University of Maine System

Chemstone, Inc.

Greentech Global Pte. Ltd.

Cerealus Holdings LLC

Hs Manufacturing Group, LLC

Jonathan Spender

Michael Albert Bilodeau

Samuel Mikail

Anthony Jabar, Jr

Daryl Aubrey Basham

Nirmal Singh Basi

Adriaan Van Heiningen

David J Neivandt

The present disclosure describes a method to modify dried polymer films using printed crosslinking agents, including that the crosslinked polymer resulting from the method exhibits greater insolubility compared to crosslinked polymers made where the crosslinking agent and the polymer are combined and applied as a homogenous solution. Articles of manufacture generated by such a method are also disclosed.

Method of modifying polymer barrier films

The present disclosure describes acyl halide liquid dispersions and tunable methods of treating cellulosic materials with compositions that provide increased hydrophobicity and/or lipophobicity to such materials without sacrificing the biodegradability thereof. The methods as disclosed provide for reacting acyl halides with and binding of saccharide fatty acid esters on cellulosic materials, including that the disclosure provides products made by such methods. The materials thus treated display higher hydrophobicity, lipophobicity, barrier function, and mechanical properties, and may be used in any application where such features are desired.

Liquid dispersions for acyl halides

The present disclosure describes methods of treating fibrous cellulosic materials with sucrose fatty acid ester containing particles (carrier systems) that allow for modifications of surfaces, including making such surfaces water resistance and/or oil/grease resistance. The methods as disclosed provide combining at least one saccharide fatty acid esters (SFAE) with a polymer (e.g., latexes) to form micellular particles and applying such particles to substrates including fibrous cellulose-based materials (e.g., pulp) to form, inter alia, molded products. Compositions comprising combinations of SFAE, a latex and optionally a mineral or other additives are also disclosed.

Polyol fatty acid ester carrier compositions

Disclosed are processes for making polymeric composite materials and composite materials made from those processes, the process comprising: providing a mixture, comprising: a liquid, a polymer precursor, and a dispersed-phase precursor; and subjecting the mixture to reaction conditions sufficient: to effect polymerization of the polymer precursor to produce a polymer and a reaction product; and to remove substantially all the liquid and reaction product from the mixture; wherein said reaction conditions comprise: pressure between about 10 millitorr and about 300 torr; and temperature: greater than or equal to the highest boiling point of the liquid and reaction product; less than the decomposition temperature of the polymer; and less than the decomposition temperature of the dispersed-phase precursor.

Polymeric composite materials and methods of making them

The present disclosure describes methods of treating cellulosic materials with compositions that allow greater retention of inorganic particles on cellulosic substrates. The methods as disclosed provide combining saccharide fatty acid esters (SFAE) with such inorganic particles and applying such combinations on cellulosic materials to eliminate or reduce the use of retention aids or binders for filler in the paper making process. Compositions comprising such combinations of SFAE and inorganic particles are also disclosed.

Saccharide fatty acid ester inorganic particle combinations

The present invention describes tunable methods of treating cellulosic materials with a barrier coating comprising a prolamine and at least one polyol fatty acid ester that provides increased oil and/or grease resistance to such materials without sacrificing the biodegradability thereof. The methods as disclosed provide for adhering of the barrier coating on articles including articles comprising cellulosic materials and articles made by such methods. The materials thus treated display higher lipophobicity and may be used in any application where such features are desired.

Biobased carrier coatings

The present disclosure describes tunable methods of treating cellulosic materials with a composition that provides increased hydrophobicity and/or lipophobicity to such materials without sacrificing the biodegradability thereof. The methods as disclosed provide for binding of saccharide fatty acid esters on cellulosic materials, including that the disclosure provides products made by such methods. The materials thus treated display higher hydrophobicity, lipophobicity, barrier function, and mechanical properties, and may be used in any application where such features are desired.

Methods for biobased derivatization of cellulosic surfaces

The present invention describes tunable methods of treating cellulosic materials with a barrier coating comprising at least two polyol and/or saccharide fatty acid ester that provides increased water, oil and grease resistance to such materials without sacrificing the biodegradability thereof. The methods as disclosed provide for adhering of the barrier coating on articles including articles comprising cellulosic materials and articles made by such methods. The materials thus treated display higher hydrophobicity and lipophobicity and may be used in any application where such features are desired.

Biobased barrier coatings comprising polyol/saccharide fatty acid ester blends

The present invention provides, among other things, methods including the steps of providing a cellulosic biomass, associating the cellulosic biomass with an organic liquid to form a mixture, treating the mixture to reduce the moisture content of the mixture to 30% or below (if necessary), and processing the mixture to produce cellulose nanofibrils in a slurry. In some embodiments, provided methods allow for the production of high solids content slurries containing 4% or more cellulosic nanofibrils.

Methods for the production of high solids nanocellulose

The present invention describes tunable methods of treating cellulosic materials with a composition that provides increased hydrophobicity and/or lipophobicity to such materials without sacrificing the biodegradability thereof. The methods as disclosed provide for binding of saccharide fatty acid esters on cellulosic materials, including that the disclosure provides products made by such methods. The materials thus treated display higher hydrophobicity, lipophobicity, barrier function, and mechanical properties, and may be used in any application where such features are desired.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including the steps of providing cellulosic material, associating the cellulosic material with an organic acid (e.g., lactic acid) to form a mixture, and heating the mixture to a temperature between 100&#xb0; C. and 120&#xb0; C. for at least ten minutes to form a treated cellulosic material, wherein the water retention value of the treated cellulosic material is decreased by at least 10% as compared to untreated cellulosic material.

Methods of controlling the hydrophilicity of cellulose

Disclosed are processes for making polymeric composite materials and composite materials made from those processes the process comprising: providing a mixture, comprising: a liquid, a polymer precursor, and a dispersed-phase precursor; and subjecting the mixture to reaction conditions sufficient: to effect polymerization of the polymer precursor to produce a polymer and a reaction product; and to remove substantially all the liquid and reaction product from the mixture; wherein said reaction conditions comprise: pressure between about 10 millitorr and about 300 torr; and temperature: greater than or equal to the highest boiling point of the liquid and reaction product; less than the decomposition temperature of the polymer; and less than the decomposition temperature of the dispersed-phase precursor.

A lightweight composite article with controlled biodegradation includes a fibrous substrate and one or more additives applied to the fibrous substrate to control the rate of biodegradation of the composite article. The composite article has a weight of less than about 57 grams per square meter, and a biodegradation within a range of from about 30 days to about 150 days. In some embodiments, the additives include one or more of water repellent, antimicrobial agent and biodegradable binder.

Lightweight composite article with controlled biodegradation

A stable, aqueous barrier coating composition includes: (a) prolamine; (b) cold water insoluble polymer; (c) water; (d) water-soluble co-solvent; and (e) stabilizer. The composition, when applied to a substrate, produces an article having a high surface energy and resistance to oil and grease penetration. A method of producing the article involves applying the composition to a substrate.

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Enfield, ME, United States of America

Jonathan Spender