Mulch product and process for its preparation

• US 5,585,150 A
• Filed: 09/08/1994
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mulch Developement Company
• Original Assignee: Mulch Developement Company
• Inventors: Sheehan, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epstein, Henry F.
• Application Number:
  US08/302,185
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 47/9, 47/59 CO, 428/15, 428/17
• US Class Current: 428/15
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/0262 Mulches, i.e. covering material not-pre-formed in mats or sheets A01G13/0281 takes precedence; composition of mulches C09K17/52
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/28 specially adapted for farming

Abstract

A biodegradable mulch product comprising sheets or finely divided particles of cellulosic fibrous material bonded together with a bonding agent comprising a water-based bonding adhesive and compressed to form a laminar layer, said compressed laminar layer being cut into mulch-size pieces that simulate natural tree mulches in appearance, density and rate of biodegradation.

Claims

1. A biodegradable mulch product comprising mulch-sized pieces formed from sheets or finely divided particles of cellulosic fibrous material bonded together with a bonding agent comprising a water-based bonding adhesive and compressed to form a laminar layer and simulating natural tree mulches in appearance, density, durability and rate of biodegradation.

2. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 1 wherein the density is about 3 lbs/ft³ to 6 lbs/ft^'"'"'.

3. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 1 further containing a biodegradation retarding agent.

4. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 3 wherein the retarding agent is paraffin wax or an acrylic polymer.

5. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 3 wherein the biodegradation retarding agent is present as a coating on said pieces.

6. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 1 further containing a coloring agent.

7. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 6 wherein the coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of dyes, pigments and mixtures thereof.

8. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 1 wherein the cellulosic fibrous material is paper.

9. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 8 wherein the paper is waste paper.

10. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 1 wherein said laminar layer prior to cutting into mulch size pieces is sandwiched between two sheets of paper.

11. A biodegradable mulch product comprising finely divided particles of cellulosic fibrous material bonded together with a bonding agent comprising a water-based bonding adhesive and compressed to form a laminar layer, said compressed laminar layer being cut into mulch-size pieces that simulate natural tree mulches in appearance, density and rate of biodegradation.

12. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 11 wherein said laminar layer prior to cutting into mulch size pieces is sandwiched between two sheets of paper.

13. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 12 wherein the sheet of paper is a sheet of waste paper.

14. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 13 coated with a coloring agent.

15. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 14 wherein the coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of dyes, pigments and mixtures thereof.

16. A biodegradable mulch product comprising mulch-sized pieces formed from a first layer comprised of a sheet or sheets of cellulosic fibrous materials and a second layer of finely divided cellulosic fibrous material, bonded together with a bonding agent comprising a water-based bonding adhesive, said layers being compressed to form a laminar layer, and simulating natural tree mulches in appearance, density, durability and rate of biodegradation.

17. A biodegradable mulch product according to claim 16 wherein said laminar layer prior to cutting into mulch size pieces is sandwiched between two sheets of paper.