US5484881A — Melt-stable amorphous lactide polymer film and pr…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

An amorphous film exhibiting a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of poly(lactide) polymer, said film comprising a melt stable, lactide polymer composition, said composition comprising: i) a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, said polymer chains being reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture comprising greater than about 1 percent by weight meso-lactide, with the remaining lactide being selected from the group consisting of L-lactide, D-lactide and mixtures thereof, said plurality having a number average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 300,000; ii) residual lactide in a concentration of less than about 2 percent by weight; and iii) water, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than about 2000 parts per million.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 121 words

An amorphous film exhibiting a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of poly(lactide) polymer, said film comprising a melt stable, lactide polymer composition, said composition comprising: i) a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, said polymer chains being reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture comprising greater than about 1 percent by weight meso-lactide, with the remaining lactide being selected from the group consisting of L-lactide, D-lactide and mixtures thereof, said plurality having a number average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 300,000; ii) residual lactide in a concentration of less than about 2 percent by weight; and iii) water, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than about 2000 parts per million.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains have a number average molecular weight from about 20,000 to about 275,000.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains have a number average molecular weight from about 40,000 to about 250,000.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said polymer chains are reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture comprising about 12 to about 50 percent by weight meso-lactide.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said concentration of water is less than about 500 parts per million.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said concentration of water is less than about 100 parts per million.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said polymer composition further comprises a stabilizing agent.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

The film of claim 7 wherein said stabilizing agent is an antioxidant.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

The film of claim 7 wherein said stabilizing agent is a water scavenger.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

The film of claim 8, wherein said antioxidant comprises a phosphite-containing compound.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The film of claim 8, wherein said antioxidant comprises a hindered phenolic or phenolic compound.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 54 words

The film of claim 8, wherein said antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of trialkyl phosphites, mixed alkyl/aryl phosphites, alkylated aryl phosphites, sterically hindered aryl phosphites, aliphatic spirocyclic phosphites, sterically hindered phenyl spirocyclics, sterically hindered bisphosphonites, hydroxyphenyl propionates, hydroxy benzyls, alkylidene bisphenols, alkyl phenols, aromatic amines, thioethers, hindered amines, hydroquinones and mixtures thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The film of claim 9, wherein said water scavenger is selected from the group consisting of carbodiimides, anhydrides, acyl chlorides, isocyanates, alkoxy silanes and mixtures thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

The film of claim 9, wherein said water scavenger is a desiccant selected from the group consisting of clay, alumina, silica gel, zeolites, calcium chloride, calcium carbonates, sodium sulfate, bicarbonates and mixtures thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said polymer composition further comprises: iv) catalyst means for catalyzing the polymerization of lactide to form the poly(lactide) polymer chains, said catalyst means incorporated into the melt-stable lactide polymer composition during polymerization.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains is the reaction product of polymerization at a temperature greater than about 160° C.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 51 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said polymer composition further comprises a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of alkyl phosphate esters, dialkylether diesters, tricarboxylic esters, epoxidized oils and esters, polymeric polyesters, polyglycol diesters, alkyl alkylether diesters, aliphatic diesters, alkylether monoesters, citrate esters, dicarboxylic esters, esters of glycerine and mixtures thereof.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said polymer is a blend of poly(lactide) and another polymer selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, polycaprolactone, poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate), poly(vinyl alcohol) and mixtures thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

The film of claim 18 wherein said film has an elongation at break of at least 100%.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said polymer composition further comprises a pigment selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, clays, calcium carbonate, talc, mica, silica, iron oxide, iron hydroxide, carbon black, magnesium oxide and mixtures thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 10 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said film is non-crystallizable.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 105 words

An amorphous noncrystallizable film exhibiting a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of poly(lactide) polymer, said film comprising a melt stable lactide polymer composition, said composition comprising: i) a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, said polymer chains being reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture illustrated by the unshaded regions of FIG. 4, said plurality having a number average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 300,000; ii) residual lactide in a concentration of less than about 2 percent by weight; and iii) water, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than about 2000 parts per million.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 105 words

An amorphous noncrystallizable film exhibiting a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of poly(lactide) polymer, said film comprising a melt stable lactide polymer composition, said composition comprising: i) a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, said polymer chains being reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture illustrated by the unshaded regions of FIG. 4, said plurality having a number average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 300,000; ii) residual lactide in a concentration of less than about 2 percent by weight; and iii) water, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than about 2000 parts per million.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 30 words

An amorphous, non-crystallizable film made of poly(lactide or poly(lactic acid) wherein sequences of major lactic acid formations have less than 0.5 probability of comprising 10 or more lactic acid residuals.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

An amorphous, non-crystallizable film made of poly(lactide or poly(lactic acid) wherein sequences of major lactic acid formations have less than 0.5 probability of comprising 10 or more lactic acid residuals.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 144 words

