MXPA97008996A - Cylinder applicator of hygienic plug and the method for its manufacture from a soft and flexible composition - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a polymeric single compound that provides a soft, flexible product. A single polymeric hygienic stopper applicator is also provided which is soft and flexible. When used as a hygienic plug applicator cylinder, the cylinder is more comfortable and has improved easy insertion. The primary composition comprises a thermoplastic resin and a block copolymer exhibiting unique properties of charge, energy and modulus of elasticity. The polymer composition should also include a plasticizer and a compatibilizer / flow modifier, and may include a fluidizer / mold release agent, an antioxidant, and even a pigment. A method is also provided for manufacturing the polymer composition that will be formed as a product, such as an applicator or an applicator cylinder in which all of the above ingredients, except the thermoplastic resin, are combined and form soft pellets. The soft resin pellets are mixed dry with the pellets of the thermoplastic resin. The mixture of the thermoplastic resin pellets and the soft resin pellets are then melted and injected for molding in a desired manner. In this way a method for manufacturing a hygienic polymeric plug applicator or a hygienic plug applicator cylinder is provided.

Description

HYGIENIC PLUG APPLICATOR CYLINDER AND THE METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE FROM A SOFT AND FLEXIBLE COMPOSITION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the invention The present invention generally relates to a soft and flexible material. Most particularly, it describes a thermoplastic composition that can be used to make a variety of products that are soft and flexible. The thermoplastic composition is preferably a combination of a polyolefin and thermoplastic elastomeric materials. In addition, the thermoplastic composition may include one or more additional thermoplastic materials. Some foreseeable uses for this composition are, for example, catamenial devices (relating to menstruation), products for the care of babies, such as bottles for babies and supports, pacifiers, toothbrushes and containers. A particular use of the composition is for a hygienic cap applicator and especially a hygienic cap applicator cylinder, which can be more comfortable and easier to insert into the vagina than the known applicator cylinders.

REF: 26272 II. Description of previous art Polyethylene is a thermoplastic ie a standard resin used to produce a number of products, including hygienic plug applicators. A smoothed applicator, especially an applicator cylinder, that is to say more comfortable, is a desirable feature of a hygienic plug applicator to provide an improved easy insertion.

It is generally known that articles of a thermoplastic elastomer can be combined with polyethylene to improve the strength and hardness of such articles. For example, US Patent No. 4,593,063 issued to M.A. Jones, et al., Which was published on June 3, 1986, provides a mixture of a reinforced rigid polymer which yields a high gloss finish when injected into the molds. The thermoplastic elastomer includes 25 to 35 percent of a thermoplastic butadiene elastomer having a molecular weight of about 700,000 to 100,000, a styrene content of about 25 to 44 weight percent and a melt flow rate of about 8 to 15 grams per 10 minutes. The thermoplastic butadiene elastomer is mixed with about 54 to 75 percent of a rigid polymer, such as polyethylene.

The polymer has also been combined with polyethylene to improve the reaction of each one when they are heated or otherwise processed. For example, US Patent No. 4,678,834 issued to DW Boivin, et al., Which was published in July 7, 1987, provides a blend of polyolefins comprising a higher proportion of polyethylene and a lower proportion of a second polymer, such as the copolymer styrene-butadiene-styrene. The second polymer contains a reactive agent that is capable of reacting with the polyolefins in a molten state. The reactive agent modifies and stabilizes the polymer during processing or during use.

The polymer can also be added to the polyethylene to allow a breakdown of the composition of its structure. Polyethylene, which is normally stable, has also been combined with less stable materials to produce biodegradable products. Such biodegradable products include ingredients that cause oxidative actions to break polyethylene. For example, US Patent NO. 5,212,219 granted to G.J.L. Griffin, which was published on May 18, 1993, provides a degradable article prepared from a mixture of polyethylene and a less stable polymer or copolymer, such as a styrene-butadiene block copolymer. The compound further comprises an active antioxidant over a limited period and a pro-oxidant which causes an acute loss of physical strength upon depletion of the antioxidant. In addition, the presence of biologically sensitive material filling particles accelerates the biological breakdown of the polymer / copolymer mixture.

