Water soluble film and articles comprising same

1 . A water-soluble film for packaging oxidizing agents, the film comprising a water soluble mixture of:

a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a plasticizer, the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprising about 70% to about 100% of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer including a maleate unit, based on the total weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin and the plasticizer comprising triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 200 Da, or a combination thereof, wherein

(a) when the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer comprises less than 100% of the polyvinyl alcohol resin, the balance of the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises a polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer;

(b) when the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer comprises 100% of the polyvinyl alcohol resin and the film comprises a starch, then the plasticizer comprises sorbitol and glycerol; and

(c) when the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises a blend of the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer and the polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer and (i) the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer is provided in an amount in a range of about 70% to about 90%, by weight, based on the total weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin and (ii) the film comprises a starch, then the film does not include sorbitol and/or glycerol; and

wherein the film is characterized by an elongation at break of at least about 25% after the film is stored in contact with a bleach for 8 weeks at 38° C. and 50% relative humidity (RH).

2 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , further comprising a starch in an amount of about 30 phr or less based on 100 parts of polyvinyl alcohol resin, or about 20 phr to about 30 phr, or about 15 phr or less, or about 7 phr to about 15 phr.

3 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the maleate unit of the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer comprises maleic acid, monoalkyl maleate, dialkyl maleate, maleic anhydride, an alkali metal salt of any of the foregoing, an ester of any of the foregoing, or a combination of any of the foregoing.

4 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer includes the maleate unit in an amount of about 0.5 mol % to about 10 mol %, based on the total monomer units in the copolymer, or about 1.5 mol % to about 8 mol %, about 2 mol % to about 6 mol %, or about 3 mol % to about 5 mol %.

5 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer has a degree of hydrolysis (DH) of about 70% to about 100%, or about 80% to about 99%, or about 85% to about 98%, or about 88% to about 98%, or about 88% to about 94%, or about 88% to about 92%.

6 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer has a viscosity in a range of about 3 cP to about 30 cP, or about 5 cP to about 25 cP, or about 5 cP to about 15 cP, or about 5 cP to about 10 cP, or about 5 cP to about 7 cP.

7 . The water-soluble film of claim 6 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer has a viscosity in a range of 5 cP to about 10 cP or about 5 cP to about 7 cP.

8 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer has a DH in a range of about 70% to about 99%, or about 75% to about 95%, or about 78% to about 90%, or about 80% to about 90% or about 85% to about 90%.

9 . The water-soluble film of claim 8 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer has a DH in a range of about 85% to about 90% or about 86% to about 89%.

10 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer further comprises a plasticizer selected from the group of sorbitol, glycerol, diglycerin, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols up to 400 Da molecular weight, hexylene glycol, xylitol, 2-methyl-1,3,propanediol, ethanolamines, or a combination thereof.

11 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , further comprising sorbitol, glycerol, or a combination thereof.

12 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer consists of triethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 200 Da.

13 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer consists of triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 200 Da, sorbitol, and glycerol.

14 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is provided in an amount of about 15 phr to about 40 phr, based on 100 parts polyvinyl alcohol resin, or about 18 phr to about 23 phr, or about 25 phr to about 30 phr.

15 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the film, when provided at a thickness of about 1.4 mil (34.6 micron) is characterized by a residue value of 3 or less, after storage for 8 weeks at 38° C., 50% RH, when tested in accordance with the Residue Test provided in the specification.

16 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the film, when provided at a thickness of about 1.4 mil (34.6 micron) is characterized by a residue value of 2 or less, after storage in contact with bleach for 8 weeks, when tested in accordance with the Residue Test provided in the specification.

17 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the film comprises a water soluble mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a plasticizer, the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises about 100% of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer including a maleate unit, based on the total weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin in the film, the plasticizer comprises sorbitol and glycerol, and the film does not include starch.

18 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the film comprises a water soluble mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a plasticizer, the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises about 100% of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer including a maleate unit, based on the total weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin in the film, the plasticizer comprises sorbitol and glycerol, and the film includes a starch in an amount of about 30 PHR or less, based on 100 parts of the polyvinyl alcohol resin.

19 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the film comprises a water soluble mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a plasticizer, the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises a mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer including a maleate unit and a polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises about 75% by weight of the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer including a maleate group, based on the total weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein the film does not include starch and the plasticizer includes sorbitol and glycerol.

20 . The water-soluble film of claim 1 , wherein the film comprises a water soluble mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a plasticizer, the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises a mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer including a maleate unit and a polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises about 75% by weight of the polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer, based on the total weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin, the film includes a starch in an amount of about 30 PHR or less, based on 100 parts of the polyvinyl alcohol resin, and the film does not include starch or glycerol.

21 . A water-soluble unit dose article comprising at least one compartment and optionally a composition housed in the compartment, wherein the unit dose article comprises:

a water-soluble film, the water soluble film comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a plasticizer, the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprising about 70% to about 100% of a polyvinyl alcohol-co-maleate polymer, based on the total weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin and the plasticizer comprising triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 200 Da, or a combination thereof, wherein

(a) when the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer comprises less than 100% of the polyvinyl alcohol resin, the balance of the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises a polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer;

(b) when the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer comprises 100% of the polyvinyl alcohol resin and the film comprises a starch, then the plasticizer comprises sorbitol and glycerol; and

(c) when the polyvinyl alcohol resin comprises a blend of the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer and the polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer and (i) the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer is provided in an amount in a range of about 70% to about 90%, by weight based on the total weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin and (ii) the film comprises a starch, then the film does not include sorbitol and/or glycerol; and

wherein the film is characterized by an elongation at break of at least about 25% after the film is stored in contact with a bleach for 8 weeks at 38° C. and 50% relative humidity (RH);

wherein the water-soluble film comprises at least one wall of the compartment.