Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an oxygen scavenging resin comprising: a) reacting an aromatic diacid or its diester, and an ionic diacid or its diester, with a diol and a metal compound to produce an ionic copolyester, b) cooling, cutting and drying the ionic copolyester into solid pellets, and c) mixing the dried ionic copolyester with a dried oxidizable polymer, provided that the oxidizable polymer is not a partially aromatic polyamide. Also disclosed is i) a composition made by the above method wherein the composition comprises an ionic copolyester, containing a metal compound, and an oxidizable polymer, provided that the oxidizable polymer is not a partially aromatic polyamide; and ii) the method of making articles from this composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic polymer composition with enhanced gas barrier properties comprising a thermoplastic polymer, an antiplasticizer and a chain extender. Suitable antiplasticizers and suitable chain extenders are disclosed herein. Other embodiments of the present invention include a method to produce such a thermoplastic composition, an article comprising such a thermoplastic composition, and a method for making such an article.