# US 11,078,339 B2 · Process for obtaining thermoplastic composite pellets reinforced with cellulose pulp and additive cellulose pulp

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- Number: US 11,078,339 B2
- Document ID: US11078339B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/349,954
- Filed: 2017-11-16
- Published: 2019-10-03
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-17
- Assignees: ServiçO Nacional De Aprendizagem Industrial Senai; Suzano S.A.
- Applicants: Fibria Celulose S.A.; ServiçO Nacional De Aprendizagem Industrial—Senai
- Inventors: Elaine Cristina Ramires; Marcelo Rodrigues Da Silva; Cristiane Miotto Becker; André Luís dos Santos Da Silva; Vinícius Oliveira
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078339B2

## CPC

- C08J 5/045: {with vegetable or animal fibrous material}
- B29B 7/007: {for continuous mixing}
- B29B 7/483: {the other mixing parts being discs perpendicular to the screw axis}
- B29B 7/489: {Screws (B29B7/482 takes precedence)}
- B29B 7/92: Wood chips or wood fibres
- B29B 9/14: fibre-reinforced
- B29C 48/04: Particle-shaped (making granules B29B9/00)
- B29C 48/92: Measuring, controlling or regulating
- C08J 3/12: Powdering or granulating
- C08J 3/201: {Pre-melted polymers}
- C08J 3/226: {using a polymer as a carrier}
- C08K 5/00: Use of organic ingredients
- C08K 5/092: Polycarboxylic acids
- C08L 1/02: Cellulose; Modified cellulose
- C08L 23/06: Polyethylene
- C08L 23/10: Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
- C08L 23/12: Polypropene
- C08J 2323/06: Polyethene
- C08J 2323/12: Polypropene
- C08J 2423/06: Polyethene
- C08J 2423/12: Polypropene
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)

## Abstract

The present invention refers to a process for obtaining thermoplastic composite pellets reinforced with cellulose pulp or additive cellulose pulp, cellulose fibers, and/or hydrophilic material from renewable source, and/or natural source material comprising the steps of cellulose pulp dry processing carried out in a binder mill, and/or plastic agglomerator and/or densifier, and preparation of the masterbach comprising the steps of drying the pulp and the thermoplastic materials, preparing the compositions of polymer and cellulose fiber, milling the masterbatch produced, drying the product, extruding the polymer and the masterbatch, and injecting the obtained material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Process for obtaining thermoplastic composite pellets reinforced with cellulose pulp comprising the steps of:
a) cellulose pulp milling carried out in a knife mill consisting of a tube in which the cellulose pulp is milled by an axle with knives comprised within said tube;
b) preparing a masterbatch consisting of the mixture of the milled cellulose pulp of step a) and a thermoplastic polymer in a mixing chamber at a temperature ranging from about 90° C. to about 300° C. by:
b.1) adding and melting the thermoplastic polymer in the mixing chamber; and
b.2) after complete melting of the thermoplastic polymer, adding the milled cellulose pulp of step a) into the mixing chamber;
wherein the masterbatch comprises a thermoplastic polymer and the milled cellulose pulp of step a) at a ratio of 10/90 to 90/10;
c) milling the masterbatch of step b) into the knife mill;
d) drying the milled masterbatch produced in step c) for 1 to 48 hours at 30° C. to 100° C.; and
e) obtaining the thermoplastic composite pellets reinforced with cellulose pulp by means of the extrusion of the dried masterbatch of step e) and an additional thermoplastic polymer through a twin screw extruder using two gravimetric feeders, one for each product, with speeds ranging from 10 to 400 rpm and temperatures from about 90° C. to about 300° C.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Process, according to claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber of step b) is coupled to a torque rheometer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Process, according to claim 2, wherein in step b.2), the milled cellulose pulp is added in steps into the mixing chamber in line with the torque variation of the torque rheometer in order to achieve clarity of dispersion and homogeneity of the masterbatch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Process, according to claim 1, wherein step b) further includes the addition of at least one compatibilizer for preparing the masterbatch, and wherein said at least one compatibilizer is selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride and additives.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Process, according to claim 4, wherein the at least one compatibilizer is lignin or nanocellulose.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Process, according to claim 1, further including addition of at least one pigment for preparing the masterbatch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Process, according to claim 1, further comprising prior to step b) a step of separately drying the milled cellulose pulp of step a) and the thermoplastic polymer for 1 to 48 hours at 30° C. to 100° C.