Multilayered structure including cyclic olefin polymer or copolymer, and photobioreactor including the same

1. A multilayered structure, comprising:

at least one A layer (a2) comprising at least one polyolefin;

one A layer (a1) comprising at least one polyolefin;

at least one B layer (b1) comprising at least one of a cyclic olefin copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer;

one A layer (c1) comprising at least one polyolefin; and

at least one A layer (c2) comprising at least one polyolefin;

wherein the multilayered structure is flexible and at least partially transparent, layer (a2) is fully in contact with layer (a1), layer (a1) is fully in contact with layer (b1), layer (b1) is fully in contact with layer (c1), and layer (c1) is fully in contact with layer (c2), and wherein the multilayered structure is free of tie layers between A layers and B layers;

wherein the multilayered structure has an average wall stress or hoop stress at failure that is higher than the average wall stress or hoop stress at failure of a corresponding multilayered structure having a poly(hexamethylene adipamide-co-caprolactam) layer in place of each of the B layers and having an anhydride-modified LLDPE tie layer in place of each of the at least one A layer (a1) and the at least one A layer (c1);

wherein the cyclic olefin copolymer or polymer of the B layer (b1) is independently a copolymer or polymer of a cyclic olefin having the structure (I)

wherein

each carbon atom of structure (I) is independently unsubstituted or substituted with R 3 ;

R 1 and R 2 at each occurrence are each independently selected from H, J, (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 2 -C 10 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 10 )alkynyl, (C 1 -C 10 )haloalkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )alkoxy, (C 1 -C 10 )haloalkoxy, (C 1 -C 10 )cycloalkyl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heterocyclyl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )aryl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, and (C 1 -C 10 )heteroaryl(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, or wherein R 1 and R 2 together form structure (II)

each carbon atom of structure (II) being independently unsubstituted or substituted with R 3 ;

R 3 at each occurrence is independently selected from J, (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 2 -C 10 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 10 )alkynyl, (C 1 -C 10 )haloalkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )alkoxy, (C 1 -C 10 )haloalkoxy, (C 1 -C 10 )cycloalkyl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heterocyclyl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )aryl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, and (C 1 -C 10 )heteroaryl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl;

J at each occurrence is independently selected from F, Cl, Br, I, OR, CN, CF 3 , OCF 3 , R, O, S, C(O), S(O), methylenedioxy, ethylenedioxy, N(R) 2 , SR, S(O)R, SO 2 R, SO 2 N(R) 2 , SO 3 R, C(O)R, C(O)C(O)R, C(O)CH 2 C(O)R, C(S)R, C(O)OR, OC(O)R, OC(O)OR, C(O)N(R) 2 , OC(O)N(R) 2 , C(S)N(R) 2 , (CH 2 ) 0-2 NHC(O)R, N(R)N(R)C(O)R, N(R)N(R)C(O)OR, N(R)N(R)C(O)N(R) 2 , N(R)SO 2 R, N(R)SO 2 N(R) 2 , N(R)C(O)OR, N(R)C(O)R, N(R)C(S)R, N(R)C(O)N(R) 2 , N(R)C(S)N(R) 2 , N(C(O)R)C(O)R, N(OR)R, C(═NH)N(R) 2 , C(O)N(OR)R, and C(═NOR)R, wherein R at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )cycloalkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )aryl, (C 1 -C 10 )aralkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heterocyclyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heteroaryl, and (C 1 -C 10 )heteroaryl(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl; and

in R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 , each alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, is independently′ unsubstituted or substituted with 1-3 J.

2. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , comprising:

at least two or three of the B layers, wherein at least two of the at least two or three B layers are fully in contact with one another, and wherein the at least two or three B layers are between the at least two A layers.

3. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one B layer (b1) comprises:

at least one B layer (b1a); and

at least one B layer (b1b);

wherein layer (a2) is fully in contact with layer (a1), layer (a1) is fully in contact with layer (b1a), layer (b1a) is fully in contact with layer (b1b)), layer (b1b) is fully in contact with layer (c1), and layer (c1) is fully in contact with layer (c2).

4. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one A layer (a2) comprises

at least one A layer (a2a); and

at least one A layer (a2b);

the at least one B layer (b1) comprises

at least one B layer (b1a);

at least one B layer (b1b); and

at least one B layer (b1c);

the at least one A layer (c2) comprises

at least one A layer (c2a); and

at least one A layer (c2b);

wherein layer (a2a) is fully in contact with layer (a2b), layer (a2b) is fully in contact with layer (a1), layer (a1) is fully in contact with layer (b1a), layer (b1a) is fully in contact with layer (b1b), layer (b1b) is fully in contact with layer (b1c), layer (b1c) is fully in contact with layer (c1), layer (c1) is fully in contact with layer (c2a), and layer (c2a) is fully in contact with layer (c2b).

5. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the total thickness of all of the A layers and all of the B layers is about 1-30 mils.

6. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one A layer comprises at least one of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX or XLPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE), and a copolymer thereof.

7. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one A layer comprises a polymer or copolymer of at least one of propene, butene, pentene, heptene, hexene, octene, nonene, decene, ethylene, a (C 1 -C 10 )alkylenoic acid, a vinyl (C 1 -C 10 )alkanoate ester, and a (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl (C 1 -C 10 )alkylenoate ester.

8. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer comprises a polymer or copolymer of at least one cyclic olefin selected from 8,9,10-trinorborn-2-ene (“norbornene”), 8,9,10-trinorborn-2-ene substituted at at least one of the 5- and 6-position independently with R 3 , 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanonaphthalene (“tetracyclododecene”), and 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanonaphthalene substituted at at least one of the 2- or 3-position with R 3 , wherein R 3 at each occurrence is independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and pentyl, wherein R 3 is branched or unbranched.

9. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one B layer comprises a copolymer of a cyclic olefin and at least one of ethylene, propene, butene, pentene, heptene, hexene, octene, nonene, decene, a (C 1 -C 10 )alkylenoic acid, a vinyl (C 1 -C 10 )alkanoate ester, and a (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl (C 1 -C 10 )alkylenoate ester.

10. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the multilayered structure is extruded using at least one of cast sheet extrusion, cast film extrusion, blown sheet extrusion, and blown film extrusion.

11. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the average pressure at failure of the multilayered structure is about 10-100 psi.

12. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the average stress at failure of the multilayered structure is about 250-3000 psi.

13. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the average % elongation of the multilayered structure at about 23° C. under wet conditions is about 300-2500%.

14. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the average max load of the multilayered structure at about 23° C. under wet conditions is about 5-70 lbf.

15. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the average max load of the multilayered structure at about 23° C. under wet conditions is about 20-30 lbf.

16. The multilayered structure of claim 1 , wherein the average 10% secant modulus of the multilayered structure at about 23° C. under wet conditions is about 5,000-150,000 psi.

17. A multilayered structure, comprising:

at least one A layer (a3) comprising at least one polyolefin;

at least one A layer (a2) comprising at least one polyolefin;

one A layer (a1) comprising at least one polyolefin;

at least one B layer (b1) comprising at least one of a cyclic olefin copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer;

at least one B layer (b2) comprising at least one of a cyclic in copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer;

at least one B layer (b3) comprising at least one of a cyclic olefin copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer;

one A layer (c1) comprising at least one polyolefin;

at least one A layer (c2) comprising at least one polyolefin; and

at least one A layer (c3) comprising at least one polyolefin;

wherein the multilayered structure is flexible and at least partially transparent, wherein layer (a3) is fully in contact with layer (a2), layer (a2) is fully in contact with layer (a1), layer (a1) is fully in contact with layer (b1), layer (b1) is fully in contact with layer (b2), layer (b2) is fully in contact with layer (b3), layer (b3) is fully in contact with layer (c1), layer (c1) is fully in contact with layer (c2), layer (c2) is fully in contact with layer (c3), and wherein the multilayered structure is free of tie layers between A layers and B layers;

wherein the cyclic olefin copolymer or polymer of B layers (b1), (b2), and (b3) is independently a copolymer or polymer of a cyclic olefin having the structure (I)

wherein

each carbon atom of structure (I) is independently unsubstituted or substituted with R 3 ;

