US5585191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Melt-stable amorphous lactide polymer film and process for manufacture thereof
Assignee: Cargill Inc
•
Filing: 1995-09-13
•
Granted: 1996-12-17
•
Expires: 2015-09-13
Abstract
Abstract An amorphous film comprised of a lactide polymer. The lactide polymer comprises a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, residual lactide in concentration of less than about 2 percent and water in concentration of less than about 2000 parts-per-million. A process for manufacturing an amorphous film with the lactide polymer composition is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick R. Gruber
- 👤 Jeffrey J. Kolstad
- 👤 Christopher M. Ryan
- 👤 Eric S. Hall
- 👤 Robin S. Eichen Conn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:00
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/18; A; A61; A61L; A61L15/00; A61L15/16; A61L15/22; A61L15/26; A61L31/00; A61L31/04; A61L31/06; C08G; C08G63/00; C08G63/02; C08G63/06; C08G63/08; C08G63/88; C08G63/90; C08L; C08L67/00; C08L67/04; C09; C09D; C09D167/00; C09D167/04; D; D01; D01F; D01F6/00; D01F6/58; D01F6/62; D01F6/625; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/42; D21; D21H; D21H19/00; D21H19/10; D21H19/14; D21H19/24; D21H19/28; D21H19/36; D21H19/44; D21H19/62; C08G2230/00; C08J2367/00; C08J2367/04; C08L101/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/3179; Y10T428/31801; Y10T428/31804; Y10T428/31808; Y10T428/31815; Y10T428/31819; Y10T428/31971; Y10T428/31993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A film having a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of polymer containing chains including lactic acid residuals; said film further comprising: (a) a melt-stable polymer composition including at least 5% by weight of a melt-stable first polymer component including polymer chains containing lactic acid residuals, based on total weight of melt-stable polymer in said melt-stable polymer composition; (i) said first polymer component being formed from at least: (A) a source of (R)-lactic acid residuals; and, (B) a source of (S)-lactic acid residuals; (ii) said first polymer component having (R)-lactic acid residuals and (S)-lactic acid residuals in a distribution in the polymer such that sequences of a major lactic acid residual have at least a 0.5 probability of including a sequence of less than 10 of the major lactic acid residuals consecutively; (b) said first polymer component having a number average molecular weight of at least 40,000 and no greater than about 300,000; and, (c) said melt stable polymer composition having a lactide concentration, if present at all, of less than about 2% by weight of melt-stable polymer in said first polymer component; (d) said melt-stable first polymer component being a material in a form sufficiently melt stable such that a devolatilized sample of it, when isolated and prior to formation of said melt-stable polymer composition, will show formation of less than 1% lactide presence, by weight, after heating for 1 hour at 180° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A film having a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of polymer containing chains including lactic acid residuals; said film further comprising: (a) a melt-stable polymer composition including at least 5% by weight of a melt-stable first polymer component including polymer chains containing lactic acid residuals, based on total weight of melt-stable polymer in said melt-stable polymer composition; (i) said first polymer component being formed from at least: (A) a source of (R)-lactic acid residuals; and, (B) a source of (S)-lactic acid residuals; (ii) said first polymer component having (R)-lactic acid residuals and (S)-lactic acid residuals in a distribution in the polymer such that sequences of a major lactic acid residual have at least a 0.5 probability of including a sequence of less than 10 of the major lactic acid residuals consecutively; (b) said first polymer component having a number average molecular weight of at least 40,000 and no greater than about 300,000; and, (c) said melt stable polymer composition having a lactide concentration, if present at all, of less than about 2% by weight of melt-stable polymer in said first polymer component; (d) said melt-stable first polymer component being a material in a form sufficiently melt stable such that a devolatilized sample of it, when isolated and prior to formation of said melt-stable polymer composition, will show formation of less than 1% lactide presence, by weight, after heating for 1 hour at 180° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A film according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said source of (R)-lactic acid residuals from which said first polymer component is formed includes meso-lactide; and (b) said source of (S)-lactic residuals from which said first polymer component is formed also includes meso-lactide and further includes L-lactide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A film according to claim 2 wherein: (a) said source of (R)-lactic acid residuals further includes D-lactide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A film according to claim 2 wherein: (a) said first polymer component comprises a plurality of polymer chains having at least meso-lactide residuals and L-lactide residuals; said plurality of polymer chains being formed from a lactide mixture comprising greater than about 1% by weight meso-lactide, based on a total weight of meso-lactide, L-lactide and any D-lactide present.