# US 6,294,265 B1 · Hydrophobic biodegradable cellulose containing composite materials

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- Number: US 6,294,265 B1
- Document ID: US6294265B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/401,197
- Filed: 1999-09-23
- Granted: 2001-09-25
- Earliest claimed: 1999-09-23
- Assignees: Rademate Ltd.
- Inventors: Michael Ioelovich; Oleg Figovsky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6294265B1

## CPC

- D21H 19/20: comprising macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- D04H 1/587: characterised by the bonding agents used
- D04H 1/64: the bonding agent being applied in wet state, e.g. chemical agents in dispersions or solutions
- Y10T 428/31804: Next to cellulosic
- Y10T 428/31808: Cellulosic is paper
- Y10T 428/3188: Next to cellulosic
- Y10T 428/31891: Where addition polymer is an ester or halide
- Y10T 428/31906: Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
- D21H: PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Composite cellulose containing materials which are waterproof and biodegradable are produced which consist essentially of cellulose and hydrophobic polymer-based composition in the amount about 4 to 40 wt %. The polymer-based composition comprises first polymer, which is partially saponified polyvinyl acetate, second polymer, which functions as plasticizer for improving elasticity of the first polymer and cross-linking agent, which is capable to cross-link the first polymer. The polymer-based composition may additionally contain environmentally friendly hydrophobizators, fillers and pigments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composite material comprising a cellulose component and a polymer-based component, wherein said polymer-based component is formed using a mixture of:
a) a first polymer comprising polyvinyl acetate latex which contains 2-8 wt. % free hydroxyl groups;
b) a second polymer comprising a non cross-linked latex selected from the group consisting of poly-(C2-C4)-alkylacrylates, copolymers of vinyl with (C2-C4)-alkylacrylate and -copolymers of (C2-C4)-alkylacrylate with (C2-C4)-alkylmethacrylate, said second polymer providing improved elasticity to the first polymer upon adding the second polymer thereto; and
d) a cross-linking agent.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A composite material as defined in claim 1, in which the weight ratio of the second polymer to the first polymer is 0.05-0.43.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A composite material as defined in claim 2 in which the equivalent ratio of functional groups in the cross-linking agent to the stoichiometric content of free hydroxyl groups in the first polymer is 0.4-1.2.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A composite material as defined in claim 1, in which said polymer-based component is formed from a mixture of:
a) 45-94 weight % of the first polymer;
b) 4-28 weight % of the second polymer; and
c) 2-20 weight % of the cross-linking agent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A composite material as defined in claim 1, in which said polymer-based component comprises at least one hydrophobizing agent capable to render the composite material waterproof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A composite material as defined in claim 5, in which said hydrophobizing agent is at least one natural substance selected from the group consisting of natural waxes and fatty acids, and said hydrophobizing agent has a melting point 30-90 degrees C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A composite material as defined in claim 5, in which said hydrophobizing agent is at least one silicon organic substance selected from the group consisting of environmentally friendly alkyl- and phenyl-alkoxysilanes, vinyl- and allylalkoxysilanes, polyalkylhydrosiloxanes and polyalkylhydroxysiloxanes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A composite material as defined in claim 5, in which said polymer-based component is formed from a mixture of:
a) 45-93 weight % of the first polymer;
b) 4-28 weight % of the second polymer;
c) 2-20 weight % of the cross-linking and agent;
d) 0.5-10 weight % of the hydrophobizing agent.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

A composite material as defined in claim 5, in which said polymer-based component comprises at least one functional additive, said functional additive is a filler or a pigment, said functional additive being an environmentally friendly substance selected from the group consisting of chalk, talc, kaolin and iron oxide.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A composite material as defined in claim 9, in which said polymer-based component comprises:
a) 45-93 weight % of the first polymer;
b) 4-28 weight % of the second polymer;
c) 2-20 weight % of the cross-linking agent;
d) 0.5-10 weight % of the hydrophobizing agent; and
e) 0.5-5 weight % of the functional additive.

### Claim 11

An article of manufacture made of a composite material comprising a cellulose containing component and a polymer-based component, wherein said polymer based component is formed from a mixture of:
a) a first polymer, said first polymer being cross-linked, said first polymer being a product of partial saponification of polyvinyl acetate latex carried out at pH 10-12, 30-35 degrees C. for 20-35 min, and said first polymer contains 2-8 wt. % of free hydroxyl groups;
b) a second polymer, said second polymer being a non cross-linked latex, said second polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly-(C2-C4)-alkylacrylates, co-polymers of vinyl with (C2-C4)-alkylacrylate and co-polymers of (C2-C4)-alkylacrylate with (C2-C4)-alkylmethacrylate and said second polymer being capable to impart improved elasticity to the first polymer upon adding the second polymer thereto; and
c) a cross-linking agent capable to effect cross-linking of the first polymer, said cross-linking agent contains at least two functional groups, and said functional groups being hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine or aldehyde groups.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 11, in which said cellulose containing component comprises paper, paperboard, cardboard, fabric, or non-woven material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, in which said composite material is in the form of a bulk mixture of the cellulose containing component impregnated by an aqueous dispersion of the polymer-based component.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, in which said composite material is in the form of a substrate consisting of the cellulose containing component, said substrate is coated by a coating applied thereto, wherein said coating consists essentially of the polymer-based component.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, in which said composite material is in the form of a substrate consisting of a bulk mixture of the cellulose containing component impregnated an by aqueous dispersion of the polymer-based component, said substrate is coated by a coating applied thereto, and said coating consists essentially of the polymer-based component.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The composite material of claim 1 wherein said polymer-based component comprises up to about 48 wt. % of the composite material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The composite material of claim 1 wherein said polymer based component comprises about 4 to 40 wt. % of the composite material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The composite material of claim 1 wherein said cross-linking agent includes at least two functional groups taken from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine and aldehyde moieties.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The composite material of claim 16 comprising a cellulose substrate coated with said polymer-based component to form a biodegradable, hydrophobic composite.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The composite material of claim 16 comprising an admixture of cellulose and polymer-based component to form a biodegradable, hydrophobic composite.