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:
Aug. 29, 2017
Filed:
Jun. 02, 2008
Kishan Khemani, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Graeme Moad, Sassafras, AU;
Edmond Lascaris, Bundoora, AU;
Guoxin LI, Keysborough, AU;
George Simon, Carnegie, AU;
Jana Habsuda, Ferntree Gully, AU;
Robert Shanks, Glen Iris, AU;
Antonietta Genovese, Sandringham, AU;
Wasantha Gunaratne, Macleod, AU;
Lance Nichols, St. Albans Park, AU;
Kishan Khemani, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Graeme Moad, Sassafras, AU;
Edmond Lascaris, Bundoora, AU;
Guoxin Li, Keysborough, AU;
George Simon, Carnegie, AU;
Jana Habsuda, Ferntree Gully, AU;
Robert Shanks, Glen Iris, AU;
Antonietta Genovese, Sandringham, AU;
Wasantha Gunaratne, Macleod, AU;
Lance Nichols, St. Albans Park, AU;
Plantic Technologies Ltd., Altona, Victoria, AU;
Abstract
In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter 'the masterbatch process') and mixing the masterbatch with further starch.