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A film according to claim 4 wherein: (a) said first polymer component comprises polymer chains which are structurally modified from poly(lactide).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A film according to claim 5 wherein: (a) said melt stable first polymer component is formed from material containing epoxidized oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A film according to claim 5 wherein: (a) said first polymer component includes an epoxide material reacted into the polymer chains.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A film according to claim 5 wherein: (a) said first polymer component comprises a polymer formed from at least: meso-lactide, L-lactide and a molecular weight control agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A film according to claim 8 wherein: (a) said molecular weight control agent comprises a chain initiator having more than one reactive group for initiating lactide polymerization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A film according to claim 8 wherein: (a) said molecular weight control agent is selected from the group consisting of: diols, triols and glycols.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A film according to claim 5 wherein: (a) said first polymer component comprises a polymer formed from: meso-lactide, L-lactide and at least one other material capable of reacting into the polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A film according to claim 11 wherein: (a) said at least one other material capable of reacting into the polymer includes D-lactide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A film according to claim 12 wherein: (a) said at least one other material capable of reacting into the polymer includes a chain-initiating agent selected from the group consisting essentially of: lactic acid, esters of lactic acid, alcohols, amines, glycols, diols, and triols.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A film according to claim 11 wherein: (a) said at least one other material capable of reacting into the polymer includes a material having more than one functional group capable of reacting into the polymer chains.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A film according to claim 14 wherein: (a) said material having more than one functional group capable of reacting into the polymer chains is selected from the group consisting essentially of: diols, triols and glycols.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A film according to claim 4 wherein: (a) said melt stable first polymer component is formed from material containing epoxidized oil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A film according to claim 4 wherein: (a) said first polymer component includes an epoxide material reacted into the polymer chains.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A film according to claim 1 further comprising: (a) a polymer blend of said first polymer component with a second polymer component; (i) said second polymer component comprising a polymer that does not contain lactic acid residuals therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A film according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said melt stable polymer composition has a water concentration, if water is present at all, of less than about 500 parts per million.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A film according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said first polymer component comprises a poly(lactide) copolymer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
242 words
A film having a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of polymer containing chains including lactic acid residuals; said film further comprising: (a) a melt-stable polymer composition including at least 5% by weight of a melt-stable first polymer component including polymer chains containing lactic acid residuals, based on total weight of melt-stable polymer in said melt-stable polymer composition; (i) said first polymer component comprising polymer chains comprising at least 50% by weight residues selected from the group consisting essentially of L-lactide, D-lactide, and mixtures thereof; and, (ii) said first polymer component having (R)-lactic acid residuals and (S)-lactic acid residuals in a distribution in the polymer such that sequences of a major lactic acid residual have at least a 0.5 probability of including a sequence of less than 10 of the major lactic acid residuals consecutively; (b) said first polymer component having a number average molecular weight of at least 40,000 and no greater than about 300,000; and, (c) said melt stable polymer composition having a lactide concentration, if present at all, of less than about 2% by weight of melt-stable polymer in said first polymer component; (d) said melt-stable first polymer component being a material in a form sufficiently melt stable such that a devolatilized sample of it, when isolated and prior to formation of said melt-stable polymer composition, will show formation of less than 1% lactide presence, by weight, after heating for 1 hour at 180° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
242 words
