The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 02, 2015
Filed:
Mar. 04, 2011
A. Victoria Nawaby, Southlake, TX (US);
Eric Kragness, Sinking Spring, PA (US);
Robert Babrowicz, Spartanburg, SC (US);
Natarajan S. Ramesh, Grapevine, TX (US);
Nilesh Amrutiya, Vadodara, IN;
Eugenio Longo, Rho, IT;
A. Victoria Nawaby, Southlake, TX (US);
Eric Kragness, Sinking Spring, PA (US);
Robert Babrowicz, Spartanburg, SC (US);
Natarajan S. Ramesh, Grapevine, TX (US);
Nilesh Amrutiya, Vadodara, IN;
Eugenio Longo, Rho, IT;
Cryovac, Inc., Duncan, SC (US);
Abstract
Some embodiments of the present invention provides a method of preparing a thermoformed article composed of polylactic acid that includes the steps of providing a foam sheet comprising polylactic acid having a D-lactic acid stereo-isomer content that is about 3 mole % or less, exposing the sheet to a temperature of at least about 190° C., and forming the heated sheet in a mold at a mold temperature that is at least about 50° C. and for a length of time to form a thermoformed article having a PLA crystalline content of at least about 10%. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that heat resistant thermoformed articles can be prepared in accordance with embodiments of the invention wherein the time required for forming the foam sheet into a molded article is less than about 10 seconds.