Thermoplastic and Water-Dispersible Injection Moldable Materials and Articles

A flushable tampon applicator, the tampon applicator comprising an outer tube for housing a tampon and comprising an inner tube, at least a portion of which extends into the outer tube, wherein the outer tube includes an outer, body-contacting surface, wherein the inner tube is moveable relative to the outer tube and configured to expel a tampon from the outer tube, further wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube comprises a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising:

• from about 50 wt. % to about 98 wt. % of partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols, the partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols comprising a first polyvinyl alcohol and a second polyvinyl alcohol, wherein the viscosity of the first polyvinyl alcohol is less than the viscosity of the second polyvinyl alcohol, and wherein the weight percentage ratio of the first polyvinyl alcohol to the second polyvinyl alcohol ranges from about 1 to about 20;
• and
• from about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of a plasticizer;
• wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube is a molded part.