IP Library Granted Patent US 12,371,540
Granted Patent B2
US 12,371,540 · App. 17/360,076 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Water-soluble film and package

Inventors: Minoru Okamoto (Okayama, JP); Sayaka Shimizu (Okayama, JP); Osamu Kazeto (Okayama, JP)
Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
C08J5/18B65D65/46C11D17/042C08J2329/04
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,371,540
App. No.
17/360,076
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a water-soluble film capable of maintaining good mechanical strength even when packaging a liquid detergent and the like while maintaining excellent water solubility of the water-soluble film and a package using the same. A water-soluble film of the present invention includes a polyvinyl alcohol resin. When a crystallinity index calculated for a first surface is Fd1 and a crystallinity index calculated for a second surface opposed to the first surface is Fd2 for FT-IR measurement of respective two surfaces of the water-soluble film by ATR technique using a diamond prism, the Fd1 and the Fd2 are 0.22≤Fd1≤0.72, 0.2≤Fd2≤0.65 and Fd1/Fd2≥1.1.

Claims (39)

1. A water-soluble film comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein the water-soluble film is soluble in water,

wherein a complete dissolution time of the water-soluble film in deionized water at 10° C. is 150 seconds or less, and

when a crystallinity index calculated for a first surface is Fd1 and a crystallinity index calculated for a second surface opposed to the first surface is Fd2 for FT-IR measurement of respective two surfaces of the water-soluble film by ATR technique using a diamond prism,

the Fd1 and the Fd2 satisfy formulae below:

0.22≤ Fd 1≤0.72, 0.2≤ Fd 2≤0.65  (1)

Fd 1/ Fd 2≥1.1  (2).

2. The water-soluble film according to claim 1 , wherein, when a crystallinity index calculated for the first surface is Fg1 and a crystallinity index calculated for the second surface is Fg2 for FT-IR measurement of the respective two surfaces by the ATR technique using a germanium prism,

the Fg1 and the Fg2 satisfy a formula below:

Fg 1/ Fg 2≥1.1  (3).

3. The water-soluble film according to claim 1 , wherein, when a crystallinity index calculated is Fg1 for FT-IR measurement of the first surface by the ATR technique using a germanium prism,

the Fd1 and the Fg1 satisfy a formula below:

Fg 1/ Fd 1≥1.05  (4).

4. A package comprising: a packaging material composed of the water-soluble film according to claim 1 and a chemical encapsulated in the packaging material.

5. The package according to claim 4 , wherein the packaging material is configured to cause the first surface of the water-soluble film to contact the chemical.

6. The package according to claim 4 , wherein the chemical is a pesticide, a detergent, or a germicide.

7. The package according to claim 4 , wherein the chemical is in a liquid form.

8. The water-soluble film according to claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin has a degree of saponification of 64 to 93 mol %.

9. The water-soluble film according to claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin has a viscosity-average degree of polymerization of 500 to 8,000.

10. The water-soluble film according to claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin has a viscosity-average degree of polymerization of 200 to 300.

11. The water-soluble film according to claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin includes (i) a polymer obtained from one or more vinyl ester-based monomers, (ii) a copolymer of one or more vinyl ester-based monomers and a copolymerizable monomer, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

12. The water-soluble film according to claim 11 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin includes the copolymer and the copolymerizable monomer includes maleic acid monomethyl ester.

13. The water-soluble film according to claim 11 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin includes the copolymer and the copolymerizable monomer includes acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid sodium salt.

14. The water-soluble film according to claim 11 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin includes the copolymer, and a ratio of a number of structural unit derived from the copolymerizable monomer to a total number of structural units constituting the polyvinyl alcohol resin is 15 mol % or less.

15. The water-soluble film according to claim 11 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin includes the polymer obtained from the one or more vinyl ester-based monomers.

16. The water-soluble film according to claim 1 , further comprising a plasticizer that includes glycerin.

17. The water-soluble film according to claim 16 , comprising the plasticizer at an amount of 1 part by mass or more to 40 parts by mass or less, based on 100 parts by mass of the polyvinyl alcohol resin.

18. The water-soluble film according to claim 1 , further comprising a surfactant at an amount of 10 parts by mass or less, based on 100 parts by mass of the polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein the surfactant includes lauric acid diethanolamide.

19. A water-soluble film comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein the water-soluble film is soluble in water,

wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin has a viscosity-average degree of polymerization of 200 to 300, and

when a crystallinity index calculated for a first surface is Fd1 and a crystallinity index calculated for a second surface opposed to the first surface is Fd2 for FT-IR measurement of respective two surfaces of the water-soluble film by ATR technique using a diamond prism,

the Fd1 and the Fd2 satisfy formulae below:

0.22≤ Fd 1≤0.72, 0.2≤ Fd 2≤0.65  (1)

Fd 1/ Fd 2≥1.1  (2).

20. A water-soluble film comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein the water-soluble film is soluble in water,

wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin includes a copolymer of one or more vinyl ester-based monomers and a copolymerizable monomer, wherein the copolymerizable monomer includes maleic acid monomethyl ester or acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid sodium salt, and

when a crystallinity index calculated for a first surface is Fd1 and a crystallinity index calculated for a second surface opposed to the first surface is Fd2 for FT-IR measurement of respective two surfaces of the water-soluble film by ATR technique using a diamond prism,

the Fd1 and the Fd2 satisfy formulae below:

0.22≤ Fd 1≤0.72, 0.2≤ Fd 2≤0.65  (1)

Fd 1/ Fd 2≥1.1  (2).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021
From: OKAMOTO, MINORU; SHIMIZU, SAYAKA; KAZETO, OSAMU
To: KURARAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057816/0926 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-248292 · Dec 28, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2019051493 · Dec 27, 2019
Related Publication 20210324163A1 · Oct 21, 2021
References Cited (129)
US 4478971A · Ballard · 1984 [cited by examiner]
US 7674518B2 · Hayakawa et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8927061B2 · Hikasa et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9908957B2 · Mori et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20030114332A1 · Ramcharan · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20070087171A1 · Hikasa et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20090291282A1 · Kitamura · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20110236608A1 · Vavassori Bisutti · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20160002422A1 · Hochi et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160102279A1 · Labeque et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160194465A1 · Takafuji et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160340456A1 · Mori et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170233539A1 · Friedrich et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170259975A1 · Yonezawa et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170298155A1 · Takafuji et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170355938A1 · Lee et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180245028A1 · Ookubo et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180251613A1 · Hiura et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200063076A1 · Hiura · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210171882A1 · Tanikawa et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
CA 3001549A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 1871138A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
CN 107746467A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 0347219A1 · 1989 [cited by applicant]
EP 3348605A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3348608A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3677405A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
EP 3904035A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
EP 3904231A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
EP 3904232A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
JP H06138321A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
JP H10296820A · 1998 [cited by applicant]
JP 2000296529A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001329130A · 2001 [cited by examiner]
JP 2002020507A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002030162A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002020506A · 2002 [cited by examiner]
JP 2002241797A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002347112A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005194295A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005179390A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010155453A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014016649A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015057629A · 2015 [cited by examiner]
JP WO2015118978A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016060746A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP WO2016084836A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016150769A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016222834A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP WO2016190235A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP WO2017043505A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017078166A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017095679A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017110213A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017114931A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017115128A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017119434A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017119853A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017217866A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP WO2018230583A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019044021A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP WO2019198683A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009075202A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013146147A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014050696A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017043508A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017043514A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017043509A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019044751A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
Machine English translation of JP 2002-0301162, Isozaki et al., Jan. 2002. [cited by examiner]
Machine English translation of JP 2015-057629, Shimoda et al., Mar. 26, 2015. [cited by examiner]
Machine English translation of JP 2002-020506, Isozaki et al., Jan. 23, 2002. [cited by examiner]
Machine English translation of JP 2001-329130, Isozaki et al., Nov. 27, 2001. [cited by examiner]
Office Action issued in related Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086843.9 dated Jul. 25, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in related Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086787.9 dated Aug. 2, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562511 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,004) dated Jan. 16, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562512 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,018) dated Jan. 16, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086862.1 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,952) dated Dec. 5, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086856.6 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,960) dated Dec. 27, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086861.7 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,040) dated Dec. 7, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086834.X (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,098) dated Dec. 8, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19901491.1 dated Aug. 18, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19905634.2 dated Aug. 30, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Shiga et al., “Pulsed NMR Study of the Structure of Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Poly(sodium acrylate) Composite Hydrogel,” Journal of Polymer Science: Part B: Polymer Physics, 32: 85-90 (1994). [cited by applicant]
Takigawa et al., “Structure and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) gels swollen by various solvents,” Polymer, 33 (11): 2334-2339 (1992). [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19903285.5 dated Aug. 24, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19905828.0 dated Sep. 14, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19905635.9 dated Sep. 14, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19902016.5 dated Aug. 18, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19901493.7 dated Aug. 24, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Jang et al., “Plasticizer effect on the melting and crystallization behavior of polyvinyl alcohol,” Polymer, 44: 8139-8146 (2003). [cited by applicant]
Peppas, “Infrared spectroscopy of semicrystalline poly(vinyl alcohol) networks,” Die Makromolekulare Chemie, 178 (2): 595-601 (1977) (English abstract only). [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19903286.3 dated Aug. 24, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued in related European Patent Application No. 19905031.1 dated Sep. 1, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,040 dated Jul. 7, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Second Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086859.X dated Jul. 3, 2023, corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,991. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,098, dated Sep. 27, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,004, dated Oct. 11, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,018, dated Oct. 11, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the JP Patent Application No. 2020-562512, dated Nov. 28, 2023 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,018). [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562508 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,952) dated Oct. 4, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562509 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,960) dated Oct. 4, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562516 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,098) dated Oct. 4, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562510 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,991) dated Oct. 25, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562513 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,040) dated Nov. 22, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562515 (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,076) dated Sep. 13, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Reasons for Refusal issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562510 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,991 dated Apr. 10, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Decision of Refusal issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562511 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,004 dated Mar. 29, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086859.X corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,991 dated Mar. 3, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086844.3 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,055 dated Mar. 2, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086857.0 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,076 dated Feb. 18, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086834.X corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,098 dated Feb. 23, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 108148017 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,098 dated Jan. 19, 2023. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report issued in related International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2019/051493 dated Mar. 24, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-562512 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,018 dated Jun. 20, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086856.6 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,960 dated Jun. 21, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086787.9 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,004 dated Apr. 12, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 201980086844.3 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,055 dated Jun. 8, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,960, dated Feb. 20, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,991, dated Feb. 28, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,018, dated Mar. 26, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,004, dated Mar. 26, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,960, dated May 29, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,055, dated Apr. 11, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Written opposition on JP Application No. 2020-562508, U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,420, dispatched on Oct. 18, 2023—concise explanation in English attached (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,952). [cited by applicant]
Notice of reasons for revocation on JP Application No. 2020-562508, U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,420, dispatched on Nov. 15, 2023—concise explanation in English attached (corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,952). [cited by applicant]
Trial and Appeal Decision No. 2020-35529, issued on JP Patent No. 2543748, May 30, 2003. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the corresponding U.S. Appl. No. 17/360,055, mailed Aug. 27, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in the corresponding U.S. Appl. No. 17/359,952, mailed Sep. 27, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,552,588