A film having a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of polymer containing chains including lactic acid residuals; said film further comprising: (a) a melt-stable polymer composition including at least 5% by weight of a melt-stable first polymer component including polymer chains containing lactic acid residuals, based on total weight of melt-stable polymer in said melt-stable polymer composition; (i) said first polymer component comprising polymer chains comprising at least 50% by weight residues selected from the group consisting essentially of L-lactide, D-lactide, and mixtures thereof; and, (ii) said first polymer component having (R)-lactic acid residuals and (S)-lactic acid residuals in a distribution in the polymer such that sequences of a major lactic acid residual have at least a 0.5 probability of including a sequence of less than 10 of the major lactic acid residuals consecutively; (b) said first polymer component having a number average molecular weight of at least 40,000 and no greater than about 300,000; and, (c) said melt stable polymer composition having a lactide concentration, if present at all, of less than about 2% by weight of melt-stable polymer in said first polymer component; (d) said melt-stable first polymer component being a material in a form sufficiently melt stable such that a devolatilized sample of it, when isolated and prior to formation of said melt-stable polymer composition, will show formation of less than 1% lactide presence, by weight, after heating for 1 hour at 180° C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A film according to claim 21, wherein: (a) the first polymer component being formed from a reactant mixture comprising greater than about 9% by weight meso-lactide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A film according to claim 22 wherein: (a) said melt stable first polymer component is formed from material containing epoxidized oil.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A film according to claim 21 wherein: (a) said melt stable first polymer component is formed from material containing epoxidized oil.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A film according to claim 21 wherein: (a) said first polymer component includes an epoxide material reacted into the polymer chains.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A film according to claim 21 wherein: (a) said molecular weight control agent comprises a chain initiator having more than one reactive group for initiating lactide polymerization.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A film according to claim 8 wherein: (a) said molecular weight control agent is selected from the group consisting of: diols, triols and glycols.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
243 words
A process of preparing a film having a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of polymer containing lactide residuals; said process including a step of: (a) extruding a melt-stable polymer composition including at least 5% by weight of a melt-stable first polymer component including polymer chains containing lactic acid residuals, based on total weight of melt-stable polymer in said melt-stable polymer composition; (i) said first polymer component being formed from at least: (A) a source of (R)-lactic acid residuals; and, (B) a source of (S)-lactic acid residuals; (ii) said first polymer component having (R)-lactic acid residuals and (S)-lactic acid residuals in a distribution in the polymer such that sequences of a major lactic acid residual have at least a 0.5 probability of including a sequence of less than 10 of the major lactic acid residuals consecutively; (b) said first polymer component having a number average molecular weight of at least 40,000 and no greater than about 300,000; and, (c) said melt stable polymer composition having a lactide concentration, if present at all, of less than about 2% by weight of melt-stable polymer in said first polymer component; (d) said melt-stable first polymer component being a material in a form sufficiently melt stable such that a devolatilized sample of it, when isolated and prior to formation of said melt-stable polymer composition, will show formation of less than 1% lactide presence, by weight, after heating for 1 hour at 180° C.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
243 words
A process of preparing a film having a net endotherm of less than about 10 joules per gram of polymer containing lactide residuals; said process including a step of: (a) extruding a melt-stable polymer composition including at least 5% by weight of a melt-stable first polymer component including polymer chains containing lactic acid residuals, based on total weight of melt-stable polymer in said melt-stable polymer composition; (i) said first polymer component being formed from at least: (A) a source of (R)-lactic acid residuals; and, (B) a source of (S)-lactic acid residuals; (ii) said first polymer component having (R)-lactic acid residuals and (S)-lactic acid residuals in a distribution in the polymer such that sequences of a major lactic acid residual have at least a 0.5 probability of including a sequence of less than 10 of the major lactic acid residuals consecutively; (b) said first polymer component having a number average molecular weight of at least 40,000 and no greater than about 300,000; and, (c) said melt stable polymer composition having a lactide concentration, if present at all, of less than about 2% by weight of melt-stable polymer in said first polymer component; (d) said melt-stable first polymer component being a material in a form sufficiently melt stable such that a devolatilized sample of it, when isolated and prior to formation of said melt-stable polymer composition, will show formation of less than 1% lactide presence, by weight, after heating for 1 hour at 180° C.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-17 | 2000-06-17 | 2000-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-17 | 2004-06-17 | 2004-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-17 | 2008-06-17 | 2008-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |