Fibers comprising polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer/polylactic acid polymer or copolymer blends
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsIsao Noda, Eric Bryan Bond, David Harry Melik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Environmentally degradable melt spun fibers comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and a polylactic acid polymer or copolymer are disclosed. A preferred configuration of the present invention is directed to environmentally degradable fibers comprising a sheath/core structure where the core comprises a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and the sheath comprises a polymer or copolymer of polylactic acid. Nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the environmentally degradable fibers are also disclosed.
Claims21
An environmentally degradable melt spun composition comprising:
- a PLA polymer or copolymer;
- and
- a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units wherein a first monomer unit has structure (I)
- where R1 is H, or C1 or C2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2;
- and
- wherein a second monomer unit has structure (II)
- where R2 is a C3-C9 alkyl or C3-C9 alkenyl,
- wherein the composition is in the form of a fiber having a diameter of about 50 micrometers or less.
An environmentally degradable fiber produced by melt spinning a composition comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and a PLA polymer or copolymer, wherein said polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprises at least two randomly repeating monomer units
- wherein a first monomer unit has structure (I)
- where R1 is H, or C1 or C2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2;
- and
- wherein a second monomer unit has structure (II)
- where R2 is a C3-C9 alkyl or C3-C9 alkenyl,
- wherein the fiber has a diameter of about 50 micrometers or less.
An environmentally degradable composition comprising a 3-hydroxybutyrate/3-hydroxyhexanoate copolymer and a PLA polymer or copolymer wherein the composition is in the form of a fiber having a diameter at about 50 micrometers or less.
An environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber wherein at least one component has a composition comprising:
- a PLA polymer or copolymer;
- and
- a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units wherein a first monomer unit has structure (I)
- where R1 is H, or C1 or C2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2;
- and
- wherein a second monomer unit has structure (II)
- where R2 is a C3-C19 alkyl or C3-C19 alkenyl,
- wherein the composition is in the form of a fiber having a diameter of about 50 micrometers or less.
An environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber wherein a first component comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units wherein a first monomer unit has structure (I)
- where R1 is H, or C1 or C2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2;
- and
- wherein a second monomer unit has structure (II)
- where R2 is a C3-C19 alkyl or C3-C19 alkenyl, and a second component comprises a PLA polymer or copolymer,
- wherein said fiber has a diameter of about 50 micrometers or less.
An environmentally degradable biocomponent fiber comprising a sheath-core configuration wherein the core is a 3-hydroxybutyrate/3-hydroxyhexanoate copolymer and the sheath is a PLA polymer or copolymer wherein said fiber has a diameter of about 50 micrometers or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.