Claims
- 1. A method for enhancing the rate of crystallization of a first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a copolymer of at least two randomly repeating monomer units, wherein the first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure (I):
- 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the solution blending comprises dissolving the first and second biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates in a common solvent and allowing the dissolved polymers to crystallize.
- 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the solution blending comprises dissolving the first and second biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates in a mixture of two or more common solvents and allowing the dissolved polymers to crystallize.
- 4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the crystallization is achieved by cooling the solvent containing the dissolved polymers.
- 5. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the crystallization is achieved by precipitation of the polymers in a non-solvent.
- 6. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the crystallization is achieved by evaporation of the solvent from the polymers.
- 7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the number average molecular weight of the first biodegradable polyhydroxalkanoate is greater than about 100,000 g/mole and wherein the number average molecular weight of the second biodegradable polyhydroxalkanoate is greater than about 50,000 g/mole
- 8. A method for enhancing the rate of crystallization of a first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a copolymer of at least two randomly repeating monomer units, wherein the first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure (I):
- 9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the second biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate includes a plasticizer.
- 10. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the second biodegradable polyhydoxyalkanoate includes a miscible component.
- 11. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the number average molecular weight of the first biodegradable polyhydroxalkanoate is greater than about 100,000 g/mole and wherein the number average molecular weight of the second biodegradable polyhydroxalkanoate is greater than about 50,000 g/mole.
- 12. A method for forming a shaped article from a first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a copolymer of at least two randomly repeating monomer units, wherein the first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure (I):
- 13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the shaping step comprises blow molding.
- 14. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the shaping step comprises injection molding.
- 15. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the number average molecular weight of the first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate is greater than about 100,000 g/mole and wherein the number average molecular weight of the second biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate is greater than about 50,000 g/mole.
- 16. A shaped article formed by the method of claim 12.
- 17. A shaped article according to claim 16 in the form of a fiber.
- 18. A shaped article according to claim 16 in the form of a film.
- 19. A shaped article according to claim 16 in the form of a nonwoven.
- 20. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the shaped article is crystallized at an elevated temperature in the range of from about 30° C. to about 90° C.
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This application is a continuation of International Application PCT/US01/50461, with an international filing date of Dec. 20, 2001, which claims benefit of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/257,912, filed Dec. 21, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60257912 |
Dec 2000 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/US01/50461 |
Dec 2001 |
US |
Child |
10600493 |
Jun 2003 |
US |