The Procter Gamble Company

Kaneka Corporation

University of Delaware

The Proctor 'gamble Company

Other

University of Deleware

Protein Dynamic Solutions, Inc.

Meredian, Inc.

Isao Noda

Eric Bryan Bond

Hugh Joseph O'Donnell

William Maxwell Allen, Jr

Michael Matthew Satkowski

Larry Neil Mackey

Jean-Philippe Marie Autran

David Harry Melik

Dean Van Phan

Olaf Erik Alexander Isele

Ronald Thomas Gorley

Karunakaran Narasimhan

Angella Christine Cearley

Douglas F Hager

Steven Daryl Smith

Yasuyoshi Ueda

Brian Francis Gray

Gary Wayne Gilbertson

James Terry Knapmeyer

Koichi Kinoshita

Sarah Beth Gross

Fumio Osakada

Kenneth Yee

Reinhold August Lampe

Drew Clifton McAvoy

Jean Jianqun Zhao

Gregory Churchill Ames

James C Horney

Michael Steven Gibson

Belinda Pastrana-Rios

Lee Arnold Schechtman

John F Rabolt

Mark D Midkiff

Stanley James Welling

Annette D Shine

D Bruce Chase

Annetta D Shine

Liang Gong

Brian Sobieski

Sara Beth Gross

Jean Jiangun Zhao

Donald Stuart Murray

Hugh Joseph O'donnell

William Maxwell Allen Jr

Jean Jianquin Zhao

Mark Dawson Midkiff

James Cameron Horney

Michael M Satkowski

William M Allen

Jean Philippe Marie Autrn

Disclosed herein is a device comprising a PHA based copolymer layer comprising at least one of an electrospun ribbon of fibers of a polyhydroxyalkanoate based copolymer or the polarized polymeric composition obtained by the process of claim, wherein the layer is configured to exhibit one or more of a piezoelectric effect, a pyroelectric effect and a ferroelectric effect, wherein each of the electrospun ribbon of fibers and the polarized polymeric composition comprises a β-form of the PHA based copolymer present in an amount of from about 10% to about 99%, as measured by x-ray diffraction. The device can be configured for use as a sensor, a actuator, a nanomotor, or a biobattery.

Process for preparing a polarized film or sheet containing β-form polyhydroxyalkanoate based copolymer

A material web is disclosed. The material web includes a fiber layer having a first side and an opposing second side. The fiber layer has a plurality of fibers, each of which having an intimate admixture of a thermoplastic polymer, and a wax and/or oil, wherein at least some of the wax and/or oil is exposed at an outer surface of the fibers. A surface energy treatment is disposed on the first side and/or the second side of the fiber layer.

Fibers of polymer-wax compositions

Disposable article that include fibers formed from compositions comprising thermoplastic polymers and waxes are disclosed, where the wax is dispersed throughout the thermoplastic polymer.

Disposable article or nonwoven that includes a first fiber layer comprising a plurality of fibers, each of which comprising an intimate admixture of a thermoplastic polymer, and a wax and/or oil, wherein at least some of the wax and/or oil is exposed at an outer surface of the fibers and wherein a surface energy treatment is disposed on at least some of the plurality of fibers; and a second fiber layer that is adjacent the first fiber layer and that comprises a plurality of cellulosic fibers.

A melt spinnable fiber is provided that comprises a first component comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a second component comprising thermoplastic starch where the second component is not encompassed by another component or components or if encompassed by another component or components then the second component encompasses a hollow core. A particular use of such a fiber is for removal of the second component in the presence of a solvent in order to produce fibers with desired properties. An agent may be present in the second component for controlling the rate of removal of the second component thereby allowing for physical manipulation of the fiber prior to complete removal of the component. The invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the fibers.

Process of producing a melt-spinnable fiber using thermoplastic polymer and destructured starch

Disposable articles that include fibers formed from compositions comprising thermoplastic polymers and waxes, where the wax is dispersed throughout the thermoplastic polymer. The fibers containing the wax can define at least a portion of a nonwoven and can be utilized in one or more of the following article layers: liquid pervious layer, liquid impervious layer, and absorbent core disposed therebetween.

Thermoplastic polymer compositions comprising starch and articles made therefrom are water stable or may be rendered so. One method of making water stable thermoplastic compositions comprises the steps of mixing destructured starch with polyhydric alcohol and acid, and forming an ester condensation reaction product from at least a portion of the polyhydric alcohol and acid. In some embodiments, a pre-polymer formed from the ester condensation reaction may be provided as a pre-polymer that is mixed with the starch.

Water stable compositions and articles comprising starch and methods of making the same

Thermoplastic polymer compositions comprising starch and articles made therefrom are water stable or may be rendered so. One method of making water stable thermoplastic compositions comprises the steps of mixing destructured starch with polyhydric alcohol and triglyceride, and forming a transesterification reaction product from at least a portion of the polyhydric alcohol and triglyceride.

The present invention is directed to multicomponent fibers. The fibers may be in a side-by-side, sheath-core, segmented pie, islands-in-the-sea configuration, or any combination of configurations. Each component of the fiber will comprise destructurized starch and/or a thermoplastic polymer. The present invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the multicomponent fibers. The nonwoven webs may also contain other synthetic or natural fibers blended with the multicomponent fibers of the present invention.

Multicomponent fibers comprising starch and polymers

A dispersible absorbent product having a mechanically weakened multi-layered structure, which comprises at least two mechanically weakened layers joined by a water responsive binder. The mechanically weakened regions enhance the dispersibility of the product in a standard toilet. Additionally, the dispersible absorbent products may be pre-moistened with a composition. The pre-moistened products are stable in storage, easily dispersible down a toilet, and deliver cleaning, conditioning, and like benefits. Methods of making such dispersible absorbent products are also disclosed.

Dispersible absorbent products having a multi-layered structure and methods of manufacture and use

Methods of reducing exposure to latex comprise forming an item comprising a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising two randomly repeating monomer units. The first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure:  

Method of and items for reducing latex exposure

The present invention provides a method for easily obtaining a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate by a solvent extraction method. A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal comprises mixing a solution of a polyhydroxyalkanoate in a good solvent with a poor solvent at 50 to 130&#xb0; C. to precipitate a polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal

The invention relates to processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass, comprising admixing the biomass with an organic solvent for from 1 second to 15 minutes at a first temperature of from 5&#xb0; C. below the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate to 10&#xb0; C. above the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate and at a pressure of from 1 bar to 10 bar to provide a composition comprising the organic solvent and polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Process for the extraction of polyhydroxyalkanoates from biomass

The present invention provides a method for conveniently obtaining a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate by a solvent extraction method. A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal comprises precipitating a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal using a monohydric alcohol having 4 to 10 carbon atoms as a extraction solvent, keeping a polyhydroxyalkanoate solution containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of water relative to the total amount of the solution warm at 70&#xb0; C. or higher, and cooling the solution to below 70&#xb0; C.

Environmentally degradable molded or extruded articles comprising a blend of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and an environmentally degradable thermoplastic polymer or copolymer are disclosed. Such compositions provide annealing cycle times to form molded or extruded articles that are less than annealing cycle times to form a molded or extruded article lacking the environmentally degradable thermoplastic polymer or copolymer.

Molded or extruded articles comprising polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and an environmentally degradable thermoplastic polymer

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Fairfield, OH, United States of America

Isao Noda