
[0068] The cartridge bodies obtained in Examples 1 and 2 and in
Comparative Example 1 were filled with 30 g of calcium chloride and
tightly sealed by fitting therein a pressing plunger 3 with a wall
thickness of 1.1 mm made of the same high-density polyethylene as
each of the cartridge bodies. The cartridges were held for 20 weeks
at a temperature of 40.degree. C. under an atmosphere that had a
relative humidity of 90%, whereupon moisture permeability (mg) was
obtained from the increase in weight.
(2) Storage Stability of Moisture-Curable Sealing Agents
[Preparation of Moisture-Curable Silicone Sealing Agents and Aging
Procedures]
[0069] A dealcoholation-type moisture-curable silicone sealing
agent A was prepared by mixing 50 parts by weight of a
polydimethylsiloxane with a viscosity of 17000 mPa-s at 25.degree.
C. having both terminal ends of the molecular chain blocked with
dimethylhydroxysiloxy groups, 50 parts by weight of calcium
carbonate (prepared by precipitation, with a BET specific surface
area of 18 m.sup.2/g and surface-treated with fatty acid), 3.0
parts by weight of methyltrimethoxysilane, and 1.0 part by weight
of di(isopropoxy)titanium-di(ethylacetoacetate) to homogeneity at
room temperature. Here, the term "BET specific surface area" refers
to a BET specific surface area obtained by the nitrogen adsorption
method. In addition, the term "dealcoholation-type" refers to a
type, wherein alcohol is obtained as a reaction by-product when
cured, with the alcohol in many cases capable of forming gas
bubbles in the sealing agent by vaporization.
[0070] The cartridge bodies A of Example 1 were filled with the
above-described moisture-curable silicone sealing agent A and
tightly sealed by fitting, in the opening section, a pressing
plunger 3 with a wall thickness of 1.1 mm fabricated by injection
molding using the same high-density polyethylene as the cartridge
bodies A. The cartridges A filled with such a silicone sealing
agent were left to stand for 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks
and 20 weeks under an accelerated aging condition at a temperature
of 20.degree. C. that had a relative humidity of 90%. The tests
described below were performed on cartridges after each aging
period to inspect for the presence of cured material and forming.
In addition, the same tests were conducted on cartridge bodies
obtained in other examples and in the Comparative Example.
[Inspection for Cured Material]
[0071] The moisture-curable silicone sealing agent A that had been
stored under the accelerated aging condition for a predetermined
period of time as described above, was discharged from the
cartridges A and visually examined for the presence of
micro-particles of cured material.
[Inspection for Foaming]
[0072] A joint was provided by arranging two 12 mm.times.50
mm.times.6 mm (width.times.length.times.height) strips of backup
material parallel to each other, with an interval of 12 mm, on a 50
mm.times.50 mm.times.5 mm glass test panel. The glass test panel
was placed in an oven at 50.degree. C. and removed from the oven 24
hours later, whereupon the moisture-curable silicone sealing agent
A that had been held for the predetermined period of time under the
same conditions as in the above-described storage stability test
(2), was immediately applied into the joint and, after touching it
up with a spatula, the silicone sealing agent was then cured by
keeping it for 7 days at a temperature of 25.degree. C. under an
atmosphere that had a relative humidity of 50%. Subsequently, the
interface between the silicone sealing agent and the glass test
panel was examined for the presence of air bubbles.
(3) Storage Stability of Hydrocarbon Oil-Containing Sealing
Agents
[0073] [Preparation of Hydrocarbon Oil-Containing Moisture-Curable
Silicone Sealing agents and Aging Procedures]
[0074] A dealcoholation-type moisture-curable silicone sealing
agent B was prepared by mixing 50 parts by weight of a
polydimethylsiloxane with a viscosity of 17000 mPa-s at 25.degree.
C. having both terminal ends of the molecular chain blocked with
dimethylhydroxysiloxy groups, 15 parts by weight of liquid paraffin
(HYDROSEAL G 400H from TOTAL SOLVENTS), 50 parts by weight of
calcium carbonate (prepared by precipitation, with a BET specific
surface area of 18 m.sup.2/g and surface-treated with fatty acid),
3.0 parts by weight of methyltrimethoxysilane, and 1.0 part by
weight of di(isopropoxy)titanium-di(ethylacetoacetate) to
homogeneity at room temperature.
[0075] The cartridge bodies B obtained in Example 2 were filled
with the above-described moisture-curable silicone sealing agent B
and tightly sealed by fitting, in the opening section, a pressing
plunger 3 with a wall thickness of 1.1 mm fabricated by injection
molding using the same high-density polyethylene as the cartridge
bodies B. The cartridges B filled with such a silicone sealing
agent were held for 240 hours, 550 hours, 840 hours, and 1200 hours
under an accelerated aging condition at a temperature of 25.degree.
C. that had a relative humidity of 50%. The tests described below
were run on cartridges after each aging period to inspect for the
change of cartridge body total length and presence of liquid
paraffin. In addition, the same tests were conducted on cartridge
bodies obtained in Example 1 and in Comparative Example 1.
