International Paper Company

William C Decker, Iii

Robin D O'Dell

Joseph A Lex

William A Wittosch

A compostable, biodegradable foam core board has a facing sheet adhered to a foam core sheet made of a foamable biodegradable material selected from a polyvinyl alcohol polymer, a starch-based thermoplastic polymer, a polylactic acid polymer, and other foamable, biodegradable polymers having structural rigidity when foamed. The foam core sheet has selected structural properties including a foam core weight in a preferred range of 30 to 50 lbs/msf, a foam density in a preferred range of 1.5 to 9 lbs/ft.sup.3, and a foam cell size in a preferred range of 0.30 to 0.70 mm. In one example, the foam core material is composed of a mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol polymer and high-melt-index polystyrene as a structural polymer additive. In another preferred example, the foam core material contains a blend of destructurized starch, polyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and glycerol as a plasticizer.

Compostable, biodegradable foam core board

A low-pressure board having reduced show-through and reduced resin migration is obtained by interposing a coating between the decor sheet and the substrate, e.g. fiberboard, chipboard or particle board, which is preferably microcrystalline cellulose or a mixture of microcrystalline cellulose with CMC at a dry-coating weight of 2-16 pounds per ream, preferably 4 pounds per ream.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

William C Decker, Iii