Pen, penholder and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A pen (1) having a barrel (3) wherein the barrel (3) has a barrel base material comprising a base formulation comprising: 50-80% by weight of PLA, a PLA copolymer, and / or a PLA blend; the invention relates to a pen holder base material comprising, by weight, 20-50% of other polymers, plasticizers, waxes / lubricants, other additives such as tackifiers, stabilizers and the like, colorants, in particular pigments, and organic and / or inorganic fillers as pen holder fillers, the pen holder base material being in the foamed state and / or comprising pores.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a pen having the features of the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a pen barrel for writing instruments, drawing instruments, drafting instruments, and / or cosmetic pens as described in claim 12, and a method for manufacturing the pen and / or the pen barrel as described in claim 13. Background Technology

[0002] For a long time, people have known about wooden pens with refills made of naturally grown wood. In recent years, due to timber shortages and rising prices of high-quality wood, the production cost of pens has been directly impacted. Furthermore, pen manufacturing consumes a significant amount of natural wood resources.

[0003] To address this issue, the use of polymers in extrusion molding to manufacture pen or pen refill casings and refills has become widely adopted. Polystyrene (PS) is one of the basic polymer examples for pen barrel substrates. Polystyrene is readily available and easy to process, and pen barrels made from it possess excellent mechanical properties.

[0004] Against this backdrop, the published document DE102008034013B4 proposes the use of wood substitutes for pen barrels, wherein the wood substitutes are based on polymer adhesives.

[0005] Such extruded pens are also known in the prior art, for example, the pen disclosed in European Patent EP0505262B1, which can be considered the closest prior art. The pen described in that patent has a shell made of expanded polystyrene and a flexible polystyrene adhesive refill. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of this invention is to provide a pen that can serve as a sustainable alternative to existing technologies, while retaining its functional characteristics, particularly its sharpening performance and bending strength. This object is achieved by a pen having the features of claim 1, a pen barrel for writing instruments, drawing instruments, drafting instruments, and / or cosmetic brushes as described in claim 12, and a method for manufacturing the pen and / or the pen barrel as described in claim 13. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims, the following description, and the accompanying drawings.

[0007] The core of this invention is a pen, which has a pen barrel.

[0008] Optionally, the pen has a refill, wherein the pen barrel preferably concentrically and / or coaxially encloses the refill, and the refill and pen barrel are configured in a way that prevents displacement and / or prevents displacement. In particular, the refill is permanently and inseparably fixed in the pen barrel, and / or cannot be separated from the pen barrel without damage. For example, the refill may optionally be coupled to the pen barrel by means of intervening layers in a material bond, force bond, and / or form fit.

[0009] Specifically, the pen is constructed as a straight cylinder, wherein the base area or cross-sectional area of ​​the cylinder can be, for example, circular, elliptical, triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal, or polygonal. Alternatively, the pen can also be twisted or curved.

[0010] In particular, the pen can be sharpened. For example, it can be sharpened using a pencil sharpener (such as a colored pencil sharpener, pen sharpener, pencil sharpener or cosmetic pencil sharpener) to form or reshape the pen's conical tip by removing material that has separated from the pen barrel and lead.

[0011] The pen barrel has a pen barrel substrate, wherein the pen barrel is preferably composed of at least 60%, more preferably at least 80%, and particularly at least 98% or even 100% of the pen barrel substrate by weight. Alternatively or supplemented, the cross-sectional area of ​​the pen barrel is preferably formed of at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, and particularly at least 98% or even 99% of the pen barrel substrate. In particular, the pen barrel substrate is in a foamed porous form.

[0012] Specifically, the pen barrel has a pen barrel body made of a pen barrel substrate. The pen barrel body has an annular cross-section, such as a circular ring. In particular, its inner contour may be circular, and / or its outer contour may have any shape, such as a circle, ellipse, triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, or polygon.

[0013] In the technical solution of this invention, the manufacturing of the pen barrel substrate involves two steps: First, the components of the basic formula are mixed to form a basic mixture having the basic formula; second, the basic mixture having the basic formula is mixed with a foaming agent to form a manufacturing mixture. The manufacturing mixture is heated to a temperature higher than the decomposition temperature of the foaming agent and then molded into a pen barrel, thereby obtaining the pen barrel substrate. This pen barrel substrate is in a foamed state and contains pores. When calculating the total weight of the pen barrel substrate, its gaseous components can be ignored. The proportions of each component in the basic formula remain essentially constant in the pen barrel substrate.

