| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090054548 | BIODEGRADABLE WATER-SENSITIVE FILMS - A film that is biodegradable and water-sensitive (e.g., water-soluble, water-dispersible, etc.) in that it loses its integrity over time in the presence of water is provided. The film contains a biodegradable polyester, starch, water-soluble polymer, and plasticizer. The desired water-sensitive attributes of film may be achieved in the present invention by selectively controlling a variety of aspects of the film construction, such as the nature of the components employed, the relative amount of each component, the manner in which the film is formed, and so forth. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090157020 | Film Formed from a Blend of Biodegradable Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters - A film that is formed from a biodegradable polymer blend of different aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters is provided. More specifically, the blend contains a first copolyester formed from a terephthalic acid monomer. The use of a terephthalic acid monomer results in a polymer chain containing 1,4-(para-) terephthalate units linked in a generally linear configuration (e.g., ˜180°). The blend also contains a second aliphatic-aromatic copolyester formed from a phthalic acid and/or isophthalic acid monomer. The use of such a monomer results in a polymer chain containing 1,2-(ortho-) and/or 1,3-(meta-) linked units. The inclusion of 1,2-(ortho-) and/or 1,3-(meta-) linked units into the polymer backbone of the second copolyester introduces an angle or “kink” (e.g., ˜120° kink for a 1,3-linkage) into the otherwise linear polymer chain. The “kinks” in the second copolyester backbone reduce its melting point and degree of crystallinity, which have an influence on its physical properties (e.g., toughness, tensile strength, and crystallization rate). Thus, the physical properties of the second copolyester may differ substantially from those of the first copolyester. In this regard, the “kinked” second copolyester can provide flexibility for forming films with a wide range of properties that is superior to that which may be achieved using either of copolyesters alone. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090247036 | Thermoplastic Starch for Use in Melt-Extruded Substrates - A melt-extruded substrate (e.g., film, nonwoven web, etc.) that contains a thermoplastic starch formed from a starch and plasticizer is provided. The starch and plasticizer are melt blended together in the presence of a weak organic acid (e.g., lactic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, etc.). By selectively controlling certain parameters of the melt blending process (e.g., extrusion temperature, content of the components, etc.), the present inventors have discovered that the starch may be hydrolyzed in a highly efficient manner to form compositions having a comparably lower weight average molecular weight, polydispersity index, and viscosity, which are particularly suitable for use in the formation of melt-extruded substrates. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090286031 | Water-Sensitive Film Containing Thermoplastic Polyurethane - A film that contains a thermoplastic polyurethane and water-soluble polymer is provided. The film is both elastic and water-sensitive (e.g., water-soluble, water-dispersible, etc.) in that it loses its integrity over time in the presence of water. The dual attributes of elasticity and water-sensitivity may be achieved by reducing the tendency of the thermoplastic polyurethane and water-soluble polymer to form separate phases. Namely, phase separation may cause the elastomer to act as a barrier and limit the ability of the water-soluble polymer to contact water and thereby disperse. To minimize such phase separation, a variety of aspects of the film construction may be selectively controlled, such as the nature of the thermoplastic polyurethane and water-soluble polymer, the relative amount of each component, and so forth. For example, thermoplastic polyurethanes are polar in nature and thus may be generally compatible with water-soluble polymers (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol), which are also polar in nature. Further, water-soluble polymers having a relatively low molecular weight and viscosity typically possess better melt compatibility with polar thermoplastic polyurethanes. By carefully controlling the nature of the polymers used to form the film, the present inventors have discovered that a film may be formed that is generally free of distinct phases. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090286906 | Water-Sensitive Film Containing an Olefinic Elastomer - A film that is both elastic and water-sensitive (e.g., water-soluble, water-dispersible, etc.) in that it loses its integrity over time in the presence of water is provided. To achieve these dual attributes, the film contains an olefinic elastomer and a water-soluble polymer. Although these polymers are normally chemically incompatible due to their different polarities, the present inventors have discovered that phase separation may be minimized by selectively controlling certain aspects of the film, such as the nature of the polyolefin, water-soluble polymer, and other film components, the relative amount of the film components, and so forth. For example, certain water-soluble polymers may be selected that have a low molecular weight and viscosity to enhance their melt compatibility with nonpolar polyolefins. This, in turn, may result in a film that is generally free of separate phases, which would otherwise limit the ability of the water-soluble polymer to contact water and disperse. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090305592 | Fibers Formed from a Blend of a Modified Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyester and Thermoplastic Starch - A fiber formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a thermoplastic starch and an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester is provided. The copolyester enhances the strength of the starch-containing fibers and also facilitates the ability of the starch to be melt processed. Due to its relatively low melting point, the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester may also be extruded with the thermoplastic starch at a temperature that is low enough to avoid substantial removal of the moisture found in the starch. Furthermore, the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester is also modified with an alcohol so that it contains one or more hydroxyalkyl or alkyl terminal groups. By selectively controlling the conditions of the alcoholysis reaction (e.g., alcohol and copolymer concentrations, temperature, etc.), the resulting modified aliphatic-aromatic copolyester may have a molecular weight that is relatively low. Such low molecular weight polymers have the combination of a higher melt flow index and lower apparent viscosity, which is useful in a wide variety of fiber forming applications, such as in the meltblowing of nonwoven webs. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100159170 | Injection Molding Material Containing Starch and Plant Protein - An injection molding material that includes a renewable resin containing a combination of renewable polymers (e.g., starch and plant protein) and a plasticizer is provided. Although such compounds are normally difficult to process into thermoplastics, the present inventors have discovered that injection molding materials may nevertheless be formed by melt blending the renewable resin with a synthetic resin (e.g., polyolefin) while selectively controlling the nature of the resins and their relative concentrations. In this manner, a morphology may be achieved in which the renewable resin is present as a discontinuous phase that is dispersed within a continuous phase of the synthetic resin (e.g., “island-in-the-sea” morphology). The discontinuous and continuous phases may each constitute from about 30 vol. % to about 70 vol. %, and in some embodiments, from about 40 vol. % to about 60 vol. %. With such a morphology, the continuity of the synthetic resin can minimize the aggregate properties of the renewable resin such that the molding material possesses melt properties similar to that of the synthetic resin. Further, this morphology may also minimize the need to use different molding tools as the shrinkage properties of the overall composition may be substantially similar to that of the synthetic resin. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100159203 | Biodegradable and Renewable Film - A biodegradable and renewable film that may be employed in a wide variety of applications is provided. The film is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains at least one starch and at least one plant protein. Even at a high renewable material content, the present inventors have discovered that films may be readily formed from plant proteins and starches by selectively controlling the individual amount of the starch and plant proteins, the nature of the starch and plant proteins, and other components used in the film. Balancing the amount of starches and plant proteins within a certain range, for instance, can reduce the likelihood of plant protein aggregation and enhance the ability of the composition to be melt processed. The composition also contains at least one plasticizer that improves the thermoplastic nature of the protein and starch components. The selection of the plasticizer may also help reduce the tendency of the plant protein to aggregate during melt processing. For example, a relatively acidic plasticizer (e.g., carboxylic acid) may be employed in certain embodiments to minimize the formation of disulfide bonds in a gluten protein, and thereby decrease its tendency to aggregate. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100159777 | Thermoplastic Starch Formed from an Enzymatically Debranched Starch - A thermoplastic starch for use in a melt-processed composition (e.g., fiber, nonwoven web, etc.) is provided. The thermoplastic starch contains an enzymatically debranched starch and a plasticizer. By selectively controlling certain parameters of the enzymatic modification process (e.g., temperature, enzyme and starch concentrations, reaction time, isolation method, etc.), the present inventors have discovered that a native starch may be hydrolyzed in a highly efficient manner to form compositions having a comparably lower weight average molecular weight and viscosity, which are particularly suitable for use in the formation of thermoplastic starches for use in melt processing applications. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100272940 | ALGAE-BLENDED COMPOSITIONS FOR THERMOPLASTIC ARTICLES - A thermoplastic material composition containing certain biodegradable and renewable components is described. The thermoplastic composition that includes a least one kind of algae or a blend of at least one kind of algae and a plant polymer a blend of algae and/or plant-based polymers, such as proteins and starches, as relatively low cost feedstock. The algae or blend may be plasticized. Additionally, a method adapted for large scale fabrication of fibers, films, or extruded articles is also described. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20110152815 | Biodegradable And Breathable Film - Breathable and biodegradable polymeric film materials of the invention are highly suitable for use in personal care absorbent articles and other articles. The film includes a biodegradable polymer resin, a thermoplastic starch, a filler and optionally, a protein. The breathable film has a renewable natural polymer component. | 06-23-2011 |
