Patent US4726168A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5212219A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5212219A
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Degradable plastics
Assignee: Epron Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1991-09-04
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Granted: 1993-05-18
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Expires: 2011-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A degradable polymer composition is disclosed which comprises a blend of a normally stable chemically saturated polymer, such as polyethylene, a less stable chemically unsaturated polymer or copolymer, such as a styrene/butadiene block copolymer, or natural rubber, an antioxidant active over a limited period and a latent pro-oxidant, such as an organic salt of a transition metal, e.g. cobalt naphthenate. The presence together of the anti-oxidant and the pro-oxidant give rise to a period of induction before a sharp loss of physical strength occurs, whereby the period of induction can be exploited as the effective working life of the polymer composition. The polymer composition preferably also includes filler particles of a directly biologically sensitive material such as natural starch, a derivative of natural starch, a natural protein or a natural cellulose product or a powdered sugar of melting point higher than the processing temperature of the host polymer composition, whereby, the biological breakdown, in natural environments or in the especially biologically active surroundings of composting urban garbage, of the molecular fragments created by the onset of oxidative scission of the molecular chains of the chemically saturated polymer is accelerated by the presence of said filler particles.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald J. L. Griffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:48
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08K; C08K5/00; C08K5/0008; C08K5/0033; C08L; C08L57/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 70
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A polymer composition for preparing degradable articles having as essential ingredients a blend of: a stable chemically saturated polymer containing an antioxidant active over a limited time, a less stable chemically unsaturated polymer or copolymer, and a pro-oxidant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A polymer composition for preparing degradable articles having as essential ingredients a blend of: a stable chemically saturated polymer containing an antioxidant active over a limited time, a less stable chemically unsaturated polymer or copolymer, and a pro-oxidant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as claimed in claim I where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of ethylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A composition as claimed in claim 2 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of ethylene and a compound selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, propylene and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate which has been partially or totally hydrolyzed to leave hydroxy functional groups.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of propylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition as claimed in claim 5 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of propylene and ethylene or acrylic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of styrene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition as claimed in claim 7 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of styrene and a compound selected from the group consisting of butadiene, isoprene, and acrylic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composition as claimed in claim I where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a synthetic elastomer of the type made by the polymerization of a 1:4 diene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition as claimed in claim 9 where the chemically unsaturated polymer is produced by the polymerization of butadiene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition as claimed in claim 9 where the chemically unsaturated polymer is produced by the polymerization of isoprene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a copolymer of butadiene and styrene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim I where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a copolymer of butadiene and isoprene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a copolymer of butadiene and acrylic acid or a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of 1,6-hexadiene, norbornene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composition as claimed in claim I where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a terpolymer of styrene, butadiene and isoprene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 where the unstable chemically unsaturated is natural rubber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composition of claim 18 wherein the natural rubber is Hevea rubber or gutta percha.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A composition as claimed in claim I where the antioxidant is of the sacrificial type being an organic compound more readily oxidized than the host polymer blend.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The composition of claim 20 where the antioxidant is taken from the group consisting of butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, tertiary-butylhydroquinone, Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076, and 4-methyl-1,6-di(2-hydroxy-3 tertbutyl-5 methyl-benzyl) phenol.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A composition as claimed in claim I where the pro-oxidant is at least one transition metal salt.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
The composition of claim 22 wherein the transition metal salt is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Zn, Cu, Ag, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, V; and the organic salt is selected from the group consisting of stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, behenates, myristates, erucates, linolates, naphthenates, acetonylacetates, 8-hydroxyquinolinates and metalammine salt complexes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The composition of claim 23 wherein the preferred transition metal salt is Mn, Co, and Fe and the preferred organic salt is selected from the group stearates, naphthenates and octoates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the stable polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, and their copolymers with other monomers; the unsaturated polymer or copolymer is selected from a group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, polybutadiene, # polyisoprene, and a natural rubber; an antioxidant; and the pro-oxidant is a transition metal salt or complex.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
91 words