[0014] The basic formula includes: 50-80% PLA and / or PLA copolymer by weight; Other polymers, plasticizers, waxes / lubricants, other additives such as tackifiers, stabilizers, etc., by weight, especially colorants for pigments, and organic and / or inorganic fillers, comprising 20-50% by weight.

[0015] In addition to olefins, the term "other polymers" may also include polybutylene succinate (PBS). Specifically, the content of PBS is less than 8% by weight, preferably less than 5% by weight, and particularly 0% by weight. The base formulation may be PBS-free.

[0016] Specifically, the content of each component included in the basic formula is as follows: 50-80% PLA and / or PLA copolymer by weight; 0-10% polybutylene succinate (PBS) by weight. Other polymers, 0-25% by weight; Plasticizer, 0.1-25% by weight; 0-10% wax / lubricant by weight; Other additives (such as thickeners, stabilizers, etc.) by weight: 0.1-10%; 0-10% by weight of colorant (especially pigment); 0-40% by weight of organic and / or inorganic fillers (as pen barrel fillers).

[0017] To manufacture the barrel of a pen or writing instrument, drawing tool, painting tool, and / or cosmetic pen, the components of a base formulation are first mixed to form a base mixture. This base mixture is then mixed with a foaming agent to obtain a manufacturing mixture. The manufacturing mixture is then foamed and molded to obtain the pen barrel substrate. In this process, the foaming agent is preferably added in situ to the base mixture of the base formulation during the final extrusion molding to ensure that it plays a specific role only during the final product molding process.

[0018] A manufacturing mixture is required when manufacturing the pen barrel substrate. This manufacturing mixture contains the following components: 90-99% by weight of a base mixture with a basic formulation; 1-10% foaming agent by weight.

[0019] The amount of foaming agent used depends on two factors: the content of at least one reactive component in the additive and the desired density reduction of the final product. Furthermore, specific process parameters (temperature, pressure, melt viscosity, residence time of the polymer in the extruder or injection molding unit, etc.) also affect the amount of foaming agent.

[0020] In the final product, the foaming agent is no longer present in its original form because it has been intentionally thermally decomposed and releases expanding gases that cause the base mixture with the base formulation to foam. Therefore, pores resulting from the use of the foaming agent are left in the plastic material. The entire base mixture of the base formulation is foamed, so the foaming process does not cause significant changes in the percentage proportions of the components in the base formulation.

[0021] PLA / PLA copolymer PLA is short for polylactic acid, also known as polylactide. Specifically, the registration number for polylactic acid with Chemical Abstracts Service is CAS: 9051-89-2. As a polymer, the properties of PLA can vary slightly depending on the number of monomers in the polymer. PLA can also exist in the form of PLA copolymers or PLA blends. PLA copolymers contain PLA as a first component and a polymer that can copolymerize with PLA as a second component. This second component can be a single polymer or a mixture of multiple polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Finally, PLA blends can also be used, in which PLA is mixed as a polymer with other polymers (such as olefin polymers, like polyethylene) to form a PLA blend. PLA can exist in the form of PLA, PLA copolymers, PLA blends, and mixtures thereof.

[0022] Based on the total weight of the pen barrel substrate, the content of PLA, PLA copolymer and / or PLA blend is 50-80%, preferably 55-70%.

[0023] One consideration of this invention is that the base polymers used to date (especially polystyrene or polystyrene-based polymers) are all made from petroleum-based raw materials. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the use of such petroleum-based raw materials, partly because manufacturing these polymers consumes petroleum resources, and partly because the materials made from them are non-compostable or almost non-compostable. Both of these characteristics contradict the current trend of promoting sustainable and / or environmentally friendly products. In contrast, this invention proposes using PLA (polylactide polymer) as the base polymer, thereby significantly reducing or completely eliminating the use of petroleum-based raw materials in pens. PLA (also commonly known as polylactic acid) can be obtained from renewable natural raw materials such as corn, and as a synthetic polymer, it belongs to the polyester family. Therefore, pure PLA is preferably made from renewable raw materials rather than based on fossil fuels such as petroleum.

[0024] Furthermore, PLA can be composted, particularly in industrial composting facilities, where it can decompose into harmless end products within a controlled timeframe (e.g., less than 12 weeks), specifically conforming to EN 14995 or EN 13432 standards (other similar standards may specify different conditions and timeframes). Composting or decomposition of PLA requires industrial composting conditions, i.e., controlled temperature and humidity in the presence of microorganisms. For example, the temperature needs to be maintained at 55-70°C during this process. Through industrial composting, the pen barrel can decompose into harmless end products according to standards, thus it can be described as biodegradable. Specific copolymers and / or other additional polymers of PLA can have further specific effects on its biodegradability.

