Biodegradable Aliphatic-Aromatic Polyester

• US 20080188593A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novamont S.p.a.
• Original Assignee: Novamont S.p.a.
• Inventors: Cella, Gian Domenico, Bastioli, Catia, Floridi, Giovanni, Tosin, Maurizio, Scaffidi Lallro, Andrea, Millizia, Tiziana
• Granted Patent: US 8,193,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 524/35
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/16 Dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/00 Compositions of cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 3/02 Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/02 Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1331 Single layer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249921 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/29 Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]

Abstract

Biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyester comprising: A) an acid component comprising repeating units of: 1) 49 to 63 mol % of an aromatic carboxylic acid; 2) 51 to 37 mol % of an aliphatic carboxylic acid, at least 50% of which is brassylic acid; B) a diol component; said copolyester being disintegrated according to the Standard ISO 20200 in 90 days days.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. Biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyester (AAPE) comprising:

A) an acid component comprising repeating units of;

1) 49 to 63 mol % of a polyfunctional aromatic acid;

2) 51 to 37% of an aliphatic acid at least 50% of which is brassylic acid,

B) a diol component,

said AAPE being disintegrated according to the Standard ISO 20200 in 90 days, and having;

a density of less than or equal to 1.18 g/cc;

a number average molecular weight M_n of 40,000-140,000;

an inherent viscosity of 0.8-1.5.

18. Biodegradable polyesters according to claim 17, characterized in that said acid component, A) comprises repeating units of:

1) 50 to 60 mol % of a polyfunctional aromatic acid;

2) 50 to 40 mol % of an aliphatic acid, at least 50% of which is brassylic acid.

19. Biodegradable polyesters according to claim 17, characterized by a density of less than 1.17 g/cc.

20. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 17, characterized in that said polyfunctional aromatic acid is a dicarboxylic acid.

21. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 17, characterized by having a crystallization temperature T_c higher than 35°

C.

22. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 17, characterized by having a crystallization temperature T_c higher than 40°

C.

23. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 17, characterized by having a crystallization temperature T_c higher than 50°

C.

24. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 17, characterized by having a Energy at break higher than 100 MJ/m².

25. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 24, characterized by having a Elmendorf tear strength higher than 100 N/mm in the cross direction, higher than 20 N/mm in the longitudinal direction and higher than 60 N/mm for the quantity

(cross direction+longitudinal direction)/2.

26. Biodegradable polyesters according to claim 17, in which the dialcohols are selected from the group consisting, of 1,2-ethandiol, 1,2-propandiol, 1,3-propandiol, 1,4-butandiol, 1,5-pentandiol, 1,6-hexandiol, 1,7-heptandiol, 1,8-octandiol, 1,9-nonandiol, 1,10-decandiol, decandiol, 1,11-undecandiol, 1,12-dodecandiol, 1,13-tridecandiol, 1,4-cyclohexandimethanol, propylene glycol, neo-pentyl glycol, 2-methyl-1,3-propandiol, dianhydrosorbitol, dianhydromannitol, dianhydroiditiol, cyclohexandiol, and cyclohexan-methandiol.

27. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 26, characterized in that said dialcohols are diols of the C₂-C₁₀ diols.

28. Biodegradable polyesters according to claim 26, characterized in that said dialcohols are C₂- C₄ diols.

29. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 26, characterized in that said dialcohol is 1-4 bitandiol.

30. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 26, characterized in that said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of the phtalic acids.

31. Biodegradable polyester according to claim 20, characterized in that said dicarboxylic acid is terephthalic acid.

32. Blend comprising a biodegradable polyester according to claim 17, optionally obtained by means of reactive extrusion, both with polyesters of the same type and with other biodegradable polymers whether of natural origin or of synthetic origin.

33. Blend of biodegradable polyesters according to claim 32, characterized in that the polymers of synthetic origin are selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, poly-e-caprolactone, polyhydroxybutyrates, such as polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate, hexadecanoate, polyhydroxybutyrate-octadecanoate-hexadecanoate, polyhydroxybutyrate-octadecanoate, and polyalkylene succinates.

34. Blend of biodegradable polyesters according to claim 32, wherein the polymers of natural origin are starch, cellulose, chitosan, alginates or natural rubbers.

35. Blend of biodegradable polyesters according to claim 34, wherein said starches and celluloses are modified.

36. Blend according to claim 34, wherein said starch or cellulose are esters with a degree of substitution of between 0.2 and 2.5, hydroxypropylated starches, and modified starches with fatty chains.

37. Blends of biodegradable polyesters according to claim 34, in which the starch is present in the destructured or gelatinized form or in form of fillers.

38. The blends of biodegradable polyesters according, to claim 32, in which the polymer of synthetic is polyactic acid and the polymer or natural origin starch.

39. Use of the polyesters according, to claim 17 for the production of:

films, whether one-directional or two-direction films, and multilayer films with other polymeric materials;

films for use in the agricultural sector as films;

bags and sheathes for gathering organic matter;

packaging for foodstuffs both single-layer and multilayer, such as for example containers for milk, yoghurt, meat, beverages;

coatings obtained with the extrusion-coating technique;

multilayer laminates with layers of paper, plastic materials, aluminum, metallized films;

foamed or foamable beads for the production of pieces formed by sintering;

foamed and semi-foamed products including foamed blocks made up of pre-foamed particles;

foamed sheets, theremoformed sheets and containers obtained therefrom for the packaging of foodstuffs;

containers in general for fruit and vegetables;

composites with gelatinized, destructured and/or complexed starch, natural starch, flours, other fillers or natural, vegetal or inorganic origin;

fibres, fabrics and non-woven fabrics for the sector of health, sanitary products, and hygiene.