Recyclable colorants in plastic beverage containers
US8722163B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/139
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermoplastic article includes one or more recyclable-friendly synthetic coloring pigments. The pigment has a melting temperature that is about 20 to about 50° C. higher than that of the base polymer. This enables the pigment to remain predominately intact (e.g., unmelted) during injection molding and act as a colorant in the preform and resulting blow molded container. When the container is remelted during subsequent processing, such as post-consumer recycling, the pigment melts and transesterifies into the base polymer. Thus, upon such further processing, the pigment effectively is subsumed into the base polymer and does not affect the basic characteristics and properties of the base polymer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.