Impact-modified biodegradable polymer compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12012503-B2
Application number	US-202017117939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2020
Priority date	Dec 10, 2019
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A polymer composition containing cellulose acetate in combination with one or more impact modifiers is described. The polymer composition can also contain a plasticizer and a bio-based polymer in addition to the cellulose acetate. The polymer composition is formulated so as to have properties similar to petroleum-based polymers for producing, for example, single-use biodegradable articles.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A polymer composition comprising:
a cellulose acetate comprising greater than 90% by weight cellulose diacetate;
triacetin or polyethylene glycol present in the polymer composition in an amount of from about 8% by weight to about 40% by weight;
a polycaprolactone present in the polymer composition in an amount of from about 2% by weight to about 30% by weight, the polycaprolactone having a number average molecular weight of less than about 15,000 g/mol;
at least one impact modifier, the at least one impact modifier comprising acrylic core/shell particles; and
wherein the polymer composition exhibits an Izod notched impact strength of about 100 J/m at 23° C. or greater.

2. A polymer composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition exhibits a flexural modulus of about 2000 MPa or less and about 500 MPa or greater and wherein the elongation at break of the polymer composition is about 12% or greater and about 150% or less and wherein the Izod notched impact strength of the polymer composition is about 110 J/m or greater and about 600 J/m or less.

3. A polymer composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition contains at least two impact modifiers comprising a bio-based impact modifier and acrylic core/shell particles.

4. A polymer composition as defined in claim 3 , wherein the bio-based impact modifier has a glass transition temperature of less than about −10° C.

5. A polymer composition as defined in claim 3 , wherein the bio-based impact modifier is amorphous.

6. A polymer composition as defined in claim 3 , wherein the bio-based impact modifier comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate.

7. A polymer composition as defined in claim 3 , wherein the bio-based impact modifier comprises a polybutylene polymer.

8. A polymer composition as defined in claim 7 , wherein the bio-based impact modifier comprises a polybutylene adipate terephthalate or a polybutylene succinate.

9. A polymer composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the core of the impact modifier is made from a first polymer and the shell is made from a second polymer and wherein the second polymer has a lower glass transition temperature than the first polymer.

10. A polymer composition as defined in claim 9 , wherein the core/shell particles further comprise a bio-based polymer.

11. A polymer composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the acrylic core/shell particles include a core comprised of a polymer formed from a butyl acrylate monomer, an ethylhexyl acrylate monomer, or from a mixture thereof.

12. A polymer composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the acrylic core/shell particles include a shell comprised of methyl methacrylate.

13. A polymer composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the cellulose acetate is present in the composition in an amount of from about 15% to about 85% by weight and the plasticizer is present in the composition in an amount of from about 12% to about 35% by weight.

14. An article made from the polymer composition as defined in claim 1 .

15. An article as defined in claim 14 , wherein the article is a beverage holder, a drinking straw, an automotive part or cutlery.

16. A medical device comprising a housing made from the polymer composition according to claim 1 .

17. A polymer composition comprising:
a cellulose acetate comprising greater than 90% by weight cellulose diacetate;
triacetin or polyethylene glycol present in the polymer composition in an amount greater than 15% by weight to about 40% by weight;
a polycaprolactone present in the polymer composition in an amount of from about 2% by weight to about 30% by weight, the polycaprolactone having an average molecular weight of less than about 15,000 g/mol;
at least one impact modifier, the impact modifier comprising acrylic core/shell particles; and
wherein the polymer composition exhibits an Izod notched impact strength of about 100 J/m at 23° C. or greater.

Assignees

• Ticona Llc

Inventors

• Mcgrady Christopher
• Li Rongfu
• Combs Michael
• Zhang Xiaowei
• Subramonian Suresh

Classifications

• C08L2207/53

  Core-shell polymer · CPC title

• Y02W90/10

  Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics · CPC title

• C08L2203/02

  for biomedical use · CPC title

• C08L23/22

  Copolymers of isobutene; Butyl rubber; Homopolymers or copolymers of other iso-olefins · CPC title

• C08L67/04

  Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones (C08L67/06 takes precedence) · CPC title