[0025] By adding additives, the mechanical properties of PLA can be tuned to levels similar to those of known polystyrene. The pen barrel substrate composition proposed in this invention enables the manufacture of pen barrels possessing the required properties (sharpening performance, grip, mechanical stability, thermal stability, and chemical stability). Therefore, PLA becomes a sustainable alternative to the base polymers used to date for manufacturing pen barrels.

[0026] A particularly advantageous aspect of PLA selection is that its original properties (such as pencil sharpening properties, tensile strength, and tactile feel) do not negatively change compared to other plastics and existing polymers. Therefore, in the foaming formulations described in this invention, PLA constitutes a valuable and sustainable alternative to polymers known to date.

[0027] Specifically, the pen barrel substrate may be configured as a PLA blend and / or a PLA copolymer. In a PLA blend, PLA is mixed with one or more polymers; in a PLA copolymer, PLA is copolymerized with another polymer.

[0028] PLA blends can be compatible mixtures with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG), where, for example, PEG and PPG can improve the flexibility of the inherently brittle PLA. However, incompatible mixtures (e.g., mixtures with olefin polymers such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP)) can also be used to obtain specific properties. These olefin polymers are preferably derived from biosustainable sources (e.g., bioethanol or hydrogenated vegetable oils).

[0029] The biopolymer polybutylene succinate (PBS) can also be incorporated into the PLA / PLA copolymer along with the other polymers mentioned above. Based on the total weight of the pen barrel substrate, the PBS content is 0-10%, preferably less than or equal to 5%, more preferably less than or equal to 3%, and particularly less than or equal to 1%. The advantage of this is that by incorporating PBS, the brittleness of PLA can be reduced to some extent, which means a reduction in the amount of plasticizer required.

[0030] Based on the total weight of the pen barrel substrate, the content of other polymers in the PLA blend or PLA copolymer is 0-30%, preferably 5-20%, and more preferably 7-15%.

[0031] plasticizer Specifically, the pen barrel substrate contains one or more plasticizers. In addition to internal plasticization achieved through copolymerization in the polymer, plasticizers can also be added to the base formulation in solid polymer form or as specific oily, viscous substances to achieve external plasticization. Typically, plasticization is achieved through temperature treatment during granulation or extrusion.

[0032] Plasticizers that may be specifically mentioned include polymeric plasticizers based on polyadipate esters (such as polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), CAS number 60961-73-1), as well as other types of elastic polymers (such as polyethylenes, or more generally, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs)).

[0033] Other external plasticizers include epoxidized vegetable oils (e.g., epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO), CAS number 8013-07-8) and citrate esters (e.g., tributyl acetyl citrate (ATBC), CAS number 77-90-7). Additionally, glycine triacetate (GTA) and di(2-ethylhexyl) adipic acid ester (DOA) can be used alone or in combination with the aforementioned plasticizers. Based on the total weight of the pen barrel substrate, the plasticizer content is 0.1-25%, preferably 5-20%, and more preferably 7-15%.

[0034] wax, lubricant To obtain suitable processing properties and impart specific properties to the material, different waxes and lubricants may be optionally mixed and added. These include polyethylene waxes (e.g., polyethylene wax grafted with maleic anhydride), amide waxes, fatty acids (e.g., stearic acid, palmitic acid), montmorillonite wax, stearates (e.g., calcium stearate), fatty acid esters, paraffin waxes, and oils (e.g., palm oil). The content of these additives is 0-10%, preferably 1-5%.

[0035] To ensure pencil sharpening performance, the at least one wax is preferably selected from the following waxes: amide wax, fatty acids (e.g., stearic acid, palmitic acid), montmorillonite wax, stearates, fatty acid esters, and paraffin wax. Additionally, the wax may include ethylene bis-stearamide, stearic acid, calcium stearate, polyethylene wax, and polyethylene wax grafted with maleic anhydride.

[0036] Other additives Depending on the other components in the formulation, other additives can be used to achieve different purposes. For example, thickeners can be used to bind incompatible polymers together, and may also act as fillers. For instance, bonding between PLAs can be achieved using polyesters grafted with maleic anhydride. In addition, various stabilizers and / or nucleating agents can be added. The amount of other additives depends on the mass and quantity of the other components, and their content is 0-10%, preferably 1-5%.