A process for the manufacture of an amorphous film exhibiting a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of poly(lactide) polymer, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing a melt-stable lactide polymer composition, said composition comprising: i) a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, said plurality of polymer chains being reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture comprising greater than about 1 percent by weight meso-lactide, with the remaining lactide being selected from the group consisting of L-lactide, D-lactide and mixtures thereof, said plurality of polymer chains having a number average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 300,000; ii) lactide in a concentration of less than about 2 percent by weight; and iii) water, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than about 2000 parts per million; and b) extruding said polymer composition into an amorphous film.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 144 words

A process for the manufacture of an amorphous film exhibiting a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of poly(lactide) polymer, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing a melt-stable lactide polymer composition, said composition comprising: i) a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, said plurality of polymer chains being reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture comprising greater than about 1 percent by weight meso-lactide, with the remaining lactide being selected from the group consisting of L-lactide, D-lactide and mixtures thereof, said plurality of polymer chains having a number average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 300,000; ii) lactide in a concentration of less than about 2 percent by weight; and iii) water, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than about 2000 parts per million; and b) extruding said polymer composition into an amorphous film.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 36 words

The process of claim 24 wherein said polymer chains are reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture comprising about 9 to about 50 percent by weight meso-lactide and the remaining lactide is substantially L-lactide and D-lactide.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The process of claim 24 wherein said concentration of water is less than about 500 parts per million.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 24 wherein said polymer composition further comprises a stabilizing agent.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 12 words

The process of claim 27 wherein said stabilizing agent is an antioxidant.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process of claim 27 wherein said stabilizing agent is a water scavenger.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 12 words

The process of claim 28 wherein said antioxidant is a phosphite-containing compound.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process of claim 28 wherein said antioxidant is a hindered phenolic or phenolic compound.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 54 words

The process of claim 28 wherein said antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of trialkyl phosphites, mixed alkyl/aryl phosphites, alkylated aryl phosphites, sterically hindered aryl phosphites, aliphatic spirocyclic phosphites, sterically hindered phenyl spirocyclics, sterically hindered bisphosphonites, hydroxyphenyl propionates, hydroxy benzyls, alkylidene bisphenols, alkyl phenols, aromatic amines, thioethers, hindered amines, hydroquinones and mixtures thereof.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

The process of claim 29 wherein said water scavenger is selected from the group consisting of carbodiimides, anhydrides, acyl chlorides, isocyanates, alkoxy silanes and mixtures thereof.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 33 words

The process of claim 29 wherein said water scavenger is a desiccant selected from the group consisting of clay, alumina, silica gel, zeolites, calcium chloride, calcium carbonates, sodium sulfate, bicarbonates and mixtures thereof.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 38 words

The process of claim 24 wherein said polymer composition further comprises: (iv) catalyst means for catalyzing the polymerization of lactide to form the poly(lactide) polymer chains, said catalyst means incorporated into the melt-stable lactide polymer composition during polymerization.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 27 words

The process of claim 24 wherein said plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains are the reaction products of polymerization at a temperature of greater than about 160° C.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 122 words

An article comprising an amorphous film exhibiting a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of poly(lactide) polymer, said film comprising a melt stable, lactide polymer composition, said composition comprising: i) a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, said polymer chains being reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture comprising greater than about 1% by weight meso-lactide, with the remaining lactide being selected from the group consisting of L-lactide, D-lactide and mixtures thereof, said plurality having a number average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 300,000; ii) residual lactide in a concentration of less than about 2% by weight; and, iii) water, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than about 2000 parts per million.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 122 words

An article comprising an amorphous film exhibiting a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of poly(lactide) polymer, said film comprising a melt stable, lactide polymer composition, said composition comprising: i) a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, said polymer chains being reaction products of polymerizing a lactide mixture comprising greater than about 1% by weight meso-lactide, with the remaining lactide being selected from the group consisting of L-lactide, D-lactide and mixtures thereof, said plurality having a number average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 300,000; ii) residual lactide in a concentration of less than about 2% by weight; and, iii) water, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than about 2000 parts per million.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 11 words

The article according to claim 37, said article being a diaper.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 12 words

The article according to claim 37, said article being a packaging film.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 13 words

The article according to claim 37, said article being an agricultural mulch film.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 11 words

The article according to claim 37, said article being a bag.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 12 words

The article according to claim 37, said article being a shrinkwrap film.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 11 words

The article according to claim 37, said article being a tape.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 59 words

The film of claim 1 wherein said polymer composition further comprises a filler selected from the group consisting of cellulose, wheat, starch, modified starch, chitin, chitosan, keratin, cellulose acetate, cellulosic materials derived from agricultural products, gluten, nut shell flour, wood flour, corn cob flour, guar gum, talc, silica, mica, kaolin, titanium dioxide, wollastonite, perlite, diatomaceous earth and mixtures thereof.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-01-15	1999-07-17	2000-01-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-01-15	2003-07-17	2004-01-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-01-15	2007-07-17	2008-01-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Melt-stable amorphous lactide polymer film and process for manufacturing thereof

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