Macrophyte-based bioplastic
AssigneeAlgix, LLC
InventorsSuraj Sharma, Ryan W. Hunt, Mark Ashton Zeller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bioplastic composition may contain certain biodegradable and renewable components. In some examples, the bioplastic composition includes at least one kind of aquatic macrophyte biomass, which may contain a native composition of protein and carbohydrates, in a blend with one or more types of biodegradable or durable thermoplastic polymers. The aquatic macrophyte composition may provide a balance of both polymeric and reinforcing properties to the blended bioplastic not typically exhibited by terrestrial feedstock such as soy meal or corn starch. Such a bioplastic composition may be formed into molded articles using extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, or the like.
Claims36
A bioplastic composition comprising:
- a macrophyte biomass;
- and
- a thermoplastic polymer,
- wherein the macrophyte biomass comprises greater than 5 weight percent of the bioplastic composition and the thermoplastic polymer comprises less than 95 weight percent of the bioplastic composition.
A bioplastic composition consisting essentially of:
- a macrophyte biomass ranging from approximately 10 weight percent to approximately 85 weight percent of the bioplastic composition;
- and
- a thermoplastic polymer ranging from approximately 90 weight percent to approximately 15 weight percent of the bioplastic composition,
- wherein the macrophyte biomass defines particle sizes ranging from approximately 1 micrometer to approximately 300 micrometers, and
- wherein the macrophyte biomass is homogenously admixed with the thermoplastic polymer.
A method comprising:
- mixing a macrophyte biomass with a thermoplastic polymer so as to form a bioplastic composition,
- wherein mixing the macrophyte biomass with the thermoplastic polymer comprises mixing an amount of macrophyte biomass with an amount of thermoplastic polymer so that the macrophyte biomass comprises greater than 5 weight percent of the bioplastic composition and the thermoplastic polymer comprises less than 95 weight percent of the bioplastic composition.
A method comprising:
- forming an article from a bioplastic composition,
- wherein the bioplastic composition comprises a macrophyte biomass and a thermoplastic polymer, the macrophyte biomass comprises greater than 5 weight percent of the bioplastic composition, and the thermoplastic polymer comprises less than 95 weight percent of the bioplastic composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.