Fibers comprising starch and biodegradable polymers
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsEric Bryan Bond, Jean-Philippe Marie Autran, Larry Neil Mackey, Isao Noda, Hugh Joseph O'Donnell
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Abstract
Environmentally degradable finely attenuated fibers produced by melt spinning a composition comprising destructurized starch, a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer are disclosed. The present invention is also directed to highly attenuated fibers containing thermoplastic polymer microfibrils which are formed within the starch matrix of the finely attenuated fiber. Nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the highly attenuated fibers are also disclosed.
Claims18
An environmentally degradable, highly attenuated fiber produced by melt spinning a composition comprising:
- a. destructurized starch,
- b. a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of less than 400,000 g/mol;
- and
- c. a plasticizer.
An environmentally degradable, highly attenuated fiber produced by melt spinning a composition comprising:
- a. from about 5% to about 80% of destructurized starch,
- b. from about 15% to about 90% of a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 g/mol to about 400,000 g/mol, and
- c. from about 2% to about 70% of a plasticizer,
- wherein thermoplastic polymer microfibrils are formed within the starch matrix in the environmentally degradable, highly attenuated fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.