Degradable multilayer thermoplastic articles
AssigneeFirst Brands Corporation
InventorEdward B. Tucker
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Abstract
The invention relates to multilayer degradable thermoplastic articles. In one embodiment the novel multilayer thermoplastic article comprises a first outer layer, a core layer and second outer layer, wherein the first outer layer and second outer layer are degradable by photo, thermal or chemical means and contain an effective amount of a prodegradant and the core layer is a water-soluble and/or biodegradable core layer, preferably both water-soluble and biodegradable. Bags formed from the multilayer thermoplastic article are useful for use in the composting of organic material.
Claims68
A multilayer degradable thermoplastic article having at least three layers of thermoplastic material comprising a first outer layer, a second outer layer, and a core layer, wherein the first outer layer and second outer layer are characterized as containing an effective amount of a prodegradant to promote photodegradation and/or thermal degradation and said core layer is characterized as being more water soluble and/or more biodegradable than said first outer layer and said second outer layer.
A method for composting an organic material stored in a thermoplastic/container comprising providing said organic material to a shredding means wherein said thermoplastic container is shredded into pieces smaller than the initial thermoplastic container, introducing the organic material and shredded thermoplastic container to a composting pile, composting said composting pile under effective composting conditions for an effective period of time wherein said thermoplastic container comprises a three layer structure characterized by a first outer layer and a second outer layer which are characterized as containing an effective amount of a prodegradant to promote photodegradation and/or thermal degradation and a core layer wherein the core layer is characterized as being more water soluble and/or more biodegradable than said first outer layer and said second outer layer.
A composting bag formed from a multilayer thermoplastic film having a first outer layer, a core layer and a second outer layer wherein the first outer layer and second outer layer are characterized as containing an effective amount of prodegradant and said core layer is characterized as being more water soluble and/or more biodegradable than said first outer layer and said second outer layer and wherein the core layer comprises greater than 50 percent by weight of the total film weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.