US5705536A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Foamed starch polymer
Assignee: BioTec Biologische Naturverpackungen GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1994-06-15
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Granted: 1998-01-06
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Expires: 2014-06-15
Abstract
Abstract In order to produce a substantially biologically degradable polymer foam, a thermoplastic or disaggregated starch or a polymer mixture of thermoplastic or disaggregated starch with at least one biologically degradable hydrophobic polymer is used. In addition, the material is mixed with a biologically degradable fibrous or capsular material capable of binding water by capillary action, said material being at least partially treated or saturated with water before being mixed with the polymer. The polymer/material mixture thus obtained is processed under controlled pressure and temperature so that the water bound by capillarity in the material is released and causes the polymer to foam.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivan Tomka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:49
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J9/00; C08J9/04; C08J9/12; C08J9/125; C08B; C08B30/00; C08B30/12; C08J9/0085; C08L; C08L3/00; C08L3/02; C08J2303/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A process for the production of a substantially biologically degradable polymer foam, characterized by the fact that thermoplastic or disaggregated starch or a polymer mixture of thermoplastic or disaggregated starch with at least one biologically degradable hydrophobic polymer, said starch or polymer mixture having a water content of less than 5 wt % is mixed with a material consisting essentially of a biologically degradable fibrous or capsular material which is capable of binding water by capillary action and which was at least partially treated with water, and the polymer/material mixture is foamed by applying such pressure and temperature that the water bound by capillary action in the material is liberated so as to effect the foaming of the polymer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for the production of a substantially biologically degradable polymer foam, characterized by the fact that thermoplastic or disaggregated starch or a polymer mixture of thermoplastic or disaggregated starch with at least one biologically degradable hydrophobic polymer, said starch or polymer mixture having a water content of less than 5 wt % is mixed with a material consisting essentially of a biologically degradable fibrous or capsular material which is capable of binding water by capillary action and which was at least partially treated with water, and the polymer/material mixture is foamed by applying such pressure and temperature that the water bound by capillary action in the material is liberated so as to effect the foaming of the polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that thermoplastic starch or the polymer mixture containing thermoplastic starch is mixed with up to 30 wt. % of capillary water-containing fibrous or capsular material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the mixing of the thermoplastic starch or the thermoplastic starch/polymer mixture with the fibrous or capsular material is effected within a temperature range of 100°-200° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the fibrous or capsular material comprises at least one of the following fibers: hemp, jute, sisal, cotton, flax/linen, natural silk and/abaca.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the fibrous or capsular material comprises at least one of the following substances: expanded clay aggregate, silica gel, agarose gel, cephatex gel and/Ceolith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the fibrous or capsular material comprises ramie fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the polymer mixture contains, in addition to thermoplastic starch, at least one of the following hydrophobic polymers: cellulose derivative having a degree of substitution less than or equal to 2; aliphatic polyester; hydrophobic protein; and polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process, according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the polymer mixture comprises a polymeric phase mediator or a macromolecular dispersing agent, the phase mediator or the dispersing agent coupling of the starch phase with the hydrophobic polymer phase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the thermoplastically processable starch is starch which has been digested with water removal with at least one of the following substances as swelling or plasticizing agent or as softener: sorbitol, glycerol, pentaerythritol, trimethyl propane, polyvinyl alcohol, a hydroxy acid or salt thereof, polyvinyl alcohol, and ethoxylated polyalcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the thermoplastic starch or a thermoplastic starch/polymer mixture having a water content of less than 1 wt. % is mixed with 2-20 wt. %, of water-saturated ramie fibers having a fiber length of about 0.3-4.0 mm, within a temperature range of about 120°-180° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process, according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that for the foaming at a temperature of about 200°-210° C. in order to effect the liberation of the water bound by capillary action in the ramie fiber, which water serves as expansion agent for the inflating of the thermoplastic starch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process for the production of a polymer mixture suitable for the production of a biologically degradable polymer foam, characterized by the fact that thermoplastic starch or a polymer mixture containing thermoplastic starch and a hydrophobic polymer having a water content of less than 1 wt. % are mixed with up to 30 wt. % of ramie fibers substantially saturated with water at a temperature range of 130-°170° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process for the production of a polymer mixture suitable for the production of a biologically degradable polymer foam, characterized by the fact that thermoplastic starch or a polymer mixture containing thermoplastic starch and a hydrophobic polymer having a water content of less than 1 wt. % are mixed with up to 30 wt. % of ramie fibers substantially saturated with water at a temperature range of 130-°170° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A biologically degradable polymer foam, comprising foamed thermoplastic starch containing ramie fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A biologically degradable polymer foam, comprising foamed thermoplastic starch containing ramie fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A polymer foam, according to claim 13, comprising 3 to 30 wt. % of ramie fibers based on the total weight of the foam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A polymer foam, according to claim 13, characterized by comprising 20 to 35 wt. %, based on the weight of the thermoplastic starch, of glycerol, sorbitol or a mixture thereof as plasticizer, as well as 4-8 wt. % of ramie fibers, referred to the total weight of the foam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A polymer mixture suitable for the production of a biologically degradable polymer foam, characterized by a thermoplastic starch mixture with ramie fibers substantially saturated with water.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A polymer mixture suitable for the production of a biologically degradable polymer foam, characterized by a thermoplastic starch mixture with ramie fibers substantially saturated with water.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A polymer mixture according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the thermoplastic starch is from 20 to 35 wt.% based on the weight of the thermoplastic starch of glycerol, sorbitol or a mixture thereof, and the ramie fibers are 4 to 8 wt. % based on the total weight of the polymer mixture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A polymer mixture according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that it contains at least one hydrophobic polymer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A biologically degradable polymer foam according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that it contains at least one hydrophobic polymer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 2 in which said water content is less than one weight percent and the mixture is effected within a temperature range of 130° C.-170° C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the hydrophobic polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose ether, cellulose ester, caprolactone, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyhydroxybutyric acid/hydroxvaleric acid copolymer, polylactic acid, zein and about 88% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to claim 10 in which the amount of water-saturated ramie fibers is 4-8 wt. percent and said fibers have a fiber length of about 0.4-0.6 mm and the mixing is effected within a temperature range of 130° C.-170° C.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 12 in which the amount of ramie fibers is about 4-8 wt. percent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-05 | 2001-07-07 | 2002-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-05 | 2005-07-07 | 2006-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-05 | 2009-07-07 | 2010-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |