Thermoplastic starch formulations with additives for performance enhancements

Abstract

Thermoplastic starch-based materials formed as a reactive extrusion product from one or more starches, plasticizers, with the addition of a diacid, diglycidyl ether, silicone and/or a glyceride additive added during gelatinization of the starch and plasticizer, before blending of such starch-based polymeric material with any other polymer (e.g., polyester biopolymers, polyolefins, polyamides, etc.). Silicones, where added, may alternatively be added after formation of the thermoplastic starch, e.g., as part of a masterbatch, when blending with another polymer. Addition of silicone reduces glycerin migration and smoke generation, particularly when processing such compositions to form nonwovens. Addition of glycerides (e.g., triglycerides) can increase hydrophobicity of the resulting starch-based polymeric material. Addition of the diacid can reduce molecular weight, while diglycidyl ether addition can build such molecular weight back up, resulting in a narrower molecular weight distribution, and improved processability of the resulting starch-based polymeric material, particularly for nonwoven applications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.