[0037] Colorant Colorants are used to adjust the desired aesthetic color effect. On the one hand, they should give the pen barrel substrate a natural wood grain color (brownish), and on the other hand, they can also give it a specific contrasting color (such as the black of a cosmetic pen). In this regard, thermally stable and physiologically suitable organic and / or inorganic pigments are preferred, such as titanium dioxide, iron oxide, and azo pigments. To brighten the color, titanium dioxide (TiO2) is preferably used as a white pigment. To adjust the desired color, the pen barrel substrate preferably contains 0.1-10% colored pigment (e.g., iron oxide pigment) as part of the colorant. The specific content of the colorant depends on the desired coloring effect and the color-developing components (e.g., fillers) already present in the formulation.

[0038] Some colorants can also be used as fillers, such as graphite or carbon black. The same content ratio for pen barrel fillers applies to colored fillers.

[0039] filler In a preferred alternative or embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the pen barrel filler is selected as an inorganic filler. By selecting an inorganic filler, the strength, brittleness, and sliding properties during sharpening can be adjusted, while material costs can be reduced accordingly. Preferably, the at least one inorganic filler is selected from the group consisting of layered silicates, particularly soapstone, talc, clay, kaolin, and calcium carbonate, and may also be selected from chalk, boron nitride, graphite, or mixtures thereof. Organic fillers (such as wood flour and / or powdered cellulose) are also preferred, partly because they are inexpensive and can give the pen barrel a wood grain texture, and partly because they can increase the proportion of biodegradable and renewable components in the formulation.

[0040] Based on the total weight of the pen barrel substrate, the content of the pen barrel filler is preferably 0-40%, more preferably 3-20%, and particularly 4-13%.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least most, or even all, of the pen barrel filler is selected as an organic filler. To give the pen barrel a wood grain characteristic, the organic filler is preferably selected from the group consisting of wood and / or cellulose. For example, wood flour can be used in the manufacturing process. To ensure pen sharpening performance, the at least one organic filler is preferably composed of filler particles with a maximum particle size of 250 μm (particularly a maximum of 100 μm).

[0042] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least most, or even all, of the pen barrel filler is selected as a mixture of the aforementioned inorganic and organic fillers.

[0043] Specifically, the pen barrel substrate may be free of colorants. Alternatively, the pen barrel substrate may contain 1-3% white pigment as part of the colorant to brighten the color of the pen barrel substrate.

[0044] foaming agent The base formulation (particularly PLA and polymer phases containing other additives) is foamed using a foaming agent. In its final state, the foamed pen barrel substrate contains pores, which make the pen barrel lightweight and easy to sharpen.

[0045] In this process, the foaming agent is incorporated into the base formulation and uniformly distributed, particularly during extrusion or injection molding. During melt mixing within the extruder barrel, a measured amount of gas is released when the temperature reaches the corresponding decomposition point of the foaming agent; this gas is dispersed in the liquid phase of the plastic mixture. As the molten plastic material is extruded from the extruder, and the extruded pen barrel enters the cooling calibration device, the plastic matrix solidifies, and the gas bubbles are trapped within the pen barrel substrate.

[0046] Preferably, the pores are uniformly formed throughout the pen barrel substrate (particularly in PLA and optionally other polymers) through process control, and these pores are not visible on the pen barrel surface. Alternatively, a non-foaming agent decorative layer can be wrapped around the pen barrel substrate with added foaming agent, making the surface of the pen barrel substrate pore-free. In this regard, the decorative layer ideally consists of the same or at least compatible polymer as the pen barrel substrate to ensure sufficient adhesive strength between the two.

[0047] The presence of pores reduces the weight of the pen barrel and the amount of polymer consumed, while also making the PLA pen barrel substrate more elastic, thus reducing the amount of plasticizer needed. Furthermore, the presence of pores makes the pen barrel easier to sharpen with a conventional pencil sharpener. Moreover, the reduced density decreases the amount of material used in the pen barrel substrate, thereby lowering costs. In this way, the density of the pen barrel substrate can be below 1 g / cm³. Adding a foaming agent means that pores will exist in the extruded pen barrel substrate. The required amount of foaming agent depends on various factors, such as polymer content, filler amount, residence time and temperature of the pen barrel substrate in the extruder, and is typically adjusted to 1-10%, preferably 2-6%. Generally, the foaming agent is added to the base formulation in the form of a so-called masterbatch (i.e., a material formed by embedding one or more reactants in a carrier material (usually a polymer)) to ensure adequate compatibility. In this regard, it is preferable to use physiologically harmless substances such as carbonates and / or citrates, which primarily produce carbon dioxide gas and do not leave dangerous and / or harmful reaction residues. Suitable foaming agents include carbonates or citrates. Examples of carbonates include ammonium carbonate and alkali metal carbonates (such as sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate). Ammonium carbonate can be prepared by mixing calcium carbonate with ammonium sulfate. Examples of citrates include ammonium citrate and alkali metal citrates (such as sodium citrate and potassium citrate).

