Degradable plastic composition containing a transition metal salt of a highly unsaturated organic acid

Claim 2

As a composition of matter, a plastic composition which is degradable in the absence of electromagnetic radiation and consisting essentially of an organic polymer having dispersed therein at least one transition-metal salt of at least one highly unsaturated organic acid.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein the transition-metal is selected from one or more of the elements 21 through 30, 39 through 48, 57 through 80, and 89 through 103 of the Periodic Table.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 1 wherein the transition-metal is selected from cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, and nickel.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 1 wherein the organic acid is an organic carboxylic acid possessing more than one carbon-carbon double bond per carboxyl group.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 1 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of linoleic acid, linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid, parinaric acid, licanic acid, arachidonic acid, stillingic acid, 2,4-pentadienoic acid, sorbic acid, diallylacetic acid, geranic acid, 9,11-octadecadienoic acid, dehydrogeranic acid, clupanodonic acid, abietic acid, and pimaric acid.

Claim 7

A process for preparing a plastic composition which is degradable in the absence of electromagnetic radiation, which process comprises dispersing into an oraganic polymer at least one transition-metal salt of a least one highly unsaturated organic acid.

Claim 8

A process for preparing a plastic composition which is degradable in the absence of electromagnetic radiation, which process comprises dispersing into an oraganic polymer at least one transition-metal salt of a least one highly unsaturated organic acid.

Claim 9

The process of claim 6 wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of tallates, linoleates, linolenates, and resinates of transition metals.

Claim 10

The process of claim 7 wherein the transition-metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, and nickel.

Claim 11

The process of claim 6 wherein there is dispersed about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight of the transition-metal salt based on the total amount of polymer plus salt.

Claim 12

The process of claim 9 wherein the organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(1-butene), poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), ethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-1-butene copolymers, ethylene-1-hexene copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers and their salts, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, poly(vinylidene chloride), polyvinyl fluoride, poly (vinylidene fluoride), polyoxymethylene, poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral, poly(methyl acrylate), poly(ethyl acrylate), poly(caprolactam), poly(hexamethyleneadipamide), poly(ethylene terephthalate), vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, styrene-isoprene copolymers, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose.

Claim 13

As an article of manufacture, a plastic body comprising an organic polymer having incorporated therein at least one transition-metal salt of at least one highly unsaturated organic acid such that the plastic material is degradable in the absence of electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 14

As an article of manufacture, a plastic body comprising an organic polymer having incorporated therein at least one transition-metal salt of at least one highly unsaturated organic acid such that the plastic material is degradable in the absence of electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 15

The article of claim 11 wherein the polymer is selected from polyethylene, the group consisting of polypropylene, poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), polystyrene, and polyvinylchloride.

Claim 16

The article of claim 12 wherein the body is a container.

Claim 17

The article of claim 12 wherein the body is a film.