Composition, molded article, coated article, pouch, and packaging material

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a composition that contains a plasticizer and starch derived from a bulb or a derivative thereof, wherein the total amount of the plasticizer and the starch derived from a bulb or the derivative thereof is 50 mass% or more with respect to the whole mass of the composition.

Description

Compositions, molded bodies, coatings, pouches, and packaging materials

[0001] The present invention relates to compositions and to molded articles, coatings, pouches, and packaging materials comprising said compositions.

[0002] Compositions containing starch and various additives have been used in the past, and are used, for example, in the form of molded articles such as films, coatings, etc. As a composition containing starch and additives, for example, a composition containing starch, a sweet component, and a sour component has been disclosed (Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2007-014640 A

[0004] However, when the composition described in Patent Document 1 is formed into a film and used in the form of, for example, a pouch, the stress and toughness are not necessarily sufficient, and there is a possibility that the film may be broken during transportation. Furthermore, when used as the pouch, water solubility is sometimes required. However, it has been difficult to improve the stress and toughness while maintaining water solubility.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a composition that can be used to form a molded article that is excellent in stress resistance, toughness, and water solubility.

[0006] The present inventors have conducted extensive research to solve the above problems, and as a result have found that the above problems can be solved, leading to the completion of the present invention. That is, the present invention includes the following preferred embodiments.

[0007] [1] A composition comprising a bulb-derived starch or a derivative thereof and a plasticizer, wherein the total amount of the bulb-derived starch or a derivative thereof and the plasticizer is 50% by mass or more based on the total mass of the composition. [2] A composition comprising a starch or a derivative thereof having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and a plasticizer, wherein the total amount of the starch or a derivative thereof having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and the plasticizer is 50% by mass or more based on the total mass of the composition. [3] The composition according to [1] or [2], wherein the starch is at least one selected from the group consisting of potato starch, sweet potato starch, tapioca starch, lily of the valley starch, taro starch, Chinese yam starch, lotus root starch, kudzu starch, and arrowhead starch. [4] The composition according to any of [1] to [3], wherein the starch is potato starch and / or tapioca starch. [5] The composition according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the content of the starch or its derivative is 10 to 98% by mass relative to the total mass of the composition. [6] The composition according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the plasticizer is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, hydroxy acids, monosaccharides, and disaccharides. [7] The composition according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the content of the plasticizer is 2 to 90% by mass relative to the total mass of the composition. [8] The composition according to any one of [1] to [7], further comprising at least one polysaccharide. [9] The composition according to [8], wherein the polysaccharide is at least one selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, alginic acid, guar gum, xanthan gum, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, alkyl cellulose, tamarind seed gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, and derivatives thereof.

[10] The composition according to [8], wherein the polysaccharide is at least one selected from the group consisting of carrageenan and derivatives thereof.

[11] A molded article comprising the composition according to any one of [1] to

[10] .

[12] A coated article obtained by coating a substrate with the composition according to any one of [1] to

[10] .

[13] The molded article according to

[11] , which has a maximum stress of 4 MPa or more and / or a toughness of 440 or more.

[14] The molded article according to

[11] or

[13] , which is a water-soluble film or fiber.

[15] A pouch comprising the molded article according to

[11] ,

[13] or

[14] .

[16] The pouch according to

[15] , which contains therein at least one selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent, a fabric softener and a fragrance.

[17] A packaging material comprising the molded article according to

[11] ,

[13] or

[14] .

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a composition that can be used to form a molded article that is excellent in stress resistance, toughness, and water solubility.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Note that the following description is merely illustrative of embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to the following embodiments. Note that the upper and lower limit values ​​described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined to form a suitable numerical range. Note that in this specification, the stress, elongation, toughness, and / or compressive strength of a molded body, a water-soluble film, a pouch, a fiber, and / or a covering, etc., may be referred to as "mechanical strength."

