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:
May. 03, 2016
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2011
James H. Wang, Appleton, WI (US);
Gregory J. Wideman, Menasha, WI (US);
Jaehong Lee, Gyeonggi-do, KR;
James H. Wang, Appleton, WI (US);
Gregory J. Wideman, Menasha, WI (US);
JaeHong Lee, Gyeonggi-do, KR;
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
A method and system for melt processing a thermoplastic composition that contains a starch and plasticizer is provided. The composition is melt blended and extruded through a die to form an extrudate, which is thereafter cooled using a multi-stage system of the present invention that includes at least one water-cooling stage and at least one air-cooling stage. More particularly, the extrudate is initially contacted with water for a certain period time so that it becomes partially cooled and solidified on its surface. After the water-cooling stage(s), the extrudate is also subjected to at least one air-cooling stage in which a stream of air is placed into contact with the extrudate.