[Inspection for Change of Cartridge Body Total Length]
[0076] The total length in the longitudinal direction of the
cylindrical barrel portions of the cartridge bodies A-C filled with
the moisture-curable silicone sealing agent B prior to holding them
was subjected to measurement. The measured values were used as the
initial total length (mm) of the cartridge bodies.
[0077] Subsequently, the total length of the cartridge bodies A-C
filled with the silicone sealing agent, which had been stored for a
predetermined period of time, as mentioned above, under the
accelerated aging condition, was subjected to measurement and
expressed as a difference (mm) from the initial total length of the
cartridge bodies.
[Inspection for Liquid Paraffin]
[0078] The cartridge bodies A-C filled with the silicone sealing
agent were left to stand for 1200 hours, whereupon the cartridge
bodies were cut in two to check for air penetration and presence of
cured material around the plunger. Because when air penetration was
present, voids were generated inside the cartridge and liquid
paraffin separated from the sealing agent at the interface with the
voids bled out, air penetration was determined by visually checking
for the presence of liquid paraffin separation. At such time, cases
wherein no liquid paraffin separation was found around the plunger
were designated as "o"; cases wherein slight separation was found
were designated as ".DELTA."; and cases wherein clear separation
was found were designated as "x".
[0079] Moreover, examination was conducted to determine whether any
cured material was present in the moisture-curable silicone sealing
agent B of the severed cartridge bodies.
<Test Results>
[0080] Table 1 below lists the results obtained by examining the
cartridge bodies A-C fabricated in the Examples and in the
Comparative Example to determine their moisture permeability, the
presence of micro-particles of cured moisture-curable silicone
sealing agent A contained in the cartridges, and the presence of
foaming.
[0081] The cartridge of Example 1, which utilizes a cartridge body
A having a gas barrier layer provided on the exterior periphery of
the cylindrical barrel portion, and the cartridge of Example 2,
which utilizes a cartridge body B having a gas barrier layer
provided on the exterior periphery of the cylindrical barrel
portion, have low moisture permeability, with no cured material
produced inside the cartridges and no sealing agent foaming
occurring in the test panel joint even after leaving the cartridges
to hold for 20 weeks under accelerated aging conditions.
[0082] By contrast, the cartridge of Comparative Example 1, which
utilized cartridge body C that had no gas barrier layer 8 provided
in the cylindrical barrel portion, exhibited high moisture
permeability, produced sealing agent foaming after holding for 12
weeks, and produced cured material in the cartridge after holding
for 16 weeks under the accelerated aging conditions.
[0083] Furthermore, Table 1 lists the results obtained by examining
the cartridge bodies A-C prepared in the Examples and in the
Comparative Example to determine the total length of the cartridges
after holding for the prescribed time, air penetration, and the
presence of micro-particles of cured moisture-curable silicone
sealing agent B contained in the cartridges.
[0084] The cartridge of Example 2, which utilized cartridge body B
having a gas barrier layer provided on the interior periphery of
the cylindrical barrel portion, and that of Example 1, which
utilized cartridge body A having a gas barrier layer provided on
the exterior periphery of the cylindrical barrel portion, exhibited
a change of below than 1 mm in the total length of the cartridge
body even after holding for 1200 hours under accelerated aging
conditions. Moreover, there was almost no liquid paraffin exudate
generated due to air penetration around the plunger and no cured
material was produced inside the cartridge even after holding for
1200 hours under accelerated aging conditions. In particular,
cartridge body B used in Example 2, which had a gas barrier layer
provided on the interior periphery of the cylindrical barrel
portion, revealed no liquid paraffin exudate due to air penetration
and thus had extremely good gas barrier properties.
[0085] By contrast, after holding for 840 hours under accelerated
aging conditions, the cartridge of Comparative Example 1, which
utilized cartridge body C having no gas barrier layer in the
cylindrical barrel portion, exhibited a change of over 1 mm in the
total length of the cartridge body. Moreover, there was liquid
paraffin exudate generated due to air penetration around the
plunger and cured material was produced inside the cartridge after
holding for 1200 hours under accelerated aging conditions.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparative Example 1 Example 2 Example 1
Moisture 60 60 450 permeability (mg) Long-term storage stability
Cured Foaming Cured Foaming Cured Foaming After 2 weeks No None No
None No None After 4 weeks No None No None No None After 8 weeks No
None No None No None After 12 weeks No None No None No Yes After 16
weeks No None No None Yes Yes After 20 weeks No None No None Yes
Yes Total length of 216.7 216.7 216.3 cartridge body (mm): Initial
After 240 hours 0.2 0.0 0.3 After 550 hours 0.3 0.1 0.7 After 840
hours 0.5 0.0 1.1 After 1200 hours 0.7 0.1 1.4 Aeration .DELTA.
.smallcircle. x Cured material None None Yes
* * * * *