Improvements for the pelletizability (balling) and the folding of the fabric (drapability) of a polymeric thermoplastic composition, without causing the composition to biodegrade, are also known. For example, US Patent NO. 4,833,195 granted to A.M. Adur, et al., Which was published May 23, 1989, provides a polymeric thermoplastic composition that can be conveniently converted into a woven film or cloth. The composition has a low edge hardness (Shore A), that is, below 95, and a high melt flow rate of about 30 grams / 10 minutes at 1100 grams / 10 minutes at 230 degrees Celsius and 2.16 kilograms . The folding of the fabric is an important property of the products that wrap and that are against the skin of the user, such as baby diapers or sanitary napkins.

However, none of the patents previously describe or suggest a hygienic plug applicator that is composed of such materials. In fact, none of the above patents suggest the inventive combination of polyethylene and the unique elastomeric composition which improves flexibility, strength and cut resistance and, perhaps, softness, and can function compatible with other thermoplastic polymer materials. Thus, the above patents do not suggest a soft, flexible, hygienic plug applicator having a unique polyethylene blend and a rubber-like thermoplastic composition that includes a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), this is a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, which provides easy insertion into the vagina.

In addition, thermoplastic resins are less expensive than elastomeric materials. To minimize the costs of hygienic tampon applicators, anyone wants the largest amount of thermoplastic resin possible in the compound, without adverse effects. Therefore, to achieve the benefits of a flexible and easy-to-insert hygienic plug applicator cylinder and thus minimize costs, it is desirable to use as little as possible of the elastomeric components and as much as possible of the thermoplastic resin component in the hygienic cap applicator cylinder.

Other projected products are, such as, for example, nursery linings or feeding bottles, the flexibility of the material to assist the child or the potatoes to hold the product and, perhaps, squeeze the product to remove the contents may be desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION ° E THE INVENTION.

Contrary to the above background, the first objective of the present invention is to provide a composition comprising a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a composition that favorably fits the modulus of elasticity of the composition.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a composition to a hygienic plug-type thermoplastic applicator in such a way that the cylinder, in particular, is soft and flexible to provide more comfort and improve easy insertion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a hygienic plug applicator with at least one styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer to achieve such desired properties.

To achieve the above objects and advantages, the present invention, a short summary, is a soft, flexible composition comprising the thermoplastic resin and at least two styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, each having a different percentage by weight of styrene in an amount sufficient to reduce the moduli of elasticity.

A preferred use of the compound is a hygienic plug applicator cylinder which is more comfortable and has an easy insertion into the vagina. The applicator cylinder of a hygienic plug comprises a thermoplastic resin and at least one thermoplastic elastomer in an amount sufficient to favorably adjust the elastic moduli of the applicator cylinder of a hygienic plug.

Very specifically, the present invention is of a soft, flexible, hygienic plug applicator that provides more comfort and easy insertion into the vagina by the combination of a low density polyethylene and at least one styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, each having a different percentage by weight of styrene.

In a preferred embodiment, there are three styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, each having a different weight percentage of styrene which are different from the other two copolymers. In particular, the first styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, has about 29 weight percent styrene, the second styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer has about 31 weight percent styrene, and the third block copolymer styrene-butadiene-styrene, it has approximately 43 weight percent styrene.

The polymeric resin will further comprise one or more of the following compounds: a plasticizer and a compatibilizer / flow modifier, and may further comprise other ingredients, such as a pigment, a fluidizer / mold release agent, an antioxidant and, perhaps, a esthetic The present invention is also a method for manufacturing a composition that can be made for a soft, flexible product. An elastomeric composition is melted and combined to form a molten resin which is then extruded into a plurality of soft resin pellets. The plurality of the soft resin pellets are then dried mixed with a plurality of polyolefin pellets, for example, low density polyethylene to form a pellet mixture. Finally, the pellet mixture is melted together to form a polymeric compound that can be molded into a desired shape. In a preferred embodiment, the method is used to make a hygienic plug applicator, especially an applicator cylinder, having a soft and flexible structure for more comfort and improved easy insertion into the vagina.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The present invention provides a novel polymeric compound or a new polymeric composition that is a combination of a polyolefin and a gum-like compound that adjusts the softness and flexibility of the polymeric compound. As stated above, what is being envisioned is that this material can be used to form a variety of products, such as, for example, baby or food bottles and stands, pacifiers, toothbrushes and containers, a preferred application is for catamenial devices. A particularly preferred application is a hygienic plug applicator, especially an applicator cylinder, composed of this novel polymer composition.