[0048] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, most components meet the threshold conditions for PLA industrial biocomposting performance, and therefore can be composted together, or are themselves bio-based materials, or even naturally derived materials, without the need for separate composting treatment. This means that the entire pen barrel substrate can be biodegraded on an industrial scale, or can be disposed of harmlessly. Particularly preferred is that all components meet the aforementioned threshold conditions.

[0049] In another possible embodiment of the invention, an adhesive layer is provided between the pen refill and the pen barrel. This adhesive layer improves the bond between the pen barrel and the pen refill, thereby enhancing sharpening performance and ensuring the pen refill is securely fixed within the pen barrel. This approach is particularly useful when the pen barrel and pen refill use incompatible polymers. Preferably, the adhesive is selected from polylactic acid wax grafted with maleic anhydride and / or other polyesters grafted with maleic anhydride.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pen refill is also made based on PLA. Specifically, the pen refill contains PLA as a binder. Preferably, the pen refill is made from the components described in DE 102013016355A1, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0051] Specifically, the pen refill has a pen refill substrate, which plays a decisive role in industrial composting performance. The pen refill substrate contains at least one binder, wherein the PLA content in the binder is 10-40%. Specifically, the pen refill substrate comprises the following components: PLA by weight: 10-40%; 30-80% of the pen refill by weight; 0-20% wax / lubricant by weight; Additives (such as plasticizers, stabilizers, thickeners, etc.) at 0-10% by weight.

[0052] The PLA content in the pen refill formula is 10-60%, preferably 10-40%, and particularly 10-25%.

[0053] Practice has shown that polymer-bonded pen refills are particularly effective if they contain the following components: PLA by weight: 10-60%; 2-25% wax by weight; 15-70% of pen refill by weight; 0-5% palm oil by weight; Colorant by weight: 0-30%

[0054] Practice has shown that at least one type of wax in the pen refill is preferably selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, stearates, montmorillonite wax, amide wax, and paraffin wax. A mixture of two or more waxes may also be used.

[0055] In this regard, it is particularly preferred that the at least one wax is calcium stearate and / or ethylene bis-stearamide (EBS) and / or polyethylene wax. Ethylene bis-stearamide (EBS) is particularly effective in colored pen refills, while calcium stearate is particularly effective in black pen refills.

[0056] Advantageously, at least one of the filler materials in the pen refill is selected from the group consisting of: graphite, hexagonal boron nitride, talc, soapstone, layered silicates (clay, kaolin), and chalk.

[0057] For black pen refills, graphite or a mixture of graphite and carbon black is particularly preferred as a color-developing filler, as its high content also serves as a filler. For colored pen refills, combining white or colorless fillers (such as talc, layered silicates, hexagonal boron nitride, etc.) with color-developing pigments (such as azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, dioxazine pigments, quinacridone pigments, iron oxide, carbon black, graphite, ultramarine, ferricyanide complexes) yields good results.

[0058] Some colorants can also be used as fillers in pencil leads. The content ratio of colored pencil lead fillers is the same as that of regular pencil lead fillers.

[0059] For example, the filler for the pen refill can be selected from the group consisting of: layered silicates, talc (for colored pens), and graphite (for black pens).

[0060] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pen barrel substrate and the pen refill substrate are directly bonded, particularly by means of material bonding. By selecting PLA for both substrates, an intermediate layer can be advantageously eliminated because the same polymer can bond with each other without additional treatment. Therefore, by selecting the same substrates, not only is an tackifier layer eliminated, but a stable bond can also be formed.

[0061] In particular, the components of the pen refill also meet the threshold conditions for PLA industrial biocomposting performance. Therefore, as mentioned earlier, these components can also be degraded together, or they are themselves bio-based materials.

[0062] In another embodiment of the invention, the pen is constructed as a writing pen and / or a drawing pen and / or a makeup pen. In particular, it can be made into a black pen or a colored pen.

[0063] Another subject of the invention is a pen barrel for writing instruments, drawing instruments, drafting instruments, and / or cosmetic pens. The drafting instruments may, for example, be constructed as a pen barrel body. The writing instruments include ballpoint pens or refillable automatic pens, the barrels of which may be made from a pen barrel substrate having the aforementioned basic formulation.

