Blends of biopolymers with acrylic copolymers

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20070179218
  • Publication Number
    20070179218
  • Date Filed
    December 14, 2006
    18 years ago
  • Date Published
    August 02, 2007
    17 years ago
Abstract
The invention relates to a blend of one or more biopolymers with one or more acrylic copolymers, for the purpose of improving the properties of the biopolymer(s). The biopolymer composition comprises 30-99.9 weight percent of biopolymer(s) and 0.1 to 15 weight percent of one or more acrylic copolymers.
Description
Claims
  • 1. A biopolymer composition comprising: a) 85 to 99.9 weight percent of one or more biopolymers; andb) 0.1 to 15 weight percent of one or more acrylic copolymers.
  • 2. The biopolymer of claim 1, wherein said biopolymer composition comprises from 30-99.9 weight percent of polylactide, polyhydroxy butyrate, or a mixture thereof.
  • 3. The biopolymer composition of claim 1 further comprising a low level of up to 10 weight percent of impact modifier, based on the weight of the biopolymer.
  • 4. The biopolymer composition of claim 3, wherein said impact modifier comprises at least two different types of impact modifiers.
  • 4. The biopolymer composition of claim 1 wherein said biopolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from 10,000-3,000,000 g/mol.
  • 5. The biopolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the acrylic copolymer is a blend of two or more copolymers.
  • 6. The biopolymer composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is clear.
  • 7. The biopolymer composition of claim 1, wherein said biopolymer composition comprises from 0 to 69.9 weight percent one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of starch, cellulose, polysaccharides, aliphatic or aromatic polyesters, polyamide 11, and polycaprolactam.
  • 8. A process for improving the properties of a biopolymer or biopolymer blend comprising admixing 0.1 to 15 weight percent of one or more acrylic copolymers with 85 to 99.9 weight percent of said biopolymer or biopolymer blend to form a biopolymer composition.
  • 9. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is the facilitating release of said biopolymer composition from metals (e.g., chrome) at temperatures between 50-250° C. and processing times between 0.1-60 minutes.
  • 10. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the melt strength is increased by greater than 10%.
  • 11. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the strain at break in tensile and/or flexural stress is increased by >10%.
  • 12. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the impact resistance is increased by >10% compared to unmodified biodegradable polymer.
  • 13. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the draw-down ratio of the material is increased by >10%.
  • 14. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the processing viscosity (1 to 10000 sec-1 shear rate) of the resin is decreased by >10% yielding reduced torque, which can also be measured as melt flow rate increase by >10%.
  • 15. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the processing viscosity (1 to 10000 sec-1 shear rate) of the resin is increased by >10% yielding improved melt strength, which is also measured as melt flow rate decrease by >10%.
  • 16. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the molded color of the resin is improved of defects such as gate blush and tiger stripes.
  • 17. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is a combination of metal release and higher melt strength.
  • 18. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is a gloss increase of greater than 10%.
  • 19. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is a gloss decrease of greater than 10%.
  • 20. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is a modulus increase of greater than 10%.
  • 21. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the modulus is decreased by >10%.
  • 22. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the heat distortion temperature is increased by >10%, which also means the serviceable temperature is increased by >10%.
  • 23. The process of claim 8, wherein said improved property is that the thermal and hydrolytic stability is increased.
  • 24. An formed article comprising the biopolymer composition of claim 1.
Provisional Applications (2)
Number Date Country
60762657 Jan 2006 US
60841644 Aug 2006 US