Water-resistant degradable foam and method of making the same
AssigneeBoard of Regents of the University of Nebraska
InventorsGerald Biby, Milford Hanna, Qi Fang
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Abstract
A foam that is the extrudate of a mixture of a biodegradable polymer, starch, talc, and a blowing agent is provided. This foam is made by extruding a mixture of the above-listed components. This foam is water-resistant and in some variations waterproof making it an effective packing material. Still further, this foam is biodegradable, and thus, it can be disposed without creating environmental waste. In addition, the foam may be extruded into sheets and then thermoformed to form various articles.
Claims15
A foam that is the extrudate of a mixture comprising:
- a biodegradable polymer that is selected from the group consisting of poly(tetramethylene adipate-co-terephthalate) and a resin comprised of 10-50% by weight ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, 20-70% by weight destructured starch, 2-40% by weight plasticizer, 0-10% by weight urea, 1-5% by weight water, and 0.002-0.4% by weight boron compounds;
- starch having at least 25% amylopectin;
- talc;
- and
- a blowing agent.
A process for making a foam, comprising:
- contacting a mixture of water, starch having at least 25% amylopectin, talc, and a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(tetramethylene adipate-co-terephthalate and a resin comprised of 10-50% by weight ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, 20-70% by weight destructured starch, 2-40% by weight plasticizer, 0-10% by weight urea, 1-5% by weight water and 0.002-0.04% by weight boron compounds, under conditions sufficient to form a foam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.