The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Charles R Russell

William McKee Doane

Lewis A Gugliemelli

George F Fanta

Baruch S Shasha

Edward B Bagley

Charles L Swanson

Water-soluble and water-insoluble solid and liquid core materials are encapsulated by the same method. Core materials are simply entrapped in a matrix of water-insoluble polyhydroxy polymers which are insolubilized from their corresponding water-soluble xanthates in the presence of the core materials. Encapsulation of biologically active compositions provides a shield against hostile environments, improves safety in handling, and slows the release of such compounds to the surrounding medium. Highly volatile liquids are protected against losses by evaporation. Encapsulation also provides protection against decomposition from exposure to ultraviolet light.

Encapsulation by entrapment

Filled composite plastics are prepared, which consist entirely of a rigid filler which has been graft polymerized with a thermoplastic polymer. The conventional thermoplastic matrix has been eliminated. When the rigid filler is a polysaccharide, such as starch, a product with improved biodegradability is produced. Also, valuable petroleum reserves are conserved, since the polysaccharide portion serves as an extender for the petroleum-based polymer.

Composite compositions from graft polymerized rigid fillers

Starch graft polymer latexes as well as processes for their preparations are disclosed. The starch graft latexes are water-dispersed grafted starch particles (300-1500 A in size) consisting of either (1) a cationic starch graft polymerized with up to 66% by weight of either nonionic or cationic vinyl monomers alone or with selected combinations thereof or (2) a nonionic starch graft polymerized with a cationic monomer alone or in combination with nonionic monomers. The latexes, having a range of properties, dry at 25.degree. C. or at higher temperatures to clear continuous films.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Charles R Russell