# US 9,752,016 B2 · Microtextured films with improved tactile impression and/or reduced noise perception

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- Number: US 9,752,016 B2
- Document ID: US9752016B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/709,527
- Filed: 2015-05-12
- Published: 2015-11-12
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-12
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Norman Scott Broyles; April Renae Brown; Arman Ashraf; Gary Wayne Gilbertson; Jeffrey Thomas Grothaus
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752016B2

## CPC

- C08L 3/02: Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin
- B29C 49/0005: {characterised by the material}
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/22: using plasticisers
- B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)}
- C08J 5/18: Manufacture of films or sheets
- B29K 2003/00: Use of starch or derivatives as moulding material
- B29L 2023/003: {having irregular or rough surfaces}
- B32B 2307/54: Yield strength; Tensile strength
- B32B 2555/02: Diapers or napkins
- C08J 2323/04: Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
- Y10T 428/24355: Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A film layer having a micro-textured surface is provided. The film layer has a continuous phase with one or more thermoplastic polymers, wherein at least one of the thermoplastic polymers is a low-modulus polymer having a 2% secant modulus of less than or equal to 140 MPa, and the film has from 10 wt % to 100 wt % of the low modulus thermoplastic polymer. The film layer also has a discrete phase with from 5 wt % to 45 wt % of a thermoplastic starch.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of making a film layer having a micro-textured surface, comprising:
extruding a heated film composition through an annular die to form a tube comprising the film composition, wherein the film composition comprises from 10wt % to 45 wt % of a thermoplastic starch, from 0.05 wt % to 0.5 wt % of a surface migratory agent, and from 10 wt % to 100 wt % of a low modulus thermoplastic polymer having a 2% secant modulus from about 30 MPa to about 75MPa;
cooling the tube; and
forming a film layer from the tube, the film layer having a micro-textured surface and a continuous phase and a discrete phase comprising the thermoplastic starch, wherein the film layer has a has a 2% secant modulus in the MD direction greater than 160 MPa.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising introducing air into the center of the die to form the tube.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising collapsing the tube to form the film layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the low-modulus thermoplastic polymer is a very low density polyethylene.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the low modulus thermoplastic polymer has a density from about 0.855 g/cm3 to about 0.915 gm/cm3.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the surface migratory agent (SMA) is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic acid amides, aliphatic acid esters, waxes, hydrogenated soy bean oil (HSBO), hydrogenated castor oil (HCO), tristearin, silicone oils, metal soaps, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said surface migratory agent (SMA) is selected from the group consisting of long-chain fatty acids, long-chain fatty acid amides, primary mono-unsaturated long-chain carboxylic acid amides, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said surface migratory agent is a primary mono-unsaturated long-chain carboxylic acid amide selected from the group consisting of erucamide, oleamide, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said surface migratory agent is erucamide.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic starch is formed from corn starch and a plasticizer comprising glycerol and sorbitol.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the micro-textured surface is characterized by:
an average surface roughness (Sa) of from 0.1 to 2 μm;
an areal material ratio (mr50) value of from 10% to 100%; and
a root mean square gradient (“Sdq”) value of from 0.4 to 10.