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US 5,208,267 AGranted
Starch-based, biodegradable packing filler and method of preparing same
OwnerPaul E. Neumann, Paul A. Seibinventors
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OwnerPaul E. Neumann, Paul A. Seibinventors
Estimating the term…
Starch-based biodegradable packaging fillers are provided which have high volumes, low weights, and excellent compressibility and resiliency properties. The products of the invention are fabricated by extrusion of a starch substrate, most preferably normal wheat starch, in the presence of minor amounts of a polyalkylene glycol or derivative thereof and/or a particulate bubble-nucleating agent. Effective biodegradable packaging fillers can thus be fabricated without the use of expensive modified starch substrates; however, such substrates can also be employed if desired, and the additives of the invention improve these products as well. In preferred production procedures, the additives are mixed with the starch substrate, and the mixture is preconditioned and then extruded through a twin screw extruder.
In a method of producing a starch product adapted for use as a packaging filler or the like, said method including the steps of extruding starch containing moisture under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure through a restricted orifice die in order to create an expanded, cellular compressible and resilient body having a starch matrix, the improvement which comprises mixing with said starch an amount of a polyalkylene glycol or derivative thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.