[0064] Specifically, the pen barrel substrate of the drawing tool can be constructed as described above. Specifically, the basic formula of the pen barrel substrate can be constructed and / or manufactured as described above.

[0065] Specifically, the barrel of a pen for writing instruments, drawing instruments, drafting tools, and / or cosmetic pens has a barrel substrate containing a base formula comprising: 50-80% by weight of PLA, PLA copolymers and / or PLA blends; 20-50% by weight of other polymers, plasticizers, waxes / lubricants, other additives (e.g., tackifiers, stabilizers, etc.), colorants (especially pigments), and organic and / or inorganic fillers (as pen barrel fillers).

[0066] The pen barrel substrate is foamed and / or contains pores.

[0067] The pen barrel substrate included in the barrel of a writing instrument, drawing instrument, drafting instrument and / or cosmetic pen has the same properties as the aforementioned pen barrel substrate.

[0068] Another subject of the invention is a method for manufacturing the pen and / or pen barrel as described in the above or any of the foregoing embodiments. Specifically, the pen barrel is overlaid onto the pen refill using a one-step molding process. Specifically, the one-step molding process can be extrusion molding, injection molding, or compression molding.

[0069] Extrusion molding can be divided into single-stage and two-stage processes. In a single-stage process, all pen components (pen lead, optional tackifier layer, pen barrel substrate, and decorative layer) are thermoformed into a near-net-shape structure in a single mold, and their geometry is then fixed during cooling.

[0070] In the two-stage extrusion process, the pen refill is first formed, and if necessary, an optional tackifier layer can be concentrically applied to the refill simultaneously. Alternatively, the tackifier layer can be first coated onto the pen barrel substrate. Then, in the second step, an additional die is used to coat the resulting pen refill barrel with the pen barrel substrate and a decorative layer. Subsequent process steps are the same as in the single-stage process. Attached Figure Description

[0071] Other features, advantages, and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention. (See the accompanying drawings.) Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a pen according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a pen according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0072] Figure 1 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of pen 1, which can be constructed as a writing pen, drawing pen, makeup pen, black pen, etc.

[0073] The pen 1 has a refill 2 and a barrel 3, wherein the refill 2 is disposed within the barrel 3 in a manner resistant to displacement relative to the barrel 3. In this embodiment, the refill 2 is coaxially and / or concentrically disposed within the pen 1. The pen 1 is constructed as a cylinder, and its base area or cross-sectional area may be, for example, circular, polygonal, elliptical, etc. The cross-section of the refill 2 is, for example, circular. The outer contour of the barrel 3 matches the outer contour of the pen 1, and its inner contour matches the outer contour of the refill 2.

[0074] The pen 1 can be sharpened, with a conical tip 4 at one end, wherein the conical pen barrel segment 5 of the pen barrel 3 transitions into the conical pen lead segment 6 of the pen lead 2. The conical pen lead segment 6 constitutes the tip of the pen 1. For example, the conical tip 4 can be formed by the separation or cutting operation of a pen sharpener.

[0075] The pen barrel 3 has a pen barrel substrate, which is mainly composed of the pen barrel substrate. Optionally, the pen 1 may have other layered structures; in particular, an adhesive layer 7 (as an intermediary layer) may be provided between the pen refill 2 and the pen barrel 3 in the pen 1. As an alternative or supplement, a decorative layer 8 may be provided on the outer circumference of the pen barrel 3.

[0076] This invention specifies that the pen barrel substrate is made based on PLA. An exemplary formulation is provided below: Example 1: Pen or pen barrel (the pen barrel substrate has the following basic formula) PLA by weight, 80%; 2.5% calcium stearate by weight (as wax); 1% by weight of polyethylene wax (as wax); 15% by weight of epoxidized vegetable oil (as a plasticizer); 0.5% by weight of iron oxide pigment (as a colorant); 1% by weight of titanium dioxide (as a colorant).

[0077] The following are additives used for foaming: The polymer composite contains 5% by weight of sodium bicarbonate / citric acid as a reactive component (a carbonate-based foaming agent).

[0078] Example 1 illustrates a filler-free pen barrel with high porosity and high compostability or a high proportion of sustainable raw materials.

[0079] Example 2: Pen or writing instrument barrel (the barrel substrate has the following basic formula, which is a PLA blend of PLA and polyethylene) PLA by weight: 65%; 5% polyethylene by weight (as other polymers); 5% by weight of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (as plasticizer). 10% by weight of acetylglucosyl tributyl citrate (as a plasticizer). 2.5% by weight of grafted maleic anhydride polyethylene wax (as a tackifier). 1% by weight of polylactic acid grafted with maleic anhydride (as a thickener). 10% by weight of wood flour (as an organic filler, i.e., pen barrel filler). 1.5% by weight of titanium dioxide (as a colorant).

