Compostable or Biobased Foams

a biobased foam and compostable technology, applied in the field of compostable or biobased material compositions, can solve the problems of undesirable molded foam parts, high molecular weight, and pre-expanded beads that are not properly matured, and achieve the effect of increasing molecular weight and crystallinity
US20120009420A1Inactive Publication Date: 2012-01-12LIFOAM IND
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US Ā· United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
LIFOAM IND
Publication Date
2012-01-12
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable Ā· inactive patent

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Abstract

The present invention describes compostable or biobased foams that are useful for fabricating foamed articles. The foams are produced using a compound comprising a compostable or biobased polyester and a blowing agent. Additives including plasticizers and chain extenders are optionally included in the compostable or biobased composition. These foams can be produced using conventional melt processing techniques, such as single and twin-screw extrusion processes. In one embodiment, foamed strand profiles are cooled and cut using conventional strand pelletizing equipment. In another embodiment, foamed beads are produced by cutting the foamed strand at the face of the extrusion die and the foamed bead or strand is subsequently cooled. The resulting compostable or biobased foamed bead has a specific gravity less than 0.15 g / cm3 and the foam is compostable, as determined by ASTM D6400.
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Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based upon and claims benefit of copending and co-owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 362,009 entitled ā€œBiodegradable Foamsā€, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jul. 7, 2010 by the inventors herein, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to compostable or biobased material compositions and to novel methods for producing lightweight, compostable or biobased foams and, in particular, to methods for producing foams using melt processing techniques to blend compostable or biobased materials and blowing agents that do not contain any volatile organic components (VOCs) such as pentane. The compositions and processes are useful for the production of a variety of products.

[0004] 2. Description of the Background

[0005] Polymeric foams include a plurality of voids, also called cells, in a polymer ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
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