Composite bioplastic material
AssigneeQinetiq Limited
InventorsRoya ASHAYER-SOLTANI, Paul Thomas DUFF
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite material and method can include a bioplastic film, the bioplastic film including a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface denotes an inner facing surface and the second surface denotes an exterior facing surface. The bioplastic film can include a polypeptide-based or polysaccharide-based biopolymer, or a mixture of polypeptide-based and polysaccharide based biopolymer, and a bioplasticiser substance. An inner product-facing surface of the bioplastic film can include a coating that includes alpha-eleostearic acid as a major component. Further provided are products containing the material and their uses in the fields of packaging, coatings and ink-printable substrates.
Claims25
1-25. (canceled)
A composite material comprising:
- a bioplastic film, the bioplastic film including a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface denotes an inner facing surface and the second surface denotes an exterior facing surface,
- wherein the bioplastic film is comprised of a polypeptide-based or polysaccharide-based biopolymer, or a mixture of polypeptide-based and polysaccharide based biopolymer, and a bioplasticiser substance;
- and
- wherein the inner product-facing surface of the bioplastic film comprises a coating that includes alpha-eleostearic acid as a major component
- wherein the bioplasticiser is selected from the group consisting of:
- an alkyl citrate;
- an alkyl glycolate;
- an alkyl succinate;
- an alkyl glutarate;
- an alkyl stearate;
- an alkyl oleate;
- any derivative thereof, including their free acid and alkali salt forms;
- an isosorbide;
- a cardanol;
- a polyhydric alcohol;
- any derivative thereof,
- wherein the bioplasticiser is selected from the group consisting of:
- C1-C6 alkyl group;
- or the bioplasticiser is a polycondensation product of a small molecule polycarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of:
- a citrate;
- a succinate;
- a glutarate;
- and a polyol selected from the group consisting of:
- glycerol;
- ethylene glycol;
- and propylene glycol.
A method for the production of a composite material, the method comprising:
- providing a polypeptide-based biopolymer, wherein the polypeptide-based biopolymer is dissolved in water in a ratio by weight of:
- at most 1:10;
- combining the dissolved polypeptide-based biopolymer with a small molecule hydrophilic bioplasticiser to form a polypeptide-based biopolymer/bioplasticiser solution;
- adding the small molecule hydrophilic bioplasticiser to the polypeptide-based biopolymer/bioplasticiser solution in a mixing ratio by weight with respect to itself and the polypeptide-based biopolymer of:
- at most 50 w/w % and at least 0.01 w/w %;
- using the polypeptide-based biopolymer/bioplasticiser solution to generate a bioplastic film;
- and
- applying a coating comprising alpha-eleostearic acid as a major component to at least one surface of the bioplastic film,
- wherein the polypeptide-based biopolymer comprises gelatine and the hydrophilic bioplasticiser comprises poly(glycerol-citrate) (PGC).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.