A composition as claimed in claim I in which the stable polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and their copolymers with other monomers; the unsaturated polymer or copolymer is selected from a group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and a natural rubber; and the pro-oxidant is a transition metal salt or complex wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr and V, and its salt displays an adequate level of solubility in polymer melts.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
60 words
The composition of claim 26 comprising a blend of said stable polymer; 2-50% by weight of said unsaturated polymer or copolymer; and 0.00-2.0% of said transition metal, wherein the transition metal is the metal salt of the organic compound selected from the group consisting of stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, behenates, myristates, erucates, linolates, naphthenates, acetonylacetates, 8-hydroxyquinolinates and metalammine salt complexes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
86 words
The composition of claim 26 comprising a blend of a stable polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene; 2-50% by weight of an unsaturated polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, polybutadiene, and polyisoprene; and 0.001-2.0% of a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, and V, wherein the transition metal is the metal salt of the organic compound selected from the group consisting of stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, myristates, and naphthenates.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
109 words
A degradable article prepared from a composition comprising a blend of a stable polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and their copolymers with other monomers; an antioxidant; 2-50% by weight of an unsaturated polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and a natural rubber; and 0.001-2.0% of a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr and V, wherein the transition metal is the metal salt of the organic compound selected from the group consisting of stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, behenates, myristates, erucates, linolates, naphthenates, acetonylacetates, 8-hydroxyquinolinates and metalammine salt complexes.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
109 words
A degradable article prepared from a composition comprising a blend of a stable polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and their copolymers with other monomers; an antioxidant; 2-50% by weight of an unsaturated polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and a natural rubber; and 0.001-2.0% of a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr and V, wherein the transition metal is the metal salt of the organic compound selected from the group consisting of stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, behenates, myristates, erucates, linolates, naphthenates, acetonylacetates, 8-hydroxyquinolinates and metalammine salt complexes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
The article of claim 29 which is a thin film or a sheet adapted for the manufacture of bags or wrappings, blow-molded and injection blow-molded articles, extruded foams, injection-molded articles, extruded parts and tubes, coextruded films, sheets and laminates, paper coatings, and filaments.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
75 words
The polymer composition of claim I which incorporates a biologically active filler, and the unsaturated polymer does not include butadiene-styrene copolymer and is selected from the group consisting of (a) natural rubber, (b) synthetic rubber, (c) polymer of styrene, butadiene, or isoprene, (d) copolymer of butadiene and acrylic acid, acrylonitrile or isoprene, copolymer of isoprene and isobutylene, (e) terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and 1-6-hexadiene or norbornene, and (f) a terpolymer of styrene, butadiene and isoprene.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The composition of claim 31 wherein the filler is selected from the group natural starch, derivatives of natural starch, cellulose, derivatives of cellulose, a natural protein, and a powdered sugar of melting point higher than the host polymer composition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
10 words
The composition of claim 32 wherein the filler is starch.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of ethylene.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
A composition as claimed in claim 34 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, or acrylic acid, or propylene.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
A composition as claimed in claim 34 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate which has been partially or totally hydrolyzed to leave hydroxy functional groups.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3I where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of propylene.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition as claimed in claim 37 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, or acrylic acid.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of styrene.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition as claimed in claim 39 where the stable chemically saturated polymer is a copolymer of styrene and isoprene or acrylic acid.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a synthetic elastomer of the type made by the polymerization of a I:4 diene.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as claimed in claim 41 where the chemically unsaturated polymer produced by the polymerization of butadiene.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as claimed in claim 41 where the chemically unsaturated polymer produced by the polymerization of isoprene.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a copolymer of butadiene and isoprene.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a copolymer of butadiene and acrylic acid or a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3I where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and one of the following 1,6-hexadiene, norbornene.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3I where the unstable chemically unsaturated polymer is a terpolymer of styrene, butadiene and isoprene.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 where the unstable chemically unsaturated is natural rubber.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composition of claim 49 wherein the natural rubber is Hevea rubber or gutta percha.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
27 words
A composition as claimed in claim 3I where the antioxidant is of the sacrificial type being an organic compound more readily oxidized then the host polymer blend.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition as claimed in claim 51 where the antioxidant is taken from the group Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Butylated Hydroxyanisole, Tertiary-Butylhydroquinone, Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076, etc.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 where the pro-oxidant is a transition metal salt.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
53 words