To minimize costs, it is preferable that the hygienic plug applicator has an applicator cylinder that uses the polymer composition of the present invention, while the plunger is made, perhaps, of a less expensive material. A softer applicator cylinder to provide improved easy insertion. Accordingly, the present application is directed to a hygienic stopper applicator cylinder, however it can be used for the entire hygienic stopper applicator.

The polymer composition comprises a polyolefin and a gum-like composition that adjusts the softness and flexibility of the polymeric composition and, thus, the hygienic plug applicator. For a preferred embodiment, the polyolefin is a low density polyethylene and the rubber-like compound includes a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer could include thermoplastic vulcanizers, thermoplastic olefins, styrene block copolymers, thermoplastic urethanes and a combination thereof. In the most preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer is a plurality of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers.

The primary support structure of the soft applicator cylinder is provided by the polyolefin. The preferred type of polyolefin is polyethylene, and, more preferably, low density polyethylene. The polyethylene can be a linear low density polyethylene. For the preferred embodiment, the polyolefin is about 25 to 75 weight percent of the total weight of the polymer composition.

The thermoplastic elastomers are combined with the polyolefin in sufficient quantity to adjust the elasticity of the composition.

Styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers are the preferred thermoplastic elastomers. A combination of three different types of the styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers having different styrene contents is more preferred. In the most preferred embodiment, the first styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer has 29 weight percent styrene in the copolymer block, a molecular weight of 80,000 and a melt flow rate of 8 grams per 10 minutes, the second styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer has 31 weight percent styrene, a molecular weight of 100,000 and a melt flow rate of 1 gram per 10 minutes, and the third styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer has 43 weight percent styrene, a molecular weight of 58,000 and a melt flow rate of 23 grams per 10 minutes. The melt flow rate for the three styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers is measured at 200 degrees Celsius with a load of 5.0 kg. Such styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers the first, the second and the third are commercially available as Vector Resin 8550, Vector Resin 2518, and Vector Resin 6241, respectively. These copolymers are manufactured by Dexco Polymers (a Dow / Exxon partnership of Houston, Texas).

Each of the first, second and third of the styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers is about 5.5 to 16.6 weight percent of the total weight of the polymer composition. Therefore, the weight of the block copolymers is about 16.5 to 49.80 by weight of the total weight of the polymer composition.

The combination of these three block copolymers has been found to provide the optimum desired viscosity such that the thermoplastic resin phase, that is polyethylene, and the rubber phase are compatible.

The rubber-like compound that is added to the polyolefin may also include other materials. It is preferred that plasticizers, such as mineral oil, be used to reduce viscosity and hardness. The plasticizer is about 5 to 15 weight percent of the total weight of the polymer composition. In addition, the gum-like compound may contain a filler, such as CaCO3 or talc.

It is also preferred that the polymer composition includes a compatibilizer / flow modifier, which aids in the mixing or compatibilization of the thermoplastic resin and the gum materials, and to improve the tear strength and elongation properties of the composition. Preferably, the compatibilizer / flow modifier is a copolymer. In the preferred embodiment, the copolymer is an alpha olefin copolymer, this is an ethylene copolymer. In the most preferred embodiment, the ethylene copolymer is methyl ethylene acrylate. Alternative alpha olefin copolymers which may be used are ethylene vinyl acetate, ethyl ethylene acrylate, butyl ethylene acrylate and mixtures thereof. Methyl ethylene acrylate is the most preferred from this, unlike vinyl ethylene acetate, it will not decompose under high molding temperatures, and it is less expensive than ethyl ethylene acrylate or butyl ethylene acrylate.

The flow compatibilizer / modifier is present in an amount of about 2.9 to 8.6 weight percent of the total weight of the polymer compound.

The rubber-like compound may further include additives, such as a pigment or color additive, a fluidizing / mold releasing agent, an antioxidant and / or an antistatic, which may be necessary to facilitate manufacturing or otherwise improve the quality of the product. applicator or hygienic cap cylinder.

The pigment, that is selected to provide the aesthetic effect, is preferable titanium dioxide. This is about 0.5 to 1.5 weight percent of the total weight of the polymer resin.

The fluidizer / mold releasing agent is preferably an amide of a fatty acid, such as erucamide. Alternatively, the fluidizers / mold releasing agents can be metal stearates, calcium stearate, bis ethylene stearamide and bis ethylene oleamide. A preferred embodiment for use in a hygienic plug applicator cylinder, erucamide is present in an amount about 0.8 weight percent of the total weight of the polymeric compound. While erucamide is preferred as a fluidizing releasing agent, an erucamide fluidizing agent can undergo a substantial subsequent flowering. Such flowering will result in an agglomeration of the fluidized release agent erucamide on the surface of the molded polymeric article that can cause problems of gumming and contamination in the equipment if post-molding handling of the article is required. Surprisingly, stearil erucamide has been found that avoids flowering problems. The use of higher amounts, about 3%, of stearyl erucamide is preferred. Accordingly, stearyl erucamide has been found to particularly improve the manufacturing process of the hygienic plug applicator and the hygienic plug applicator cylinder which requires significant handling after molding. When the stearil erucamide is used, a greater amount of fluidizing agent, for example above 3 weight percent of the total weight of the compound, can be used. Thus, the fluidizer / mold release agent may be present in a range close to 0.4 to about 3 weight percent of the total weight of the polymer compound.

The antioxidant provides stability to the polymeric compound. It is preferred that the antioxidant be a comtion of two oxidants. An antioxidant is tetrakis methane [methylene (3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate].) The other antioxidant is tris phosphite (2,4-di-tert-butyl phenyl) .Such antioxidants / stabilizers are manufactured under the Irganox 1010 and Irgafos 168 product names, respectively, by Ciba-Geigy Corporation Each antioxidant is about 0.05 to 0.15 weight percent of the total weight of the polymer composition.

When there is a substantial handling of the molded article, such as, for example, a hygienic plug applicator or a hygienic plug applicator cylinder, the most preferred embodiment of the present compound has the following ingredients and their approximate percentages by weight of the total compound: TABLE A Near Low Density Polyethylene; 63% About 8% First styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer having about 29 percent styrene; About 8% Second styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer having about 31 percent styrene; About 8% Third styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer having about 29 percent styrene; About 7% Mineral oil as a plasticizer; About 4% Methyl ethylene acrylate as a compatibilizer / flux modifier; About 1% Titanium oxide as pigment; Near Erucamide of stearyl as 1. 5% fluidizer / me liberating agent > lde About 1% Tetrakis methane [methylene (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate] as a stabilizer / antioxidant; and about 1% Tris phosphite (2,4-di-tert-butyl phenyl) as a stabilizer / antioxidant.

The higher styrene contents would tend to make the elastomeric material less soft and less flexible. In a preferred embodiment of the polymer composition, the amount of the third styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer is about one half of one percent less than the amount of the first or second of the styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

It should be understood that an antistatic or antistatic agent can be added to the polymer composition but is not a part of the preferred embodiment. The antistatic imparts a light to moderate degree of electrical conductivity to the plastic compounds, thus preventing the accumulation of electrostatic charges on the soft applicator. The antistatic can be incorporated into the ingredients before molding, or applied to the outer surface of the applicator or the hygienic plug cylinder before molding.

The preferred method for making the preferred polymer composition formed for the applicator or applicator cylinder is as follows. The three styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, the mineral oil, the methyl ethylene acrylate, the steryl erucamide and the antioxidant (and the pigment, if used) are weighed and then combined in a twin-screw extruder that melts and mix the ingredients and form a molten resin. The molten resin is then extruded and cut into soft resin pellets. These soft resin pellets are then mixed dry with pellets of the remaining ingredients, i. and. the low density polyethylene, to form a pellet mixture. The pellet mixture of low density polyethylene pellets and soft resin pellets are then melted and injected into the mold to form the desired shape for the applicator or soft hygienic cap applicator cylinder.

