BIOPLASTIC patents U.S.
BIOPLASTIC patents U.S. Patent 10,392,313 (August 27, 2019) “ Method For Application of Biochar In Turf Grass and Landscaping Environments”, Richard W. Wilson, Han Suk Kim, Ranko Panayotov Bontchev, Neil Christopher Wahlgren, Vern Traxler, Timothy Allen Thompson, Brian Buege, Mark L. Jarand, (Cool Planet Energy Systems Inc), (Greenwood Village, Colorado) This section highlights recently granted patents that are relevant to the specific theme/focus of the Bioplastics Magazine issue. The information offered is intended to acquaint the reader with a sampling of know-how being developed to enable growth of the bioplastics markets. This patent teaches the use of biochar as a pre-layer on ground where sod /turf is to be placed or seeded and in general landscaping. The biochar is taught for turf and/ or landscaping where water restrictions and/or fertilizer application frequency are in effect. Biochar is derived from pyrolysis of carbon based material and if plant based offers the possibility of carbon sequestration when utilized. The biochar is preferred to be layered with a particle size of
By: Barry Dean, Naperville, Illinois, USA U.S. Patent 9,994,686 (June 12, 2018) “Biodegradable Film and Laminate”, Cho Kee Wong, Larry Clifton Wadsworth, (U.S. Pacific Nonwovens Industry Limited (Hong Kong) Ref: WO 2014/124563 This patent teaches biodegradable films, fabrics and laminates for a broad base of commercial uses. Key teaching is that the biodegradable film and laminate have extended shelf life in a clean environment with sustained physical properties and accelerated degradation in a dirty(in use) environment. Polylactic acid is shown to have very good physical and processing properties but is not readily biodegradable, so blends of PLA with other polymers exhibiting significant biodegradation rates are taught. A biodegradable film of polylactic acid, poly(hydroxyalkanoates) and cellulose fiber are claimed where the PLA content is 5 – 85 %, the PHA content is controlled to achieve desired biodegradation and the cellulose fiber content contributes both to the physical property performance and biodegradation. The biodegradable film can also be based on poly(butylene succinate, PBS and/or poly(butylene terephthalate adipate), PBAT. The target applications are industrial and medical protective clothing. U.S. Patent 10,399,744 (September 3, 2019) “Heat Sealable, Biodegradable Packaging Material, A Package Made Thereof, And Use Of A Resin In Extrusion Coating”, Kimmo Nevalainen, Ville Ribu (Stora Enso OYJ), (Helsinki, Finland) Ref: WO2012/164171 A polylactic acid (> 80 %) modified with 2 – 10 % of a terpene based phenolic resin is taught as a heat sealable coating layer for fibrous board structures. The fibrous board structures include paper, paper board and cardboard. The use of the terpene based phenolic resin improves adhesion, line speed for coating, uniformity in the PLA based coating thickness and uniformity of the heat seal strength. The use of PLA renders the full package renewable and at a minimum compostable U.S. Patent 10,414,105 (September 17, 2019) “Method Of Use Of Polylactide And Manufacturing A Heat Sealed Paper or Board Container Or Package” , Jari Rasanen, Outi Kylliainen, Kimmo Nevalainen, Ville Ribu, Ari Rosling, Mohammed Khajeheian, Ella Lindstrom, (Stora Enso OYJ), (Helsinki, Finland) Ref: WO2015/110981 A polylactic acid resin modified with up to 5 % of trialkyl isocyanurate(TIAC) is taught as a heat seal coating. The PLA/ TIAC is coated on a fibrous structure using an electron beam radiation curing of 20 – 200 kGy(kilograys). The coating strength, uniformity and requisite heat seal temperature is controlled by both the TIAC level and the EB radiation dosage. The data presented shows that at 2 % TIAC loading in the PLA matrix the heat seal temperature can be lowered by 60 – 90 C with EB radiation levels of 50 – 200 kGy. The use of PLA renders the full package renewable and at a minimum compostable. U.S. Patent 10,301,470 (May 28, 2019) “BioBased And Biodegradable Polymer” , Miguel Angel Caballero Lopez, Maria Jose Alfonso Alegre, Patricia Zagalaz Lasierra, Begona Albors Ramos, Maria Consuelo Escrig Rodan, (Sociedad Anonima Minera Catalano AraGonesa), (Saragossa, Spain) This patent teaches a bio-based and biodegradable composition using a thermoplastic starch(> 52 %), a second biodegradable polymer(not a TPS) (< 48 %) and a latex polymer (>0 % and < 1 %) rendering the thermoplastic starch as a co-continuous or continuous phase. The latex polymer can be synthetic or natural. The high crystallinity and hydroxyl group functionality of starch renders it difficult to process at high levels in blends with thermoplastic matrices without modifiers and the patent literature teaches a limit of 50 – 52 % TPS above which good physical properties in fabricated articles are difficult to achieve. This invention teaches the merits of a latex polymer in combination with the TPS and biodegradable polymer matrix in extending the thermoplastic starch level to > 52 %. The impact of the latex polymer is taught as being applicable to a wide variety of renewable/bidegradable polymers, eg polylactic acid, polyhydroxy alkanoates, polybutylene succinate, polycaprolactone, polyesteretheramides and the like. In the teachings the biodegradable polymer matrix is preferred to have at least three groups capable of interacting/ reacting with one or more of the active groups present in the composition. These compositions are taught as being very effective agricultural films. bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/19] Vol. 14 33
