The Procter Gamble Company

Other

Kaneka Corporation

Meredian, Inc.

Michael Matthew Satkowski

Isao Noda

James Terry Knapmeyer

Jean-Philippe Marie Autran

David Harry Melik

William Maxwell Allen, Jr

Reinhold August Lampe

Gregory Churchill Ames

Karunakaran Narasimhan

Scott David Hochberg

Michael Steven Gibson

Angella Christine Cearley

Stanley James Welling

David Patrick Kreuzer

A flexible package that can include first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls being joined by a bottom portion and seams that define first and second sides. The package can have an opening opposite the bottom portion, a first plurality of magnetic regions, and a second plurality of magnetic regions. The first plurality of magnetic regions can be disposed on the first sidewall near the opening and include discrete magnetic regions. A second plurality of magnetic regions can be disposed on the second sidewall near the access opening and include opposed discrete magnetic regions. The second plurality of magnetic regions being opposite the first plurality of magnetic regions. The discrete magnetic regions and the opposed discrete magnetic regions can be magnetically engageable with a magnetic force to close the opening of the package in a configuration having M petals, where M is an integer from 2 to 8.

Conformable package

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 provides a process for crystallizing a polymer having at least 20 mole percent of hydroxyalkanoate repeat units, comprising admixing the polymer and a compound of the formula R&#x2014;C(O)N(R), R&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;NHC(O)&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;NHC(O)NH&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;NHC(O)&#x2014;R, or a combination thereof, at a first temperature, which is from about 5&#xb0; C. to about 15&#xb0; C. above the melting point of the polymer; and cooling the polymer at a second temperature, which is from about the glass transition temperature of the polymer to about the melting point of the compound. The present invention also provides a composition comprising a polymer having at least about 20 mole percent of hydroxyalkanoate repeat units, and a compound of the formula R&#x2014;C(O)N(R), R&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;NHC(O)&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;NHC(O)NH&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;C(O)NH&#x2014;R, R&#x2014;NHC(O)NH&#x2014;(R)&#x2014;NHC(O)&#x2014;R, or a combination thereof.

Nucleating agents for polyhydroxyalkanoates

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 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

An agricultural item comprising a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising two randomly repeating monomer units. The first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure:wherein Ris H or a Calkyl, and n is 1 or 2; and the second randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure:wherein Ris a Calkyl or a Calkenyl. At least 50% of the randomly repeating monomer units have the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit.

Agricultural items and agricultural methods comprising biodegradable copolymers

Methods for enhancing the rate of a first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate having a copolymer, or a blend thereof, of at least two randomly repeating monomer units, and has a melting point Tm1, by solution blending or melt blending the first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate with a second crystallizable biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate homopolymer or copolymer, which has at least one randomly repeating monomer unit and a melting point Tm2, wherein Tm2 is at least about 20&#x25a1;C. greater than Tm1. Methods for forming shaped articles from the blending of the two polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Method for making biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers having improved crystallization properties

Compositions having improved crystallization properties and physical properties including a continuous phase of a first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a copolymer, or a blend thereof, of at least two randomly repeating monomer units and having a melting point Tm1, and a second crystallizable biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate homopolymer or copolymer, which comprises at least one randomly repeating monomer unit and has a melting point Tm2, where Tm2 is at least about 20&square;C. greater than Tm1. The compositions are formed by solution or melt blending of the components and may be formed into shaped articles.

Biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers having improved crystallization properties

The present invention comprises processes for preparing biodegradable fibrils from one or more biodegradable homopolymeric or copolymeric resins, said process comprising: a) forming a liquid resin mixture by melting or solvating the resin or resins; and b) introducing the liquid resin mixture to a flow of a gaseous substance. The present invention further comprises biodegradable fibrils made according to the processes of the present invention. The invention further comprises nonwoven fabrics comprising biodegradable fibrils. The invention further comprises disposable absorbent articles comprising a water-permeable topsheet, an absorbent core, and a water-impermeable backsheet, wherein the topsheet comprises a nonwoven substrate comprising biodegradable fibrils. The invention further comprises disposable articles comprising biodegradable fibrils.

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, OH, United States of America

Michael Matthew Satkowski