Degradable shotgun wad
AssigneeCollege of William and Mary
InventorsKirk J. Havens, Donna Marie Bilkovic, David M. Stanhope, Kory T. Angstadt, Wade K. Blackwood
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Abstract
Herein we describe shotgun shells each having a degradable wad comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer, as well as methods for ensuring that such wad degrades quickly after landing in an aquatic environment. Plastic, aquatic debris has a negative economic and ecological impact, and thus it is advantageous to use implements that will degrade into environmentally benign compounds. Incorporating a degradable wad into shotgun shells provides an effective, economical solution. Suitable degradable shotgun wads and methods are described herein.
Claims20
A degradable wad comprising:
- a wad,
- wherein said wad is configured to degrade in an aquatic environment,
- wherein said wad is suitable for use as a shotgun wad,
- wherein said wad is sized to fit within a shotgun shell, and
- wherein any biodegradable composite of the wad consists essentially of a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer with a specific gravity greater than one.
A degradable wad comprising:
- a wad, wherein said wad is suitable for use in a shotgun shell, wherein said wad consists essentially of a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer, wherein the wad comprises additives, and wherein said wad has a specific gravity greater than one.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.