R 1 and R 2 at each occurrence are each independently selected from H, J, (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 2 -C 10 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 10 )alkynyl, (C 1 -C 10 )haloalkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )alkoxy, (C 1 -C 10 )haloalkoxy, (C 1 -C 10 )cycloalkyl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heterocyclyl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )aryl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, and (C 1 -C 10 )heteroaryl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, or wherein R 1 and R 2 together form structure (II)

each carbon atom of structure (II) being independently unsubstituted or substituted with R 3 ;

R 3 at each occurrence is independently selected from J, (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 2 -C 10 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 10 )alkynyl, (C 1 -C 10 )haloalkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )alkoxy, (C 1 -C 10 )haloalkoxy, (C 1 -C 10 )cycloalkyl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heterocycyl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )aryl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl, and (C 1 -C 10 )heteroaryl(C 0 -C 10 )alkyl;

J at each occurrence is independently selected from F, Cl, Br, I, OR, CN, CF 3 , OCF 3 , R, O, S, C(O), S(O), methylenedioxy, ethylenedioxy, N(R) 2 , SR, S(O)R, SO 2 R, SO 2 N(R) 2 , SO 3 R, C(O)R, C(O)C(O)R, C(O)CH 2 C(O)R, C(S)R, C(O)OR, OC(O)R, OC(O)OR, C(O)N(R) 2 , OC(O)N(R) 2 , C(S)N(R) 2 , (CH 2 ) 0-2 NHC(O)R, N(R)N(R)C(O)R, N(R)N(R)C(O)OR, N(R)N(R)C(O)N(R) 2 , N(R)SO 2 R, N(R)SO 2 N(R) 2 , N(R)C(O)OR, N(R)C(O)R, N(R)C(S)R, N(R)C(O)N(R) 2 , N(R)C(S)N(R) 2 , N(C(O)R)C(O)R, N(OR)R, C(═NH)N(R) 2 , C(O)N(OR)R, and C(═NOR)R, wherein R at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )cycloalkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )aryl, (C 1 -C 10 )aralkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heterocyclyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 10 )heteroaryl, and (C 1 -C 10 )heteroaryl(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl; and

in R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 , each alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, is independently unsubstituted or substituted with 1-3 J.

18. A multilayered structure comprising:

at least one A layer (a2) comprising at least one polyolefin;

one A layer (a1) comprising at least one polyolefin;

at least one B layer (b1) comprising at least one of a cyclic olefin copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer;

one A layer (c1) comprising at least one polyolefin; and

at least one A layer (c2) comprising at least one polyolefin;

wherein the multilayered structure is flexible and at least partially transparent, layer (a2) is fully in contact with layer (a1), layer (a1) is fully in contact with layer (b1), layer (b1) is fully in contact with layer (c1), and layer (c1) is fully in contact with layer (c2), wherein the multilayered structure is free of tie layers between A layers and B layers;

wherein the multilayered structure has an average wall stress or hoop stress at failure that is higher than the average wall stress or hoop stress at failure of a corresponding multilayered structure having a poly(hexamethylene adipamide-co-caprolactam) layer in place of each of the B layers and having an anhydride-modified LLDPE tie layer in place of each of the at least one A layer (a1) and the at least one A layer (c1); and

wherein the cyclic olefin copolymer or polymer of the B layer (b1) is a copolymer or polymer of a cyclic olefin having the structure: