Fibers comprising starch and biodegradable polymers

• US 20050026529A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric Bryan Bond, Isao Noda, Jean-Philippe Marie Autran, Larry Neil Mackey, O'Donnell, Hugh Joseph
• Original Assignee: Eric Bryan Bond, Isao Noda, Jean-Philippe Marie Autran, Larry Neil Mackey, O'Donnell, Hugh Joseph
• Inventors: Mackey, Larry Neil, Noda, Isao, Bond, Eric Bryan, Autran, Jean-Philippe Marie, O'Donnell, Hugh Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/932,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026529A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 442/415
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/92 of polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/42 characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/608 Including strand or fiber material which is of specific structural definition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/696 Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/697 Containing at least two chemically different strand or fiber materials

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.

Claims

1. A nonwoven web comprising highly attenuated fibers comprising:

a. destructurized starch,

b. a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of less than 500,000 g/mol; and

c. a plasticizer

2. A nonwoven web wherein the highly attenuated fibers of claim 1 are blended with other synthetic or natural fibers and bonded together.

3. A disposable article comprising the nonwoven web of claim 2.

4. An nonwoven web comprising envionrmentally degradable, highly attenuated fibers comprising destructurized starch, a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of from 5,000 g/mol to 500,000 g/mol, and a plasticizer.

5. A nonwoven web wherein the highly attenuated fibers of claim 4 are blended with other synthetic or natural fibers and bonded together.

6. A disposable article comprising the nonwoven web of claim 4.