Michigan State University

Northern Technologies International Corporation

Sunder Balakrishnan

Ramani Narayan

Philippe Dubois

Jean-Marie Raquez

Yogaraj Nabar

Boo-Young Shin

Mehmet A Gencer

Donald Alfons Kubik

Philippe Degee

Raamani Narayan

A biodegradable thermoplastic polymer masterbatch composition comprising a blend of at least one biodegradable thermoplastic polymer containing high loading of a particulate filler uniformly dispersed therein. The amount of the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer is generally from about 25% to about 50% by weight and the amount of the filler is from about 75% to about 50% by weight, based upon the total amount of one biodegradable polymer and the at least one filler. The uniform dispersion of the fillers is desirably obtained by adding small particles of the filler to a melt of the biodegradable polymer and blending using high shear equipment with special screw geometry. The masterbatch composition is then physically blended with additional biodegradable thermoplastic polymer and extrusion processed into final articles such as blown and cast films, molded products, and the like. The masterbatch multi-stage approach of the present invention results in a product that has improved physical properties and lower costs over that of a one step blend of the same amount of a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer and a filler that is subsequently heat formed into a final product.

Biodegradable polymer masterbatch, and a composition derived therefrom having improved physical properties

A starch-polyester graft copolymer and chemically modified starch-polyester graft copolymer composition comprising a chemically modified starch or chemically modified starch-nanoclay product is described. The composition can be produced continuously in a twin-screw co-rotating extruder. The starch-polyester graft copolymer can be solvent cast, melt cast and blown into clear transparent film particularly for use in single use disposable applications and can be biodegradable.

Starch-polyester biodegradable graft copolymers and a method of preparation thereof

Starch-polyester biodegradable graft copolyers and a method of preparation thereof

A new starch-vegetable oil graft copolymer, wherein the vegetable oil has been reacted onto the starch backbone using thermal or free radical initiators has been produced in a twin-screw co-rotating extruder. The starch-vegetable oil graft copolymer can further be reinforced with biofiber in the presence of an optional modifier such as maleic anhydride by reactive extrusion processing to form composites suitable to be injection molded into biodegradable articles.

Starch-vegetable oil graft copolymers and their biofiber composites, and a process for their manufacture

A polymerization process to derive a thermal-stabilized poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one) and cyclic ester monomer copolymer using a coordination-insertion catalyst/initiator. 1,4-dioxan-2-one and cyclic ester monomer, each containing less than 100-ppm water and having an acid value less than 0.5 mg KOH/g, and preferably less than 0.2 mg KOH/g, are copolymerized. Preferably the cyclic ester monomer is &#x3b5;-caprolactone and the reaction is in an extruder.

Copolymerization of 1,4-dioxan-2-one and a cyclic ester monomer producing thermal stabilized 1,4-dioxan-2-one (co)polymers

A chemically modified plasticized starch (CMPS) is prepared by reacting starch with an organic dibasic acid or an anhydride of the acid in the presence of a plasticizer using optional free radical initiators, and optionally with the incorporation of nano clays in the reactive extrusion process. The starch is thermoplastic and has a lower viscosity than the traditional thermoplastic starch. The CMPS is useful in preparing starch polymer compositions which are at least partially biodegradable.

Growing community of inventors

Okemos, MI, United States of America

Sunder Balakrishnan