Process for making a pellet

• US 20070075453A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Roy, Pavlinka, Oehms, Diana, Wiedemann, Ralf, Salvador, Jordi, Ayats, Francesc
• Application Number:
  US10/595,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075453A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/140
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/022 Melting the material to be shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 9/10 by moulding the material, i.e. treating it in the molten state
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 9/12 characterised by structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0001 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/04 Particle-shaped making granules B29B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/05 Filamentary, e.g. strands
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/865 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/875 for achieving a non-uniform temperature distribution, e.g. using barrels having both cooling and heating zones
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2029/04 PVOH, i.e. polyvinyl alcohol B29K2031/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0062 water-soluble
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7128 Bags, sacks, sachets tea bags B29L2031/7122; medical bags B29L2031/7148
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2329/04 Polyvinyl alcohol; Partially hydrolysed homopolymers or copolymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/12 Powdering or granulating
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/18 Plasticising macromolecular compounds plasticisers C08K
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/203 Solid polymers with solid and/or liquid additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/053 Polyhydroxylic alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 29/04 Polyvinyl alcohol; Partially hydrolysed homopolymers or copolymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids

Abstract

The invention comprises a shaping process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition. The resin composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally further additives. The plasticiser comprises a component which is solid at room temperature. The process is run at a temperature above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting/plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.

Claims

1. A shaping process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally further additives, the plasticiser comprising a component which is solid at room temperature, wherein the process is run at a temperature above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the process comprises pressing, extrusion, calendaring or compaction.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 5.

4. A process according to claim 2, wherein the shaping process comprises extrusion.

5. A process according to claim 4, wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 110°

C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.

6. A process according to claim 4, wherein the temperature of material within the extruder is at least 40°

C.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the particle size of the raw materials used is below 2000 μ

m.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the plasticiser comprises a carbohydrate.

9. A process according to claim 8, wherein the carbohydrate is selected from gluconic acids, amino sugars, sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt.

10. A process according to claim 8, wherein the carbohydrate is selected from sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt.

11. A process according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is water-soluble or water dispersible.

12. A process according to claim 11, wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises PVOH or a derivative thereof.

13. A process according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises poly(vinylpyrollidone), poly(acrylic acid), poly(maleic acid), a cellulose derivative, poly(glycolide), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactides), poly (lactic acid) and copolymers thereof.

14. A process according to claim 12, wherein the pellets are for use in injection moulding processes.

15. An injection molding process for manufacturing water soluble pouches containing a detergent formulation for use in an automatic washing machine or an automatic dishwasher according to claim 12.

16. A process according to claim 3, wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 10%.

17. A process according to claim 16, wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 15%.

18. A process according to claim 5, wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 15°

C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.

19. A process according to claim 18, wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 30°

C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.

20. A process according to claim 18, wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 45°

C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.