Biodegradable thermoplastic composition
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsFu-Jya Tsai, Brian T. Etzel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a thermoplastic composition comprising an unreacted mixture of a poly(lactic acid) polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer or a polybutylene succinate adipate polymer, or a mixture of such polymers; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The thermoplastic composition is useful in making multicomponent fibers or nonwoven structures that may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.
Claims23
A method of forming a multi-component fiber comprising:
- extruding a thermoplastic composition blend;
- and
- spinning the extruded thermoplastic composition blend into a continuous multi-component fiber;
- wherein the multi-component fiber exhibits an Advancing Contact Angle value that is less than about 80 degrees and a Receding Contact Angle value that is less than about 60 degrees.
A method of forming a multi-component fiber comprising:
- extruding a thermoplastic composition blend;
- spinning the extruded thermoplastic composition blend into a continuous multi-component fiber;
- cooling, solidifying and drawing the continuous multi-component fiber to an intermediate filament diameter;
- drawing the intermediate multi-component fiber at a temperature below its softening point to a desired finished fiber diameter;
- and
- cutting the finished multi-component fiber into desirable lengths to form short-cut or staple multi-component fibers;
- wherein the multi-component fiber exhibits an Advancing Contact Angle value that is less than about 80 degrees and a Receding Contact Angle value that is less than about 60 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.