The composition of claim 53 wherein the transition metal salt is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Zn, Cu, Ag, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, V; and the organic salt is selected from the group consisting of stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, behenates, myristates, erucates, linolates, naphthenates, acetonylacetates, 8-hydroxyquinolinates and metalammine salt complexes.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
32 words
The composition of claim 54 wherein the preferred transition metal salt is Mn, Co, and Fe and the preferred organic salt is selected from the group stearates, oleates, palmitates, naphthenates and octoates.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
77 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 in which the stable polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, and their copolymers with other monomers; the unsaturated polymer or copolymer is selected from a group consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and a natural rubber; the biologically active filler is selected from natural or modified starch, natural and modified cellulose, and a natural protein; and the pro-oxidant is a transition metal salt or complex.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
100 words
A composition as claimed in claim 31 in which the stable polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and their copolymers with other monomers; the unsaturated polymer or copolymer is selected from a group consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and a natural rubber; the biologically active filler is selected from natural or modified starch; and the pro-oxidant is a transition metal salt or complex wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr and V, and its salt displays an adequate level of solubility in polymer melts.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
99 words
The composition of claim 57 comprising a blend of a stable polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene; an antioxidant; 2-50% by weight of an unsaturated polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, and polyisoprene; 2-60% by weight of a biologically active filler selected from natural and modified starch; and 0.001-2.0% of a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, Cu, Co, Fe, and Mn, wherein the transition metal is the metal salt of the organic compound selected from the group consisting of stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, myristates, and naphthenates.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 29 including a biologically active filler selected from natural and modified starch.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
40 words
The article of claim 59 which is a thin film or a sheet adapted for the manufacture of blow-molded and injection blow-molded articles, extruded foams, injection-molded articles, extruded parts and tubes, coextruded films, sheets and laminates, paper coatings, and filaments.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
210 words
A polymer composition for preparing degradable articles having as essential ingredients a blend of: a stable chemically saturated polymer which contains an anti-oxidant active over a limited time, said saturated polymer selected from the group consisting of (a) polyethylene, (b) polypropylene, (c) styrene, (d) copolymers of ethylene and a compound selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, propylene and mixtures thereof, (e) copolymers of propylene and a compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene, acrylic acid and mixtures thereof, (f) copolymers of styrene and a compound selected from the group consisting of butadiene, isoprene, acrylic acid and mixtures thereof, and (g) mixtures thereof; a less stable chemically unsaturated polymer selected from the group consisting of (a) natural rubber, (b) a copolymer of styrene, (c) a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a compound selected from the group consisting of 1,6-hexadiene, norbornene and mixtures thereof, (d) a terpolymer of styrene, butadiene and isoprene; and at least one transition metal organic salt wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr and V and the organic salt is selected from the group consisting of: stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, behenates, myristates, erucates, linolates, naphthenates, acetonylacetates, hydroxyquinolinates and metalammine salt complexes.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
210 words
A polymer composition for preparing degradable articles having as essential ingredients a blend of: a stable chemically saturated polymer which contains an anti-oxidant active over a limited time, said saturated polymer selected from the group consisting of (a) polyethylene, (b) polypropylene, (c) styrene, (d) copolymers of ethylene and a compound selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, propylene and mixtures thereof, (e) copolymers of propylene and a compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene, acrylic acid and mixtures thereof, (f) copolymers of styrene and a compound selected from the group consisting of butadiene, isoprene, acrylic acid and mixtures thereof, and (g) mixtures thereof; a less stable chemically unsaturated polymer selected from the group consisting of (a) natural rubber, (b) a copolymer of styrene, (c) a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a compound selected from the group consisting of 1,6-hexadiene, norbornene and mixtures thereof, (d) a terpolymer of styrene, butadiene and isoprene; and at least one transition metal organic salt wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr and V and the organic salt is selected from the group consisting of: stearates, palmitates, octoates, oleates, behenates, myristates, erucates, linolates, naphthenates, acetonylacetates, hydroxyquinolinates and metalammine salt complexes.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
24 words
The polymer composition of claim 61 wherein the unsaturated polymer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene, EPDM rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
21 words
The polymer composition of claim 61 wherein the saturated polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
32 words
The polymer composition of claim 6I wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cu, Fe and Co and the organic base is selected from stearate and oleate.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
21 words
The polymer composition of claim 62 wherein the saturated polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
32 words
The polymer composition of claim 65 wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cu, Fe and Co and the organic base is selected from stearate and oleate.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
43 words
The polymer composition of claim 61 wherein the composition contains a filler selected from the group consisting of a natural protein, a natural cellulose product and a powdered sugar of a melting point higher than the processing temperature of the host polymer composition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4983651A
Cited
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