Stabilization of vinylidene chloride barrier resins

Vinylidene chloride copolymers have a number of superior properties, most notably a high barrier to the transport of oxygen and other small molecules. As a consequence, these materials have assumed a position of prominence in the packaging industry. At processing temperatures these copolymers tend to undergo degradative dehydrochlorination. Unsaturation generated via interaction of the polymer with a variety of agents commonly encountered during polymerization or processing introduces an allylic dichloromethylene unit which may function as a major defect (labile) site for the initiation of degradation. Three approaches to the potential stabilization of these materials have been examined. The first involved the addition of agents, e.g. metal formates, capable of converting labile dichlormethylene units into non-reactive groups which would interrupt propagation of the degradative dehydrochlorination. The second involved the incorporation into the polymer of a commoner capable of scavenging free chlorine atoms. The third involved the preparation of copolymers which contains units capable of reaction with (consumption of) a mole of hydrogen chloride to expose a good free radical stabilizer to scavenge chlorine atoms.