US4067836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Environmentally degradable compositions exposed to actinic or ionizing radiation and process
Assignee: Union Carbide Corp
•
Filing: 1975-08-20
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Granted: 1978-01-10
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Expires: 1995-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An environmentally degradable polymer based composition which has been exposed to actinic or ionizing radiation and which comprises an ethylene polymer base resin, and a synergistic combination of an auto-oxidative polymer or low molecular weight organic compound, certain polyvalent metal salts, and an antioxidant additive for the ethylene polymer; and a process for making such composition.
Inventors
- 👤 James Edward Potts
- 👤 Stephen Watson Cornell
- 👤 Albert Martin Sracic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:30
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08K; C08K5/00; C08K5/0008; C08K5/0033; C08K3/00; C08K3/10; C08K3/11; C08K5/04; C08K5/09; C08K5/098; C08L; C08L23/00; C08L23/02; C08L23/04; C08L23/06; C08L23/10; C08L2207/00; C08L2207/06; C08L2207/062; C08L2207/066; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S260/00; Y10S260/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An environmentally degradable polymer based composition which has been subject to actinic or ionizing radiation and which comprises, based on the total weight of said composition, a major portion by weight of ethylene polymer as the base resin, about 0.01 to about 40 percent by weight of at least one auto-oxidative susceptible additive having at least one hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom having an auto-oxidative susceptibility greater than that of a hydrogen atom bonded to a normal secondary carbon atom, at least one salt of at least one polyvalent metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc and cerium, in such amounts as to provide about 0.002 to about 2.0 percent by weight of the metal atom, and about 0.0025 to about 1 percent by weight of antioxidant for said ethylene polymer, said amount of radiation being such as to increase the rate of degradation of such composition, as compared to the rate of degradation of the non-irradiated composition, without interfering with the intended utility of such composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An environmentally degradable polymer based composition which has been subject to actinic or ionizing radiation and which comprises, based on the total weight of said composition, a major portion by weight of ethylene polymer as the base resin, about 0.01 to about 40 percent by weight of at least one auto-oxidative susceptible additive having at least one hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom having an auto-oxidative susceptibility greater than that of a hydrogen atom bonded to a normal secondary carbon atom, at least one salt of at least one polyvalent metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc and cerium, in such amounts as to provide about 0.002 to about 2.0 percent by weight of the metal atom, and about 0.0025 to about 1 percent by weight of antioxidant for said ethylene polymer, said amount of radiation being such as to increase the rate of degradation of such composition, as compared to the rate of degradation of the non-irradiated composition, without interfering with the intended utility of such composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the auto-oxidative susceptible additive is an auto-oxidative susceptible polymer wherein the predominance of the repeating units have at least one hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom having an auto-oxidative susceptibility greater than that of a hydrogen atom bonded to a normal secondary carbon atom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the auto-oxidative susceptible additive is an auto-oxidative susceptible low molecular organic compound having at least one hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom having an autooxidative susceptibility greater than that of a hydrogen atom bonded to a normal secondary carbon atom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auto-oxidative susceptible additive is present in an amount from 0.05 to about 20 percent by weight and wherein the salt of the polyvalent transition metal is present in an amount to impart from 0.005 to about 1.0 weight percent of metal atom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polyvalent metal salt is an organic salt of said polyvalent metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base resin is an ethylene homopolymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base resin is an ethylene copolymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3 wherein said hydrogen atom is present in an allylic, benzylic, tertiary aliphatic, aldehydo, alpha-oxyhydrocarbyl or alpha-halohydrocarbyl group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3 wherein said auto-oxidative susceptible low molecular weight organic compound has a molecular weight less than 5,000.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition as claimed in claim 2 wherein said auto-oxidative susceptible polymer is a polymer of an alpha-olefin having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A composition as claimed in claim 10 wherein said auto-oxidative susceptible polymer is polypropylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A composition as claimed in claim 2 wherein said auto-oxidative susceptible polymer is a poly(alkylene oxide).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A composition as claimed in claim 12 wherein said poly(alkylene oxide) is poly(ethylene oxide).