Compositions and methods for manufacturing sealable, liquid-tight containers comprising an inorganically filled matrix

An article of manufacture comprising a sealable container having a liquid-tight barrier, at least a substantial portion of the sealable container comprising a sheet having an inorganically filled matrix, the matrix including:

• an organic polymer binder selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, proteins, and mixtures or derivatives thereof;
• an inorganic aggregate filler having a concentration in a range from about 20% to about 90% by weight of solids in the inorganically filled matrix;
• and
• a fibrous material substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout the inorganically filled matrix,
• wherein the inorganically filled matrix includes organic components in an amount of at least about 5% by weight of solids within the inorganically filled matrix, and wherein the inorganically filled matrix has a thickness less than about 5 mm.

An article of manufacture comprising a sealable container having a liquid-tight barrier, at least a substantial portion of the sealable container comprising a starch-bound sheet, the starch-bound sheet comprising:

• a binding matrix including starch in an amount in a range from about 5% to about 90% by weight of solids in the starch-bound sheet and cellulosic ether in an amount in a range from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of solids in the starch-bound sheet;
• fibers substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout the binding matrix and having a concentration in an amount in a range from about 3% to about 40% by weight of solids in the starch-bound sheet;
• and
• an inorganic filler in an amount in a range from 0% to about 90% by weight of solids in the starch-bound sheet,
• wherein the starch-bound sheet has a thickness less than about 1 cm and a density greater than about 0.5 g/cm.sup.3.