← Back to Patent Explorer
US5422387A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Biodegradable, liquid impervious films

Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1993-10-18
•
Granted: 1995-06-06
•
Expires: 2013-10-18
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Liquid impervious, biodegradable films are disclosed. In particular, the films comprise a blend of an interpenetrated network of destructurized starch with ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers or ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers, and an aliphatic polyester such as polycaprolactone. Diapers, sanitary napkins, pantiliners, and the like, containing backsheets prepared from the foregoing materials are also disclosed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Douglas Toms
  • 👤 Andrew J. Wnuk

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 13:24
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/18; B; B65; B65D; B65D65/00; B65D65/38; B65D65/46; B65D65/466; C08L; C08L3/00; C08L3/02; C08L67/00; C08L67/02; C08L67/04; C08L75/00; C08L75/04; C08L75/06; C08J2303/00; C08J2303/02; C08L2201/00; C08L2201/06; C08L2205/00; C08L2205/04; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W90/00; Y02W90/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 87 words
A biodegradable, liquid impervious film comprising a blend of: (a) an interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein said copolymer has a vinyl alcohol content of from about 50 mole % to about 80 mole %; and (b) an aliphatic polyester selected from the group consisting of polycaprolactone and the oxidation product of an ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymer and a peroxyacid oxidizing agent, the weight ratio of said aliphatic polyester to said interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and copolymer being at least 1:1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 87 words
A biodegradable, liquid impervious film comprising a blend of: (a) an interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein said copolymer has a vinyl alcohol content of from about 50 mole % to about 80 mole %; and (b) an aliphatic polyester selected from the group consisting of polycaprolactone and the oxidation product of an ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymer and a peroxyacid oxidizing agent, the weight ratio of said aliphatic polyester to said interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and copolymer being at least 1:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The biodegradable film of claim 1 wherein the film comprises from about 10% to about 50% by weight of said interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and copolymer, and from about 50% to about 90% by weight of the aliphatic polyester.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The biodegradable film of claim 2 wherein less than 40% of the starch in the film is free and in the form of particles having an average number diameter below 1 micrometer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
The biodegradable film of claim 2 wherein the film comprises from about 15% to about 35% by weight of the interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and copolymer, and from about 60% to about 80% by weight of the aliphatic polyester.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
The biodegradable film of claim 4 wherein less than 20% of the starch in the film is free and in the form of particles having an average number diameter below 1 micrometer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The biodegradable film of claim 1 wherein the aliphatic polyester is polycaprolactone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The biodegradable film of claim 1 wherein the aliphatic polyester is the oxidation product of an ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymer and a peroxyacid oxidizing agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The biodegradable film of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of aliphatic polyester to interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and copolymer is from about 3:2 to about 4:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The biodegradable film of claim 6 wherein the weight ratio of polycaprolactone to interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and copolymer is from about 3:2 to about 4:1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The biodegradable film of claim 1 wherein the interpenetrated network of destructurized starch and an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer further comprises a plasticizer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The biodegradable film of claim 8 wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of urea, glycerol, glycerol monoesters, sorbitol, sorbitol esters, sorbitol ethers, and glycols.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 84 words
A biodegradable, liquid impervious film comprising a blend of: (a) an interpenetrated network of destructurized starch, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having a vinyl alcohol content of from about 50 mole % to about 80 mole %, and a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of urea, glycerol, glycerol monoesters, sorbitol, sorbitol esters, sorbitol ethers, and glycols; and (b) polycaprolactone, wherein the weight ratio of said polycaprolactone to said interpenetrated network of destructurized starch, copolymer, and plasticizer is from about 3:2 to about 4:1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 84 words
A biodegradable, liquid impervious film comprising a blend of: (a) an interpenetrated network of destructurized starch, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having a vinyl alcohol content of from about 50 mole % to about 80 mole %, and a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of urea, glycerol, glycerol monoesters, sorbitol, sorbitol esters, sorbitol ethers, and glycols; and (b) polycaprolactone, wherein the weight ratio of said polycaprolactone to said interpenetrated network of destructurized starch, copolymer, and plasticizer is from about 3:2 to about 4:1.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-06-05 1998-12-05 1999-06-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-06-05 2002-12-05 2003-06-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-06-05 2006-12-05 2007-06-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag