Compostable and biodegradable compositions of a blend of natural cellulosic and thermoplastic biodegradable fibers
AssigneeThe University of Tennessee Research Corporation
InventorsKermit E. Duckett, Gajanan S. Bhat, Hageun Suh
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Abstract
Compostable and biodegradable compositions of a blend of natural cellulosic and thermoplastic biodegradable fibers are disclosed. Typically the compositions include cotton and cellulose acetate. A process for the manufacture of a nonwoven composition which comprises a compostable blend of natural cellulosic fibers such as cotton and thermoplastic biodegradable fibers such as cellulose acetate; the blend is then carded to obtain the nonwoven composition.
Claims38
A compostable nonwoven fabric comprising a blend of natural cellulosic fibers and biodegradable thermoplastic fibers wherein the ratio of the natural cellulosic fibers to the biodegradable thermoplastic fibers is such that the rate of biodegradability of the blend is greater than the rate of biodegradability of either of the natural cellulosic fibers or the biodegradable thermoplastic fibers alone, and wherein the natural cellulosic fiber is selected from the group consisting of cotton, jute, flax, ramie, hemp, kenaf, abaca, sisal, kapok, bagasse, and eucalyptus.
A compostable nonwoven fabric comprising a blend of natural cellulosic fibers and biodegradable thermoplastic fibers wherein the ratio of the natural cellulosic fibers to the biodegradable thermoplastic fibers is such that the rate of biodegradability of the blend is greater than the rate of biodegradability of either of the natural cellulosic fibers or the biodegradable thermoplastic fibers alone, and wherein the natural cellulosic fibers and biodegradable fibers are thermally bonded to each other.
A compostable nonwoven fabric comprising a blend of natural cellulosic fibers and biodegradable thermoplastic fibers in a ratio of the natural cellulosic fibers to the biodegradable thermoplastic fibers such that the rate of biodegradability of the blend is greater than the rate of biodegradability of either of the natural cellulosic fibers or the biodegradable thermoplastic fibers alone, wherein the fabric is a carded fabric.
A process for the manufacture of a compostable non-woven fabric comprising a blend of natural cellulosic fibers and thermoplastic biodegradable fibers, which process comprises thoroughly mixing the natural cellulosic fibers with the thermoplastic biodegradable fibers to obtain a fibrous blend, wherein the ratio of the natural cellulosic fibers to the biodegradable thermoplastic fibers is such that the rate of biodegradability of the blend is greater than the rate of biodegradability of either of the natural cellulosic fibers or the biodegradable thermoplastic fibers alone, and carding the blend to obtain the non-woven fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.