An alternative method for making the preferred polymer composition for applicator or applicator cylinder formation includes weighing all ingredients including low density polyethylene and then combining them into a twin screw extruder and cutting them into pellets which are then injected into the mold to form the desired shape of the applicator or hygienic cap applicator cylinder.

To exemplify the effectiveness of the compound comprising low density polyethylene and the styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers versus the conventional low density polyethylene based compounds, the following comparison test was conducted on the hygienic stopper applicator rolls.

An element of "softness" is flexibility. To test the flexibility, an Instron compression test was carried out to compare the differences in flexibility over the hygienic plug applicator cylinder of the preferred embodiment against the four conventional hygienic plug applicator barrels.

The Instron compression test was designed to treat the entire cylinder as a tubular specimen. A 5/8 inch wide plate is used to radially compress the applicator cylinder against a 6 inch anvil. The specimen is placed on the anvil in such a way that the platen engages the cylinder at an axial location between 1 3/8 inch and 2 3/16 inches as measured from the end finger of the applicator cylinder handle. The specimen is compressed to a total of 0.25 inches at a speed of 0.5 inches / minute.

As shown in Table B below, the Instron compression test yielded the following results.

TABLE B: Instron Compression Tests Barrier applicators for hygienic plugs having an outer diameter of about 0.67 inches +/-. 07 inches and a wall thickness of about .027 inches +/- .003 inches Application barrels of hygienic plugs having an external diameter of about 0.56 inches +/-. 06 inches and a wall thickness of about .027 inches +/- .003 inches The standard deviation of the four thermoplastic applicator cylinders of known brands is different for each applicator cylinder. Accordingly, there is a range for known thermoplastic applicators with standard deviation for the lowest values and the highest values in the range. It should be understood that the kind of material, the diameter and the thickness of the wall of the cylinders are the three factors that affect the flexibility, and that the flexibility is determined by the load, the Young's modulus or modulus of elasticity, and the energy .

Young's modulus, also known in the art as a modulus of elasticity, is a measure for flexibility. It is the ratio of a nominal effort that corresponds to the tension below the proportional limit of a material. Young's modulus is expressed in force per unit area, usually in pounds per square inch (PSI) as shown in Table B.

The largest diameter, the applicator with the preferred composition has an enal diameter of about 0.60 inches. As shown in Table B, significantly more flexibility was found than in the known thermoplastic applicators. For larger outer diameter applicator cylinders about 0.60 to 0.74 inches (0.67 inches +/-. 07 inches). The results of the loading indicate that the applicator cylinder made with the preferred polymer composition requires about 1.74 lbs. to radially compress the applicator cylinder by 0.25 inches, while for the four known thermoplastic applicator cylinders 2.22 lbs are required. to about 3.59 lbs. In addition, the Young modulus or elasticity modules for the present applicator cylinder is about 32 psi, while the thermoplastic applicators are about 60 psi to about 70 psi. Also, the energy to compress by 0.25 inches the present applicator cylinder is about 0.22 lbs-inch, while for the known applicator cylinders it was about 0.28 to 0.46 lbs-inch.

It would be expected that at smaller enal diameters of the cylinder, the higher values of the Young's modulus. Accordingly, the results of the present applicator cylinder (having an outer diameter of about 0.60 inches) for the known applicator cylinders having an enal diameter of 0.60 to 0.74 inches is even more remarkable.

For applicator cylinders with the smallest outer diameter, this is about 0.50 to about 0.62 inches (0.56 inches +/-. 06), the load results indicate that the applicator cylinder made with the preferred polymer composition (having a outer diameter of about 0.54 inches) requires about 1.96 lbs. to radially compress the applicator cylinder 0.25 inches, while the known applicator cylinders require 3.11 lbs. to about 4.85 lbs. to compress 0.25 inches. In addition, the modulus of elasticity for the present applicator cylinder is about 39 psi, while the modulus of elasticity of the known thermoplastic applicator cylinders is about 89 psi to about 143 psi. Also, the power to compress 0.25 inches the present applicator cylinder is about 0.25 lbs-inch, while such power to compress the known applicator cylinders the same amount is about 0.40 to 0.62 lbs-inch.