[0010] [Composition] The composition of the present invention comprises starch derived from bulbs or a derivative thereof and a plasticizer, and is characterized in that the total amount of the starch derived from bulbs or a derivative thereof and the plasticizer is 50% by mass or more relative to the total mass of the composition.

[0011] <Starch> The composition of the present invention contains starch derived from bulbs or a derivative thereof. As used herein, the term "bulb" refers to a vegetative organ formed by the accumulation of nutrients in a specific part of a plant, such as the root, stem, or leaf, which undergoes deformation and enlargement. Bulbs can be classified into, for example, bulbs (shortened stems with overlapping, layered leaves), corms (enlarged, spherical stems), tubers (enlarged, spherical rhizomes), rhizomes (enlarged, horizontally extending rhizomes), tuberous roots (enlarged roots), and rhizophores (parts similar to both roots and stems).

[0012] Examples of starches derived from bulbs include potato starch, arrowroot starch (tubers), sweet potato starch, tapioca starch, cassava starch, kudzu starch (tubers), lily paddy rice starch (bulb), taro starch, konjac starch (corms), Chinese yam starch, Japanese yam starch (rhizophores), and lotus root starch and bracken starch (rhizomes). The bulb-derived starch is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of potato starch, sweet potato starch, tapioca starch, lily paddy rice starch, taro starch, Chinese yam starch, lotus root starch, kudzu starch, and arrowroot starch, and more preferably potato starch and / or tapioca starch, because this enhances the strength, toughness, and water solubility of the resulting molded article. The starches may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0013] Derivatives of starch derived from these bulbs are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include etherified starch, esterified starch, cationized starch, crosslinked starch, oxidized starch, and pregelatinized starch.

[0014] Examples of etherified starches include alkyl-etherified starches such as methyl-etherified starch, carboxyalkyl-etherified starches such as carboxymethyl-etherified starch, hydroxyalkyl-etherified starches such as etherified starches having a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, allyl-etherified starch, aminoalkyl-etherified starch, ammonium alkyl-etherified starch, etc. Examples of hydroxyalkyl groups having 2 to 6 carbon atoms include hydroxyethyl groups, hydroxypropyl groups, hydroxybutyl groups, etc.

[0015] Examples of the esterified starch include esterified starch having a structural unit derived from a carboxylic acid, such as esterified starch having a structural unit derived from acetic acid; esterified starch having a structural unit derived from a dicarboxylic acid anhydride, such as esterified starch having a structural unit derived from maleic anhydride, esterified starch having a structural unit derived from phthalic anhydride, and esterified starch having a structural unit derived from octenylsuccinic anhydride; and esterified starch having a structural unit derived from an oxo acid, such as starch nitrate, starch sulfate, starch carbonate, starch phosphate, and urea phosphate.

[0016] Examples of cationic starch include a reaction product of starch with 2-diethylaminoethyl chloride, and a reaction product of starch with 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride.

[0017] Examples of crosslinked starch include formaldehyde crosslinked starch, epichlorohydrin crosslinked starch, phosphate crosslinked starch, acrolein crosslinked starch, and electron beam crosslinked starch.

[0018] Examples of oxidized starch include starch oxidized with sodium hypochlorite, starch oxidized with periodine or periodate, starch oxidized with hydrogen peroxide, and starch oxidized with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl free radical (TEMPO).

[0019] These starch derivatives can be obtained by conventional methods in the art. Furthermore, one type of starch or its derivatives may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination. Furthermore, two or more different derivatization treatments described above may be performed on a single starch. In one embodiment of the present invention, when the composition contains a starch derivative, the resulting molded article tends to have increased stress, toughness, and water solubility.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the starch derivative is preferably an etherified starch, a cross-linked starch, or an oxidized starch, since these tend to increase the stress, toughness, and water solubility of the resulting molded article, and more preferably a hydroxyalkyl-etherified starch, a phosphate-cross-linked starch, or a starch oxidized with sodium hypochlorite.

