Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110065573 | POLYLACTIC ACID FIBERS - A biodegradable fiber that is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains polylactic acid, a plasticizer, and a compatibilizer is provided. The compatibilizer includes a polymer that is modified with a polar compound that is compatible with the plasticizer and a non-polar component provided by the polymer backbone that is compatible with polylactic acid. Such functionalized polymers may thus stabilize each of the polymer phases and reduce plasticizer migration. By reducing the plasticizer migration, the composition may remain ductile and soft. Further, addition of the functionalized polymer may also promote improved bonding and initiate crystallization faster than conventional polylactic acid fibers. The polar compound includes an organic acid, an anhydride of an organic acid, an amide of an organic acid, or a combination thereof. Such compounds are believed to be more compatible with the generally acidic nature of the polylactic acid fibers. | 03-17-2011 |
20120040185 | Toughened Polylactic Acid Fibers - Polylactic acid fibers formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains polylactic acid and a polymeric toughening additive are provided. The present inventors have discovered that the specific nature of the components and process by which they are blended may be carefully controlled to achieve a composition having desirable morphological features. More particularly, the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous phase of the polylactic acid. These domains have a particular size, shape, and distribution such that upon fiber drawing, they absorb energy and become elongated. This allows the resulting composition to exhibit a more pliable and softer behavior than the otherwise rigid polylactic acid. Through selective control over the components and method employed, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting fibers may thus exhibit good mechanical properties, both during and after melt spinning. | 02-16-2012 |
20120040582 | Modified Polylactic Acid Fibers - A method for forming biodegradable fibers is provided. The method includes blending polylactic acid with a polyepoxide modifier to form a thermoplastic composition, extruding the thermoplastic composition through a die, and thereafter passing the extruded composition through a die to form a fiber. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the polyepoxide modifier reacts with the polylactic acid and results in branching of its polymer backbone, thereby improving its melt strength and stability during fiber spinning without significantly reducing glass transition temperature. The reaction-induced branching can also increase molecular weight, which may lead to improved fiber ductility and the ability to better dissipate energy when subjected to an elongation force. To minimize premature reaction, the polylactic acid and polyepoxide modifier are first blended together at a relatively low temperature(s). Nevertheless, a relatively high shear rate may be employed during blending to induce chain scission of the polylactic acid backbone, thereby making more hydroxyl and/or carboxyl groups available for subsequent reaction with the polyepoxide modifier. Once blended, the temperature(s) employed during extrusion of the blended composition can be selected to both melt the composition and initiate a reaction of the polyepoxide modifier with hydroxyl and/or carboxyl groups of the polylactic acid. Through selective control over this method, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting fibers may exhibit good mechanical properties, both during and after melt spinning. | 02-16-2012 |
20120164905 | Modified Polylactic Acid Fibers - A multi-component fiber that includes a core component surrounded by a distinct sheath component is provided. The core component is formed primarily from polylactic acid and the sheath component is formed primarily from a polymeric toughening additive. | 06-28-2012 |
20120165187 | Oil Absorbing Material and Processes of Recycling Absorbent Articles to Produce the Same - An oil absorbing material is generally provided. The oil absorbing material can includes sorbent particles having an average aspect ratio of about 5 to about 500 and a mean average particle diameter of about 10 μm to about 1 millimeter. The oil absorbing material comprises polypropylene, polyethylene, inorganic filler particles, and absorbent core material. In one embodiment, the sorbent particles can have an average specific surface area of about 0.25 to about 5.0 m | 06-28-2012 |
20120289658 | Polylactic Acid Fibers - A biodegradable fiber that is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains polylactic acid, a plasticizer, and a compatibilizer is provided. The compatibilizer includes a polymer that is modified with a polar compound that is compatible with the plasticizer and a non-polar component provided by the polymer backbone that is compatible with polylactic acid. Such functionalized polymers may thus stabilize each of the polymer phases and reduce plasticizer migration. By reducing the plasticizer migration, the composition may remain ductile and soft. Further, addition of the functionalized polymer may also promote improved bonding and initiate crystallization faster than conventional polylactic acid fibers. The polar compound includes an organic acid, an anhydride of an organic acid, an amide of an organic acid, or a combination thereof. Such compounds are believed to be more compatible with the generally acidic nature of the polylactic acid fibers. | 11-15-2012 |