Then, soft or present applicators made with the preferred polymer composition of the present invention have a charge, modulus of elasticity and energy of about half of all known thermoplastic applicator cylinders. In addition, the applicator cylinders of the present invention have been found by consumers as unique, a smooth applicator cylinder due to the sense of touch of the applicator cylinders.

In addition to "softness" and "flexibility", the polymeric compound or composition of the present compound has been found to have improved strength and shear strength. The next test demonstrates the unexpected improvement in strength and cut resistance.

Samples from A to D were manufactured by combining the three block copolymers, a plasticizer, a compatibilizer / flow modifier, the mold release agents, the antioxidants / stabilizers and a pigment, and in the percentages set forth in Table C. were compared with a "comparative" sample made from a combination of a block copolymer, together with an analogous plasticizer, the mold releasing agents, the antioxidants / stabilizers and the pigment. For each sample and the comparative, the mixed compounds were made according to the preferred method set forth above. In particular, each mixed compound was passed through a twin screw extruder which melted and mixed the ingredients and extruded them to form a molten resin which is then cut into soft resin pellets. The soft resin pellets were then dry blended with low density polyethylene pellets to form a pellet mixture. The pellet mixture was then melted and injected into the mold to form articles for the ASTM test. The four samples and the comparator samples were evaluated, each of the three copolymers, as compared to one of the comparative block copolymers, showed significantly improvement in strength and tear strength properties.

In addition, the preferred compound indicated as D in Table D and also exhibited in Table A, has the best combination of softness, flexibility, strength and tear resistance of all tested compounds.

TABLE C Ingredients A B D Comp, Styrene-butadiene-styrene 10.48 8.90 11.93 8.0 29.97 (29% styrene) Styrene-butadiene-styrene 10.48 8.90 11.93 8.0 (31% styrene) Styrene-butadiene-styrene 7.20 8.32 8.22 8.0 (43% styrene) Mineral oil 7.13 8.12 8.12 7.0 1.23 Methyl ethylene acrylate (20 MI) - 4.68 - 4.0 - Stearyl ruchide - 1.83 - 1.5 .63 Irganox 1010 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 0.1 Irgafos 168 - < 01 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 Low density polyethylene 58.40 58.40 58.20 63.0 8.20 Ethylene vinyl acetate 4.80 - Titanium oxide 0.80 0.78 0.80 1.0.80 Erucamida 0.64 - 0.63 - 0.63 'Comparative TABLE D Example A B C D Comparative Elongation,% (ASTM D638) 170 246 162 227 86 Voltage force psi 820 878 862 917 753 (ASTM D638) Resistance (ASTM D624) 218 234 167 248 132 The present invention having thus been described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (66)

1. A hygienic plug applicator cylinder adapted to accept a plunger, said cylinder comprises: a thermoplastic resin; Y a thermoplastic elastomer in an amount sufficient to adjust the elasticity in this way the elastic modulus of the hygienic plug applicator cylinder is less than about 53 psi.

2. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that the modulus of elasticity is less than about 46 psi.

3. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that the hygienic plug applicator cylinder has an outer diameter of about 0.67 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.027 inches, and the modulus of elasticity is less than about 32 psi .

4. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that the hygienic plug applicator cylinder has an external diameter of about 0. 60 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.027 inches, and the modulus of elasticity is less than about 32 psi.

5. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 3, characterized in that said thermoplastic elastomer is sufficient to adjust the energy needed to compress the hygienic plug applicator cylinder by 0.025 inch to less than 0.26 lbs-inch.

6. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 4, characterized in that said thermoplastic elastomer is sufficient to adjust the energy needed to compress the hygienic plug applicator cylinder by 0.025 inches to about 0.22 lbs-inch.

7. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 3, characterized in that said thermoplastic elastomer is sufficient to adjust the supportable load of the hygienic plug applicator to less than 2.06 Ibs.

8. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder of claim 3, characterized in that the supportable load of the hygienic cap applicator is about 1.74 lbs.

9. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder, adapted to accept a plunger, characterized in that said cylinder has an outer diameter of about 0.56 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.027 inches, comprising: a thermoplastic resin; Y a thermoplastic elastomer in an amount sufficient to adjust the elasticity in this way the elastic modulus of the hygienic plug applicator cylinder is less than 79 psi.

10. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 9, characterized in that the modulus of elasticity is about 39 psi.

11. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 9, characterized in that said thermoplastic elastomer is sufficient to adjust the energy needed to compress the hygienic plug applicator cylinder by 0.025 inch to less than 0.36 lbs-inch.

12. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 11, characterized in that the energy needed to compress the hygienic plug applicator cylinder by 0.025 inches is about 0.25 lbs-inch.

13. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 9, characterized in that said thermoplastic elastomer is sufficient to adjust the supportable load of the hygienic plug applicator cylinder to less than 2.83 lbs.

14. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 13, characterized in that said thermoplastic elastomer is sufficient to adjust the supporting load of the hygienic plug applicator cylinder to about 1.96 lbs.

15. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that the thermoplastic resin is a polyolefin.

16. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 15, characterized in that the polyolefin is a low density polyethylene.

17. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that said thermoplastic elastomer is a block copolymer, and wherein said copolymer is a block copolymer is styrene-butadiene-styrene.

18. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 17, characterized in that said block copolymer is a plurality of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers.

19. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 18, characterized in that said plurality of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers includes three styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, each having a different percent in styrene composition.

20. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a flow modifier.

21. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 20, characterized in that said flow modifier is an ethylene copolymer.

22. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 21, characterized in that said ethylene copolymer is methyl ethylene acrylate.

23. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plasticizer.

24. The hygienic stopper applicator cylinder of claim 23, characterized in that said plasticizer is a mineral oil.

25. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a fluidizer / mold release agent.

26. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 25, characterized in that said fluidizer / mold releasing agent is erucamide of stearyl.

27. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an antioxidant.

28. The hygienic stopper applicator cylinder of claim 27, characterized in that said antioxidant is at least two antioxidants.

29. The hygienic stopper applicator cylinder of claim 28, characterized in that at least the two antioxidants are tetrakis methane [methylene (3, 5-de-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)] and tris phosphite (2,4-di-tert-butyl) phenol).

30. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder of claim 19, characterized in that it comprises: an ethylene copolymer; Y a mineral oil

31. The hygienic stopper applicator cylinder of claim 30, characterized in that it comprises stearyl erucamide.

32. The hygienic stopper applicator cylinder of claim 31, characterized in that it comprises an antioxidant.

33. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder adapted to accept a plunger, characterized in that the applicator cylinder has a soft and flexible body for comfort and easy insertion into the vagina comprising: a low density polyethylene; at least three styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, each styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer having different percentages by weight of styrene than the other two block copolymers; a compatibilizer / flow modifier; a plasticizer.

34. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder of claim 33, characterized in that it comprises an antioxidant.

35. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 33, characterized in that it comprises a fluidizer / mold release agent.

36. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 33, characterized in that the first of the three block copolymers has about 29 weight percent styrene.

37. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 36, characterized in that the second of the three block copolymers has about 31 weight percent styrene.

38. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 37, characterized in that the third of the three block copolymers has about 43 weight percent styrene.

39. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 33, characterized in that the low density polyethylene is about 25 to about 75 weight percent of the total weight of the hygienic plug applicator cylinder.

40. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 33, characterized in that each of the styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers is present in an amount of about 5.5 to about 16.6 weight percent of the total weight of the hygienic plug applicator cylinder .

41. The hygienic plug applicator cylinder of claim 33, characterized in that the compatibilizer / flow modifier is a copolymer of ethylene, and wherein the plasticizer is a mineral oil.

42. The hygienic stopper applicator cylinder of claim 34, characterized in that the antioxidant is at least two antioxidants, and wherein at least two of the antioxidants are tetrakis methane [methylene (3,5-de-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)] and tris phosphite (2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol).

43. The hygienic cap applicator cylinder, adapted to accept a plunger, said applicator cylinder has a soft and flexible body for comfort and easy insertion into the vagina comprising: a low density polyethylene; at least three block copolymers, each styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer having different percentages by weight of styrene than the other two block copolymers; an alpha olefin compatibilizer / flow modifier; a plasticizer; a plurality of antioxidants; Y a fluidizer / mold release agent.

