New polymer composition

Claim 2

A polymer composition as obtained from a melt comprising at least one water-containing destructurized hydrophilic polymer and at least one synthetic essentially water-insoluble thermoplastic polymer.

Claim 3

A polymer composition according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of animal gelatin, vegetable gelatins resp. proteins; acrylated proteins; water-soluble polysaccharides; alkylcelluloses, hydroxyalkylcelluloses and hydroxyalkylalkylcelluloses, carboxyalkylcellulose esters, water-soluble synthetic polymers, phthalated gelatin, gelatin succinate, crosslinked gelatin, shellac, cationically modified acrylates and methacrylates possessing, a tertiary or quaternary amino group.

Claim 4

A polymer composition according to the claims 1 or 2, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefines, vinylpolymers, polyacrylonitriles, polycarbazols, essentially water-insoluble poly(acrylic acid) esters or poly(methacrylic acid) esters; polyacetals, polycondensates, polycarbonates, poly(alkylene terephthalates); polyarylethers; thermoplastic polyimides; poly(hydroxy butyrate), high molar-mass, essentially water-insoluble poly(alkylene oxides).

Claim 5

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the groups consisting of polyethylene, polyisobutylenes, polypropylenes; poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl acetates), polystyrenes; polyamides, thermoplastic polyesters, polymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and their copolymers; essentially water-insoluble thermoplastic copolymers preferably ethylene/vinyl acetate-copolymers, ethylene/vinyl alcohol-copolymers, ethylene/acrylic acid-copolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate-copolymers, ethylene/methyl acrylate-copolymers, ABS - copolymers, styrene/acrylonitrile-copolymers and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a set processing temperature preferably within thr range of 95°C to 210°C, preferably within the range of 95°C to 190°C.

Claim 7

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the thermoplastic essentially water-insoluble polymer contains polar groups preferably ether-, acid or ester groups.

Claim 8

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the ratio of hydrophilic polymer to synthetic polymer is 0.1:99 to 99.9:0.1 preferably that the hydrophilic polymer is present in an amount of at least 20%, more preferably 50% and most preferably in the range of 70% to 99% by weight of the entire composition.

Claim 9

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the hydrophilic polymer/water component has a water content in the range of about 10 to 20% by weight, preferably 12 to 19% and especially 14 to 18% by weight, calculated to the weight of the hydrophilic polymer/water component.

Claim 10

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the melt has been formed at a set temperature of about 80°C to about 190°C and a pressure at least equal to the vapour pressure of water at the used temperature.

Claim 11

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the polymer composition further contains fillers, lubricants, plasticizers and/or coloring agents.

Claim 12

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the inorganic filler or a mixture of such fillers is present in an amount of about 0.02 to 3 % by weight based on the weight of all components.

Claim 13

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the lubricant or a mixture of such lubricants is present in concentrations of about 0.1 to 3 % based upon the weight of the total composition.

Claim 14

A polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 12, wherein the plasticizer or a mixture of such plasticizers is present in an amount of about 0.5 to 15 %, preferably 0.5 to 5 % by weight of all components.

Claim 15

A composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 13, wherein a coloring agent or a mixture of such coloring agents is present in concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 10 %, preferably 0.5 to 3 %, based on the weight of all the components.

Claim 16

A composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the sum of the plasticizer and water does not exceed 20 %, and preferably does not exceed 18 %, based on the weight of all the components.

Claim 17

A composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the polymer compostion contains at least one active ingredient preferably selected from pharmaceuticals and/or agriculturally active compounds.

Claim 18

A composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 16 in the form of a melt.

Claim 19

A composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 16 in the form of a solid shaped article.

Claim 21

A solid article as obtained from a melt produced according to claim 19.

Claim 22

The use of the polymer compositions as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 18 as carrier material for active ingredients, preferably as carrier materials for pharmaceuticals, and/or agriculturally active substances.

Claim 23

The process of shaping a polymer composition according to anyone of the claims 1 to 17, under controlled water content and pressure conditions as a thermoplastic melt wherein said shaping process is at least one member selected from the class consisting of injection molding, blow molding, extrusion and coextrusion, compression molding or vacuum forming.

Claim 24

The composition of claim 18, wherein said articles have been shaped as bottles, sheets, films, packaging materials, pipes, rods, laminates, sacks, bags or pharmaceutical capsules, granules or powders.

Claim 25

The use of an essentially water-insoluble thermoplastic polymer as a thermoplastic component in the thermoplastic processing of a water-containing hydrophilic polymer.

Claim 26

The use of an essentially water-insoluble thermoplastic polymer as a thermoplastic component in the thermoplastic processing of a water-containing hydrophilic polymer.