[0080] The following are additives used for foaming: The polymer complex contains 2% by weight of sodium bicarbonate / citric acid as a reactive component (a carbonate-based foaming agent).

[0081] The pen barrel of Example 2 has a wood grain texture and medium porosity. The 10% wood content helps improve pen sharpening performance and increases the proportion of natural and renewable raw materials in the formulation.

[0082] Example 3: Pen or pen barrel (the pen barrel substrate has the following basic formulation, which is a PLA blend of PLA and polybutylene succinate) PLA by weight: 69%; 6% by weight of polybutylene succinate (as other polymers); 4% talc by weight (as pen barrel filler). 5% by weight of epoxidized vegetable oil (as a plasticizer); 10% by weight of acetylglucosyl tributyl citrate (as a plasticizer). 2.2% stearic acid by weight (as wax); 2.2% calcium stearate by weight (as wax); 0.3% by weight of iron oxide pigment (as a colorant); 1.3% by weight of titanium dioxide (as a colorant).

[0083] The following are additives used for foaming: The polymer composite contains 2% by weight of sodium bicarbonate as a reactive component (a carbonate-based foaming agent).

[0084] The pen barrel of this embodiment 3 has high elasticity and moderate foaming degree.

[0085] Example 4: Pen or pen barrel (the pen barrel substrate has the following basic formula) 55% PLA by weight; 10% by weight of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (as plasticizer). 7% by weight of epoxidized vegetable oil (as a plasticizer); 2% by weight of ethylene bis-stearamide (as a lubricant); 2% by weight of polyethylene wax (as wax); 2.5% by weight of polylactic acid grafted with maleic anhydride (as a tackifier). 20% by weight of wood flour (as an inorganic filler, i.e., pen barrel filler); 0.1% by weight of iron oxide pigment (as a colorant). 1.4% by weight of titanium dioxide (as a colorant).

[0086] The following are additives used for foaming: The polymer composite contains 4% by weight of sodium bicarbonate / citric acid as a reactive component (a carbonate-based foaming agent).

[0087] The pen barrel of Example 4 has a significantly higher filler content and higher porosity.

[0088] Example 5: Makeup brush or makeup brush barrel (the base material of the barrel has the following basic formula, which is a PLA blend of PLA and polyethylene) 45% PLA by weight; 15% polyethylene by weight (as other polymers); 20% by weight of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (as plasticizer). 4% by weight of epoxidized vegetable oil (as a plasticizer); 2% by weight of acetylglucosyl tributyl citrate (as a plasticizer). 2% by weight of ethylene bis-stearamide (as a lubricant); 1% calcium stearate by weight (as wax); 10% by weight of chalk (as an inorganic filler, i.e., pen barrel filler). 1% carbon black by weight (as a colorant).

[0089] The following are additives used for foaming: The polymer complex contains 4.5% by weight of sodium bicarbonate / citric acid as a reactive component (a carbonate-based foaming agent).

[0090] The cosmetic pen in Example 5 is black, can be sharpened, and has a high content of polymer plasticizer.

[0091] Figure 1 The pen 1 shown has a barrel 3 made of PLA, a conventional pen refill 2, and an adhesive layer 7 between the pen refill 2 and the barrel 3. Figure 2 Another embodiment is shown.

[0092] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the pen refill 2 is also made of PLA, and the PLA content in its pen refill substrate is at least 10%.

[0093] The following provides an example pen refill formulation: Example 1: Black pen refill 10-60% polylactide by weight; 2-25% wax by weight; 0-5% palm oil by weight; The remainder is graphite.

[0094] In this embodiment, graphite is used as a colorant for the black pen lead. However, a mixture of graphite and carbon black can also be used.

[0095] The formula for colored pen refills includes: 10-60% polylactide by weight; 2-25% wax by weight; Colorant by weight: 1-30%; The remainder is filler.

[0096] Colored pencil refills can use colored and / or colorless pigments as colorants. Examples of such pigments include azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, dioxazine pigments, quinacridone pigments, iron oxide, carbon black, graphite, ultramarine, and ferricyanide complexes.

[0097] Advantageously, in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the tackifier layer 7 can be omitted because both the pen barrel substrate and the pen refill substrate are PLA-based, and since they have the same component type, excellent material bonding and shape fit can be achieved without the need for the tackifier layer 7.