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3 wherein said auto-oxidative susceptible low molecular weight compound is an unsaturated fatty acid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein said polyvalent metal salt is an octoate, naphthenate, acetate, stearate or acetylacetonate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the auto-oxidative susceptible additive is polypropylene and said salt is an organic salt of a polyvalent transition metal wherein electron transfer occurs in the 3d sub-shell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the auto-susceptible additive is present in an amount of from 0.1 to about 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the total composition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the salt of the polyvalent transition metal is present in an amount to impart from 0.01 to about 0.1 percent of the metal atom based on the weight of the total composition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3 wherein the auto-oxidative susceptible low molecular weight organic compond is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 percent by weight and the salt of the polyvalent metal is present in an amount to impart from 0.01 to 0.1 weight percent of metal atom based on the weight of total composition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polyvalent metal is cobalt or iron.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein a combination of polyvalent metals is present.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The composition of claim 1 in the form of a shaped article.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The shaped article of claim 22 in the form of a film.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shaped article of claim 23 in the form of a translucent to transparent film.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The composition of claim 1 which has been exposed to actinic radiation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The composition of claim 1 which has been exposed to ionizing radiation.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for accelerating the degradation under exposure to actinic or ionizing radiation of ethylene polymer which comprises adding to said ethylene polymer prior to said exposure about 0.01 to 40 weight percent of at least one auto-oxidative susceptible additive having at least one hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom having an autooxidative susceptibility greater than that of a hydrogen atom bonded to a normal secondary carbon atom, and about 0.002 to 2.0 weight percent of at least one polyvalent metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc and cerium, said metal being present in the form of at least one salt thereof, said weight percents being based on the total weight of the resulting composition, and exposing the resulting composition to actinic or ionizing radiation in such dosage thereof as to increase the rate of degradation of such composition, as compared to the rate of degradation of the non-irradiated composition, without interfering with the intended utility of such composition.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for accelerating the degradation under exposure to actinic or ionizing radiation of ethylene polymer which comprises adding to said ethylene polymer prior to said exposure about 0.01 to 40 weight percent of at least one auto-oxidative susceptible additive having at least one hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom having an autooxidative susceptibility greater than that of a hydrogen atom bonded to a normal secondary carbon atom, and about 0.002 to 2.0 weight percent of at least one polyvalent metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc and cerium, said metal being present in the form of at least one salt thereof, said weight percents being based on the total weight of the resulting composition, and exposing the resulting composition to actinic or ionizing radiation in such dosage thereof as to increase the rate of degradation of such composition, as compared to the rate of degradation of the non-irradiated composition, without interfering with the intended utility of such composition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 27 wherein the autooxidative susceptible additive is an auto-oxidative susceptible polymer wherein the predominance of the repeating units have at least one hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom having an auto-oxidative susceptibility greater than that of a hydrogen atom bonded to a normal secondary carbon atom.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 27 wherein the polyvalent metal is one wherein electron transfer occurs in the 3d sub-shell.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 27 wherein the polvalent metal salt is an organic salt of said polyvalent metal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 27 wherein said ethylene polymer is an ethylene homopolymer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 27 wherein said ethylene polymer is an ethylene copolymer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 28 wherein said auto-oxidative susceptible polymer is a polymer of an alpha-olefin having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 33 wherein said auto-oxidative susceptible polymer is polypropylene.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 28 wherein said auto-oxidative susceptible polymer is a poly(alkylene oxide).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 27 which further comprises adding to said ethylene polymer prior to said exposure about 0.0025 to 1 weight percent of antioxidant for said ethylene polymer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 27 in which the resulting composition is exposed to actinic radiation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 27 in which the resulting composition is exposed to ionizing radiation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 36 in which the resulting composition is exposed to actinic radiation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 36 in which the resulting composition is exposed to ionizing radiation.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composition of claim 26 which has been subjected to about 1 to about 20 megareps of ionizing radiation.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 38 in which the resulting composition is exposed to about 1 to about 20 megareps of ionizing radiation.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 40 in which the resulting composition is exposed to about 1 to about 20 megareps of ionizing radiation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-09 | 1981-07-11 | 1982-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-09 | 1985-07-11 | 1986-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-09 | 1989-07-11 | 1990-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |