US5216043A
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Degradable thermophastic compositions and blends with naturally biodegradable polymers
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1991-12-12
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Granted: 1993-06-01
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Expires: 2011-12-12
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a compostable thermoplastic polymer composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a transition metal salt selected from cobalt, manganese, copper, cerium, vanadium and iron, and a fatty acid or ester having 10 to 22 carbon atoms providing unsaturated species and free acid. The composition will oxidatively degrade to an embrittled state within at least 14 days at 60° C. and a relative humidity of at least eighty percent.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan J. Sipinen
- 👤 Jobst T. Jaeger
- 👤 Denise R. Rutherford
- 👤 Elizabeth C. Edblom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:07
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08K; C08K5/00; C08K5/0008; C08K5/0033; C08K5/04; C08K5/09; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1334; Y10T428/1341; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1379; Y10T428/139; Y10T428/1393; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An extrudable compostable polymer composition comprised of an extrudable thermoplastic polymer, copolymer or blends containing a prodegradant system of an auto-oxidative component comprising a fatty acid, substituted fatty acid or derivatives, or blends thereof, the fatty acid having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, said auto-oxidative component being at between about 0.1 to 10 weight percent based on the total composition wherein the auto-oxidative component provides at least 0.1 weight percent of unsaturated species and at least 0.1 weight percent of free acid species in the total composition, and from 5 to 500 ppm of a transition metal in the form of a salt wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, copper, cerium, vanadium and iron wherein, in a film form of about 4.0 mils, the composition will oxidatively degrade to embrittlement within about 14 days at a temperature of 60° C. and a relative humidity of at least 80%
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
An extrudable compostable polymer composition comprised of an extrudable thermoplastic polymer, copolymer or blends containing a prodegradant system of an auto-oxidative component comprising a fatty acid, substituted fatty acid or derivatives, or blends thereof, the fatty acid having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, said auto-oxidative component being at between about 0.1 to 10 weight percent based on the total composition wherein the auto-oxidative component provides at least 0.1 weight percent of unsaturated species and at least 0.1 weight percent of free acid species in the total composition, and from 5 to 500 ppm of a transition metal in the form of a salt wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, copper, cerium, vanadium and iron wherein, in a film form of about 4.0 mils, the composition will oxidatively degrade to embrittlement within about 14 days at a temperature of 60° C. and a relative humidity of at least 80%
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 wherein the auto-oxidative component comprises an unsaturated fatty acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 wherein the transition metal salt comprises a transition metal salt having an organic ligand.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 wherein the auto-oxidative component comprises an admixture of saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acid esters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The polymer composition of claim 2 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid substantially comprises species having two or more double bonds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The polymer composition of claim 4 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid ester substantially comprises species having two or more double bonds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 wherein the transition metal is present at a concentration of less than 200 parts per million.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 further comprising an anti-oxidant at a concentration of from about 0.02 to 0.2 weight percent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The polymer composition of claim 8 further comprising a naturally biodegradable thermoplastic polymer at a concentration of from about 5 to 50 weight percent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 wherein the extrudable thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyolefin polymer, copolymer or blend.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The polymer composition of claim 10 wherein the polyolefin comprises polypropylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The polymer composition of claim 10 wherein the polyolefin comprises polyethylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The polymer composition of claim 4 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid esters are present as a natural oil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The polymer composition of claim 13 wherein the natural oil comprises tung oil, linseed oil or fish oils in a concentration greater than 0.5%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The polymer composition of claim 11 wherein the auto-oxidative component comprises at least 0.5 weight percent of the composition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The polymer composition of claim 4 wherein the saturated fatty acid is present at a concentration greater than 0.5%.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 further comprising 5 to 15 weight percent of a naturally biodegradable polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 further comprising 5 to 25 weight percent of a naturally biodegradable polymer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The polymer composition of claim 17 wherein the naturally biodegradable polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(caprolactone), poly(lactic acid), poly(hydroxybutyrate-valerate), poly(ethylene adipate), poly(vinyl alcohol), modified starch/olefin copolymers, poly(propylene oxide), and poly(ethylene oxide).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The polymer composition of claim 1 wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, copper and cerium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The polymer composition of claim 20 wherein the transition metal is present at a concentration of less than 200 parts per million.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
152 words
A film comprising at least one layer of a thermoplastic polymer containing a prodegradant system of an auto-oxidative component comprising a fatty acid, substituted fatty acid or derivatives, or blends thereof, the fatty acid having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, said auto-oxidative component being at between about 0.1 to 10 weight percent based on the total composition wherein the auto-oxidative component provides at least 0.1 weight percent of unsaturated species and at least 0.1 weight percent of free acid species in the total composition, and from 5 to 500 ppm of a transition metal in the form of a salt wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, copper, cerium, vanadium and iron wherein, in a film form of about 4.0 mils, the film will oxidatively degrade to embrittlement within about 14 days at a temperature of 60° C. and a relative humidity of at least 80%.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
152 words
A film comprising at least one layer of a thermoplastic polymer containing a prodegradant system of an auto-oxidative component comprising a fatty acid, substituted fatty acid or derivatives, or blends thereof, the fatty acid having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, said auto-oxidative component being at between about 0.1 to 10 weight percent based on the total composition wherein the auto-oxidative component provides at least 0.1 weight percent of unsaturated species and at least 0.1 weight percent of free acid species in the total composition, and from 5 to 500 ppm of a transition metal in the form of a salt wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, copper, cerium, vanadium and iron wherein, in a film form of about 4.0 mils, the film will oxidatively degrade to embrittlement within about 14 days at a temperature of 60° C. and a relative humidity of at least 80%.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The film of claim 22 wherein the auto-oxidative component comprises an unsaturated fatty acid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The film of claim 22 wherein the auto-oxidative component comprises an admixture of saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acid esters.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The film of claim 23 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid substantially comprises species having two or more double bonds.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The film of claim 22 wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, copper and cerium and is present at a concentration of less than 200 parts per million.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The film of claim 22 further comprising an anti-oxidant at a concentration of from about 0.02 to 0.2 weight percent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The film of claim 27 further comprising biodegradable thermoplastic polymer at a concentration of from about 5 to 50 weight percent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The film of claim 22 wherein the extrudable thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyolefin polymer, copolymer or blend.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
10 words
The film of claim 29 wherein the polyolefin comprises polypropylene.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
10 words
The film of claim 22 wherein the polyolefin comprises polyethylene.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The film of claim 22 wherein the auto-oxidative component comprises at least 0.5 weight percent of the composition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The polymer composition of claim 8 wherein the composition will oxidatively degrade to embrittlement within 14 days at 60° C. and a relative humidity of at least 80% when tested after a stable shelf life of from about 1 week to 12 months.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
The film of claim 8 wherein the film will oxidatively degrade to embrittlement within 14 days at 60° C. and a relative humidity of at least 80% when tested after a stable shelf life of from about 1 week to 12 months.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The film of claim 22 further comprising at least one layer without said prodegradant system.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The film of claim 31 wherein said at least one layer without said prodegradant system contains degradation additives.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The film of claim 31 wherein said at least one layer without said prodegradant system contains no degradation additives.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The film of claim 31 wherein said at least one layer without said prodegradant system is a naturally biodegradable polymer.
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-31 | 2000-11-30 | 2001-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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