Biodegradable polymer composition with calcium carbonate and methods and products using same

• US 8,604,123 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ledcor US Ventures Inc.
• Original Assignee: C-Stone, LLC
• Inventors: Weismann, Paul, Whiteman, Sandee, Lunt, James
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, WILLIAM K
• Application Number:
  US13/548,024
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 524/539, 524/401, 524/425, 428/220
• US Class Current: 524/539
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2367/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxy carboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08J2367/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/18 Manufacture of films or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2003/2241 Titanium dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2003/265 Calcium, strontium or barium carbonate
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/22 of metals
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/26 Carbonates; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/346 Clay
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0016 Plasticisers
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/42 Sulfonic acids; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 91/00 Compositions of oils, fats or waxes; Compositions of derivatives thereof

Abstract

Described herein are biodegradable compositions, methods for making these compositions, and applications using these compositions. In one embodiment, a process of manufacturing paper or other products is provided using a composition comprising a mixture of calcium carbonate along with a biodegradable biopolymer matrix made from renewable resources including polylactic acid (“PLA”), aliphatic polyesters, and/or aliphatic aromatic polyesters and other additives.

Claims

1. A printable sheet comprising:

a biodegradable polylactic acid polymer comprising between about 30% and about 45% by weight of the printable sheet;

an inorganic filler comprising calcium carbonate, the calcium carbonate comprising between about 30% and about 45% by weight of the printable sheet;

talc comprising up to about 10% by weight of the printable sheet;

titanium dioxide comprising between about 1% and about 2% by weight of the printable sheet;

an aromatic sulfonate derivative comprising up to about 2% by weight of the printable sheet;

epoxidized soybean oil comprising between up to about 15% by weight of the printable sheet; and

a plasticizer comprising between about 2% and about 10% by weight of the printable sheet.

2. The printable sheet of claim 1, wherein the between about 30% and about 45% calcium carbonate comprises about 55% or more calcium carbonate particles having a median particle size of about 0.7 microns or less, and about 45% or less calcium carbonate particles having a median particle size of about 1.4 microns or more.