Resilient biodegradable packaging materials
AssigneeAmylex Corporation
InventorsHans G. Franke, Donald R. Bittner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Biodegradable starch-based extruded products and methods of manufacturing those products are provided. In particular, extruded starch products processed by compression, stretching or compression and stretching provide excellent flexibility, pliability, dimensional stability, resiliency, abrasion resistance and other properties making them attractive for use as packaging materials.
Claims52
A continuous method for producing a shaped starch article which comprises the steps of:
- a. introducing an extruder feed composition comprising from about 70% to about 97% by weight starch into an extruder;
- b. extruding said composition through a tubular die to generate a tube extrudate;
- c. substantially compressing the tube extrudate to form a sheet;
- and
- d. shaping the sheet of extrudate to form a shaped article.
A continuous method for producing a shaped starch article which comprises the steps of:
- a. introducing an extruder feed composition comprising about 70% to about 97% by weight starch into an extruder;
- b. extruding said composition through a tubular die to generate a tube extrudate;
- c. stretching said tube extrudate as it emerges from said die;
- d. substantially compressing said tube extrudate to form a sheet of extrudate;
- and
- e. shaping said sheet of extrudate into an article.
A continuous method of pressure molding a shaped starch article which comprises the steps of:
- a. introducing an extruder feed composition comprising from about 70% to about 97% by weight starch into a twin-screw extruder;
- b. extruding said composition through a die to generate a tube extrudate;
- c. after exit from the extruder, substantially compressing the tube extrudate to form a sheet of extrudate;
- and
- d. introducing said sheet of extrudate into a mold and thereafter forming a shaped expanded starch article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.