20130099160 | Materials from Post-Industrial Absorbent Product Waste - The present invention relates to plastic composites that have been manufactured from post-industrial absorbent waste material. The waste material is transformed into densified particles that comprises from about 0% to about 65% of an absorbent core material, about 20% to about 45% of thermoplastic polymer, about 0% to about 10% inorganic filler particles, about 0% to about 10% elastics, and about 0% to about 10% adhesives. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a plastic composite by extruding or injection molding densified particles that have been formed from the post-industrial absorbent waste material. | 04-25-2013 |
20130209770 | Renewable Polyester Film having a Low Modulus and High Tensile Elongation - A film that is formed from a thermoplastic composition is provided. The thermoplastic composition contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase tensile elongation. To even further increase the ability of the film to dissipate energy in this manner, the present inventors have discovered that an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus reduces the stiffness (tensile modulus) of the film. | 08-15-2013 |
20130210308 | Renewable Polyester Fibers having a Low Density - Fibers that are formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and has a voided structure and low density are provided. To achieve such a structure, the renewable polyester is blended with a polymeric toughening additive in which the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. Fibers are thereafter formed and then stretched or drawn at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the polyester (i.e., “cold drawn”). | 08-15-2013 |
20130210621 | Breathable Film Formed from a Renewable Polyester - A breathable film formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and has a voided structure is provided. To achieve such a structure, a thermoplastic composition that contains a renewable polyester and polymeric toughening additive is extruded onto a surface to form a precursor film in which the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. The precursor film is thereafter stretched or drawn at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the polyester (i.e., “cold drawn”). Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the deformation force and elongational strain of the drawing process causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This creates a network of voids located adjacent to the discrete domains. | 08-15-2013 |
20130210949 | Renewable Polyester Compositions having a Low Density - A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and has a voided structure and low density is provided. To achieve such a structure, the renewable polyester is blended with a polymeric toughening additive to form a precursor material in which the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. The precursor material is thereafter stretched or drawn at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the polyester (i.e., “cold drawn”). This creates a network of voids located adjacent to the discrete domains, which as a result of their proximal location, can form a bridge between the boundaries of the voids and act as internal structural “hinges” that help stabilize the network and increase its ability to dissipate energy. The present inventors have also discovered that the voids can be distributed in a substantially homogeneous fashion throughout the composition. | 08-15-2013 |
20130210983 | Rigid Renewable Polyester Compositions having a High Impact Strength and Tensile Elongation - A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive is provided. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in the deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase impact strength. To even further increase the ability of the composition to dissipate energy in this manner, an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus enhances the degree and uniformity of debonding. | 08-15-2013 |
20140170922 | Low Density Fibers and Methods for Forming Same - Fibers that are formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a polymer and high surface area nanostructures are provided. The fibers have a voided structure and low density while maintaining good strength characteristics. To achieve such a structure, a blowing agent in the thermoplastic composition is activated during extrusion to form bubbles in the fibers. The high surface area nanostructures in the formed fibers can be formed of or carry the blowing agent and can enhance the strength of the fibers and compensate for the non-load bearing voids of the fibers. | 06-19-2014 |
20150044929 | Modified Polylactic Acid Fibers - A method for forming biodegradable fibers is provided. The method includes blending polylactic acid with a polyepoxide modifier to form a thermoplastic composition, extruding the thermoplastic composition through a die, and thereafter passing the extruded composition through a die to form a fiber. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the polyepoxide modifier reacts with the polylactic acid and results in branching of its polymer backbone, thereby improving its melt strength and stability during fiber spinning without significantly reducing glass transition temperature. The reaction-induced branching can also increase molecular weight, which may lead to improved fiber ductility and the ability to better dissipate energy when subjected to an elongation force. Through selective control over this method, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting fibers may exhibit good mechanical properties, both during and after melt spinning. | 02-12-2015 |