[0098] for Figure 1 Of the pen 1, at least the pen barrel 2 is compostable. Even if other components are less compostable, this embodiment represents a significant step towards a sustainable alternative to pen 1. Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, both the pen barrel 2 and the pen refill 3 are compostable, making the pen 1 a truly sustainable alternative.

[0099] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a pen barrel 3, which is made of a pen barrel substrate and has a cavity 9. A replaceable refill can be inserted into this cavity. Preferably, the refill can move within the cavity, as is the case with a ballpoint pen refill. The pen barrel 3 can be constructed as a section of a pen barrel. Additional functional ends (such as pen tips or push buttons) for limiting the movement of the refill can be installed at both ends of the pen barrel 3. For example, the pen barrel 3 can be constructed as part of the barrel of a writing pen, drawing pen, ballpoint pen, cosmetic pen, black pen, mechanical pen, etc. As an alternative or supplement, a decorative layer 8 can be provided on the outer circumference of the pen barrel 3.

[0100] List of reference numerals 1 pen 2 pen refills 3. Pen barrel 4. Conical nib 5. Conical pen barrel section 6. Conical pen refill segment 7. Tackifier layer 8 Decorative Layer 9. Cavity

Claims

1. A pen (1) having a barrel (3), wherein, The pen barrel (3) has a pen barrel substrate, the pen barrel substrate comprising a basic formula, the basic formula comprising: 50-80% by weight of PLA, PLA copolymers and / or PLA blends; Other polymers, plasticizers, waxes / lubricants, other additives such as tackifiers and stabilizers, especially colorants for pigments, and organic and / or inorganic fillers as pen barrel fillers, by weight, comprising 20-50% of each other. The pen barrel substrate is in a foamed state and / or contains pores.

2. The pen (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, A manufacturing mixture is used when manufacturing the pen barrel substrate, the manufacturing mixture comprising: 90-99% by weight of a base mixture having the aforementioned base formulation; 1-10% foaming agent by weight.

3. The pen (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The content of each component in the basic formula is as follows: 50-80% by weight of PLA, PLA copolymers and / or PLA blends; 0-10% polybutylene succinate PBS by weight; 0-25% by weight of other polymers besides polybutylene succinate (PBS); 0-25% plasticizer by weight; 0-10% wax / lubricant by weight; Other additives such as thickeners and stabilizers, by weight, amounting to 0-10%; Colorants, especially pigments, at 0-10% by weight; Organic and / or inorganic fillers, by weight, constitute 0-40% as pen barrel fillers.

4. The pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The PLA is bio-based PLA, and / or at least most or all of the pen barrel filler is organic filler.

5. The pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The pen barrel filler is selected from the group consisting of wood and cellulose.

6. The pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The pen barrel filler comprises an inorganic filler component, which is preferably selected from the group consisting of layered silicates, particularly soapstone, clay, kaolin, and talc, and / or from chalk, graphite, and boron nitride.

7. The pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The pen has a refill, which is disposed in the pen and / or pen barrel in a manner that prevents displacement.

8. The pen (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, An adhesive layer (7) is provided between the pen refill (2) and the pen barrel (3).

9. The pen (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The pen refill (2) contains a pen refill substrate, which contains at least one adhesive having 10-40% PLA by weight.

10. The pen (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The pen barrel substrate and the pen refill substrate can be directly bonded without a separate adhesive layer.

11. The pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The pen is constructed as a writing pen and / or a drawing pen and / or a makeup pen.

12. A penholder (3) for use as a writing instrument, drawing instrument, drafting instrument, and / or makeup brush, wherein, The pen barrel (3) has a pen barrel substrate, the pen barrel substrate comprising a basic formula, the basic formula comprising: 50-80% by weight of PLA, PLA copolymers and / or PLA blends; Other polymers, plasticizers, waxes / lubricants, other additives such as tackifiers and stabilizers, especially colorants for pigments, and organic and / or inorganic fillers as pen barrel fillers, by weight, comprising 20-50% of each other. The pen barrel substrate is in a foamed state and / or contains pores.

13. A method for manufacturing a pen (1) according to any one of claims 1-11 and / or a pen barrel according to claim 12, characterized in that, A base mixture having a basic formulation is mixed with a foaming agent and then heat-treated to manufacture a foamed pen barrel substrate, wherein the basic formulation comprises: 50-80% by weight of PLA, PLA copolymers and / or PLA blends; Other polymers, plasticizers, waxes / lubricants, other additives such as tackifiers, stabilizers, etc., by weight, especially colorants for pigments, and organic and / or inorganic fillers as pen barrel fillers, comprising 20-50% by weight.

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