44. The hygienic plug applicator of claim 43, characterized in that it comprises a pigment.

45. A method for making a hygienic cap applicator cylinder characterized in that it has a soft and flexible support structure comprising the following steps: combining an elastomeric composition, including the molten elastomeric composition, to form a molten resin; extruding the molten resin into a plurality of soft pellets; dry blending a plurality of soft pellets with a plurality of low density polyethylene pellets to form a pellet mixture; melting the pellet mixture together to form an elastomeric composition; Y molding the polymeric compound to a desired shape for the hygienic plug applicator cylinder.

46. The method of claim 45, characterized in that the elastomeric composition includes a plurality of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, and wherein the step of combining the plurality of block copolymers includes the combination of the plurality of block copolymers with a plasticizer, a compatibilizer / flow modifier, a fluidizer / mold release agent, and an antioxidant.

47. The method of claim 46, characterized in that the combining step includes the step of said plurality of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, the plasticizer, the compatibilizer / flow modifier, the fluidizer / mold release agent, and the Antioxidant in a twin screw extruder before the block copolymers are combined in such a way that the plurality of the block copolymers is combined and melted in the twin screw extruder.

48. The method of claim 46, characterized in that the step of combining the polyethylene with the elastomeric composition prior to the extrusion step.

49. A polymeric, soft and flexible composition characterized in that it comprises: a polyolefin; Y at least two of the styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, each having a different weight percentage of styrene than the other, in an amount sufficient to adjust the elasticity of the compound.

50. The composition of claim 49, characterized in that at least two of the styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers of three of the styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, each have a styrene percentage different from styrene.

51. The composition of claim 50, characterized in that the first of at least three of the block copolymers has about 29 weight percent styrene.

52. The composition of claim 50, characterized in that the second of at least three of the block copolymers has about 31 weight percent styrene.

53. The composition of claim 50, characterized in that the third of at least three of the block copolymers has about 43 weight percent styrene.

54. The composition of claim 50, characterized in that each of the three copolymers is present in an amount of about 5.5 to about 16.6 weight percent of the total weight of the compound.

55. The composition of claim 49, characterized in that the polyolefin is a low density polyethylene.

56. The composition of claim 55, characterized in that the low density polyethylene is about 25 to about 75 weight percent of the total weight of the compound.

57. The composition of claim 49, characterized in that it comprises a flow modifier.

58. The composition of claim 57, characterized in that said flow modifier is an ethylene copolymer.

59. The composition of claim 58, characterized in that said ethylene copolymer is methyl ethylene acrylate.

60. The composition of claim 49, characterized in that it comprises a plasticizer.

61. The composition of claim 60, characterized in that the plasticizer is a mineral oil.

62. The composition of claim 60, characterized in that the plasticizer is about 5 to about 15 weight percent of the total weight of the composition.

63. The composition of claim 49, characterized in that it comprises a fluidizer / mold release agent.

64. The composition of claim 63, characterized in that the fluidizer / mold releasing agent is erucamide of stearyl.

65. The composition of claim 49, characterized in that it comprises an antioxidant.

66. The composition of claim 65, characterized in that the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of tetrakis methane [methylene (3,5-de-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)] and tris phosphite (2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol) . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A composition comprising a unique polymeric compound that provides a soft, flexible product is provided. A single polymeric hygienic stopper applicator is also provided which is soft and flexible. When used as a hygienic plug applicator cylinder, the cylinder is more comfortable and has improved easy insertion. The primary composition comprises a thermoplastic resin and a block copolymer which exhibits unique properties of charge, energy and modulus of elasticity. The polymer composition should also include a plasticizer and a compatibilizer / flow modifier, and may include a fluidizer / mold release agent, an antioxidant, and even a pigment. A method is also provided for making the polymer composition that will be formed as a product, such as an applicator or an applicator cylinder in which all of the above ingredients, except the thermoplastic resin, are combined and form soft pellets. The soft resin pellets are mixed dry with the pellets of the thermoplastic resin. The mixture of the thermoplastic resin pellets and the soft resin pellets are then melted and injected for molding in a desired manner. In this way a method is provided for manufacturing a hygienic polymeric plug applicator or a hygienic plug applicator cylinder.