More sustainable biodegradable foamed zipper

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to zipper for a reclosable package, particularly a zipper which has been foamed with the use of bioresins or biodegradable additives to increase the degradability of the zipper. The combination of the process of foaming with the use of bioresins or biodegradable additives typically increases the rate of degradability of the zipper, particularly in biodegradable environments, such as landfills.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 583,642 filed on Jan. 6, 2012, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]1. Field of the Disclosure[0003]The present disclosure relates to zipper for a reclosable package, particularly a zipper which has been foamed with the use of bioresins or biodegradable additives to increase the degradability of the zipper.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]It is well known that there is an increasing amount of plastic waste in the world. It is further well known that this plastic waste in landfills or similar environments is very slow to biodegrade. Even though the films have a thickness of only a few thousandths of an inch, the typical plastic polyethylene bag degrades very slowly, with essentially no degradation in thicker laminates. The addition of a zipper with flanges makes this problem even more difficu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method to make plastic zippers and similar products more easily degradable in landfills without compromising their physical characteristics. This is achieved by using a foaming process and bioresins or additives that speed up the degradation process. The increased surface area of foam allows the degradation reaction to occur at multiple sites simultaneously. The use of polymers in the form of a thin film also increases the rate of degradation.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, the use of polymers in the form of a thin film, in combination with other aspects of the disclosure, will further increase rates of degradation.

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