Water-responsive film and methods of producing the same
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsRichmond R. Cohen, Ingrid C. Hoeger Vivas, Uyen T. Lam, Wing-Chak Ng, Peiguang Zhou
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a film including a substantially crystalline water-dispersible polymer and an aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane polymer. The film has a crystallinity of at least 25%. The film expands when contacted by water. The film may include one or more apertures that can open/close in response to water. The film expands when in contact with water, but retracts as it dries, allowing for multiple insults to trigger the expansion and retraction properties of the film.
Claims20
A water-responsive film comprising:
- a water-soluble polymer;
- and
- an aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU);
- wherein the film has a degree of crystallinity of at least 25%.
A water-responsive film comprising:
- 30 wt. % to 70 wt. % of a water-soluble polymer, based on the total weight of the film, wherein the water-soluble polymer has a degree of crystallinity greater than 50%;
- and
- 30 wt. % to 60 wt. % of an aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane, based on the total weight of the film;
- wherein the film has a degree of crystallinity from 25% to 60%.
A method of producing a water-responsive expandable film, the method comprising:
- melt blending a composition comprising a water-soluble polymer and an aromatic TPU;
- and
- extruding the composition to produce a film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.