Cargill Inc.

H.b. Fuller Licensing & Financing Inc.

Natureworks LLC

Cargrill, Incorporated

Christopher M Ryan

Jeffrey John Kolstad

Patrick R Gruber

Eric Stanley Hall

Robin Sue Eichen Conn

Jed Richard Randall

James Lunt

Mark H Hartmann

Andrea Lee Brosch

James Zakareya Nangeroni

Nancy Uzelac Buehler

Garry J Edgington

Ali Zakareya El-Afandi

William L Bunnelle

David Roy Witzke

Peter A Voss

Thomas E Rolando

Mark Henry Hartman

Scott L Gessner

Matthew L Iwen

Chad Henry Kamann

Robert A Green

Kevin T McCarthy

Conjugate fibers are prepared in which at least one segment is a mixture of a high-D PLA resin and a high-L PLA resin. These segments have crystallites having a crystalline melting temperature of at least 200&#xb0; C. At least one other segment is a high-D PLA resin or a high-L PLA resin. The conjugate fibers may be, for example, bicomponent, multi-component, islands-in-the-sea or sheath-and-core types. Specialty fibers of various types can be made through further downstream processing of these conjugate fibers.

Process of making conjugate fibers

The present invention relates to a fibrous material which includes a plurality of polylactide containing fibers. The plurality of polylactide containing fibers can be considered low shrinkage or high shrinkage. The plurality of polylactide containing fibers are considered low shrinkage fibers if they provide a boiling water shrinkage propensity of less than about 20%. The plurality of polylactide containing fibers are considered high shrink fibers if they provide an average fiber boiling water shrinkage propensity of greater than about 10% and a heat of fusion of less than about 25 J/g. The invention additionally relates to the use of an extrusion process to provide low shrinkage fibers and high shrinkage fibers. The invention further relates to the use of these fibers in desirable products.

Degradable polymer fibers; preparation product; and, methods of use

The invention is directed toward melt-processable lactide polymer compositions, processes for manufacturing these compositions, and articles made from these compositions. The compositions include a first phase, which contains a polylactide-based polymer, and a second phase which includes elastomer. The elastomer is present in an amount sufficient to provide a polymer composition having an impact resistance of at least about 0.7 ft-lb/in. after the melt-processable polymer composition has been injection molded into bars and tested according to ASTM D256 (1993) method C. Preferably, the compositions also include a reactive compatibilizing agent. Methods of making these compositions and articles made from these compositions are also disclosed.

Impact modified melt-stable lactide polymer compositions and processes for manufacture thereof

A hot melt adhesive composition can be made using a polyester derived from 2-hydroxy-propanoic acid (lactic acid). A biodegradable/compostable thermoplastic resin can be formulated into a hot melt adhesive using a lower molecular weight material as a tackifying resin. The adhesive material can be made pressure sensitive and can be made entirely biodegradable by combining the polyester polymer with other biodegradable/compostable ingredients. The biodegradable/compostable adhesive material can be used as a substitute for non-biodegradable materials made from commercial polymers that resist attack by bacteria, fungi and other microbial populations. The resulting adhesive composition can be used in a variety of applications such as packaging and for the manufacture of disposable articles which are made from degradable materials. The entire disposable article can be made from adhesives and structural materials that are fully biodegradable/compostable.

Biodegradable/compostable hot melt adhesives comprising polyester of lactic acid

A nonwoven fabric comprised of a lactide polymer. The lactide polymer comprises a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, residual lactide in concentration of less than about 2 percent and water in concentration of less than about 2000 parts-per-million. A process for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric with the lactide polymer composition is also disclosed.

Melt-stable lactide polymer nonwoven fabric and process for manufacture thereof

A compostable multilayer film includes a core layer having a first surface and a second surface, a first blocking reducing layer covering the first surface of the core layer, and a second blocking reducing layer covering the second surface of the core layer. The core layer comprises a lactic acid residue-containing polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) below 20&deg; C. At least one of the first and second blocking reducing layers comprise a semicrystalline aliphatic polyester. The core layer may be peroxide modified polylactide polymer which exhibits bridging between polylactide polymer chains.

Compostable multilayer structures, methods for manufacture and articles prepared therefrom

An amorphous film comprised of a lactide polymer. The lactide polymer comprises a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, residual lactide in concentration of less than about 2 percent and water in concentration of less than about 2000 parts-per-million. A process for manufacturing an amorphous film with the lactide polymer composition is also disclosed.

Melt-stable amorphous lactide polymer film and process for manufacture thereof

A lactide polymer coating resulting in a strong, repulpable, high gloss, paper coating. The lactide polymer comprises a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, residual lactide in concentration of less than about 5 percent and water in concentration of less than about 2000 parts-per-million. A process for coating paper with the lactide polymer composition is also disclosed.

Paper having a melt-stable lactide polymer coating and process for manufacture thereof

A coated paper product including a paper layer and a polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer includes a polylactide polymer composition having a ratio of Mz to Mn of greater than about 6. The polymer composition, when melted, exhibits a die swell of greater than about 1.25 for a melt flow index of greater than about 2. Polymer lactide compositions, methods of manufacturing the polymer composition and the coated paper product, and articles produced therefrom are also described.

Coating grade polylactide and coated paper, preparation and uses thereof, and articles prepared therefrom

A lactide polymer composition combining compositional and purity limitations and catalyst optimization or addition of stabilizing agents resulting in a melt-stable polymer is disclosed. The melt-stable lactide polymer comprises a plurality of polylactide polymer chains, residual lactide in concentration of less than 2 percent and water in concentration of less than 1000 parts-per-million. A stabilizing agent in an amount sufficient to reduce depolymerization of the lactide polymer during melt-processing or alternatively, control of catalyst level at a molar ratio of monomer to catalyst greater than 3000:1 is also included in the melt-stable composition. A process for manufacture of a melt-stable lactide polymer composition includes polymerizing a lactide mixture and adding stabilizing agents sufficient to reduce depolymerization of the polylactide during melt-processing, followed by devolatilizing the polylactide to remove monomer and water.

Melt-stable lactide polymer composition and process for manufacture

A semi-crystalline film comprised of a lactide polymer. The lactide polymer comprises a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, residual lactide in concentration of less than about 5 percent and water in concentration of less than about 2000 parts-per-million. A process for manufacturing a semi-crystalline film with the lactide polymer composition is also disclosed.

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Dayton, MN, United States of America

Christopher M Ryan