[0021] Since starch contains DNA derived from its plant of origin, the type of starch origin can be determined by, for example, examining the presence or absence of DNA bands specific to the plant of origin using PCR. Even in the case of a composition containing multiple types of starch, the type of each starch can be determined using PCR. Furthermore, the content of each starch can be measured by, for example, identifying the type of each starch using PCR and then measuring the amylose content. Alternatively, commercially available starch of known origin may be used.

[0022] In the present invention, the amylose content of the bulb-derived starch is preferably 5 to 25% by mass, more preferably 5 to 23% by mass, even more preferably 5 to 22% by mass, and even more preferably 6 to 21% by mass, and may be, for example, 7 to 20% by mass, 8 to 18% by mass, or 10 to 17% by mass. When the amylose content of the bulb-derived starch is within the above range, the resulting molded product may have better stress, toughness, and water solubility. The amylose content of the starch can be measured, for example, by measuring the absorbance at a wavelength of 620 nm when iodine is adsorbed onto the starch, according to the method described in "Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Notification No. 332, Standard Measurement Methods, March 14, 2001." When two or more types of starch are contained in a composition, the amylose content refers to the average amylose content, which is a weighted average value taking into account the constituent proportions of the two or more types of starch.

[0023] The moisture content in the bulb-derived starch is preferably 0 to 20% by mass, more preferably 5 to 15% by mass. The moisture content in the starch can be determined, for example, using a halogen moisture meter, a Karl Fischer moisture meter, or the like. The protein content in the bulb-derived starch is preferably 0 to 10% by mass, more preferably 0 to 5% by mass, even more preferably 0 to 1% by mass, even more preferably 0 to 0.5% by mass, and may be 0% by mass. The protein content in the starch can be determined, for example, by the Kjeldahl method, the Dumas method, or the like. The lipid content in the bulb-derived starch is preferably 0 to 2% by mass, more preferably 0 to 1% by mass, even more preferably 0 to 0.2% by mass, and may be 0% by mass. The lipid content in the starch can be determined, for example, by liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, or the like.

[0024] The inventors of the present invention have conducted research focusing on starch and have unexpectedly found that molded articles containing a composition containing bulb-derived starch or its derivatives and a plasticizer are excellent in stress, toughness, and water solubility. The reason for this is unclear, but it is presumed that the relatively high molecular weight of amylose contained in bulb-derived starch increases the stress and toughness of the resulting molded article, and that the relatively low amylose content also results in excellent water solubility.

[0025] The content of the starch or derivative thereof is preferably 10 to 98% by mass, more preferably 15 to 95% by mass, even more preferably 20 to 90% by mass, still more preferably 25 to 85% by mass, particularly preferably 30 to 80% by mass, more particularly preferably 32 to 78% by mass, extremely preferably 40 to 75% by mass, and even extremely preferably 50 to 75% by mass, 55 to 73% by mass, 57 to 70% by mass, 60 to 70% by mass, 61 to 70% by mass, or 62 to 69% by mass, based on the total mass of the composition. When the content of the starch or derivative thereof is within the above ranges, the resulting molded article can have excellent stress, toughness, and water solubility.

[0026] <Plasticizer> The composition of the present invention contains a plasticizer. When the composition contains a plasticizer, the processability of the molded article obtained from the composition can be improved, such as facilitating film formation, pouching, spinning, etc. The plasticizer used in the composition of the present invention is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, hydroxy acids, monosaccharides, and disaccharides. These compounds can reduce interactions between starch or its derivatives. Furthermore, because they can form a high-order network by hydrogen bonding with starch, in addition to improving processability, they can also further increase the elongation of molded articles obtained from the composition, resulting in excellent toughness. One type of plasticizer may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

[0027] Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include glycerin, diglycerin, sorbitol, alkylene glycols (e.g., alkylene glycols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and neopentyl glycol), polyalkylene glycols (e.g., diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of up to 400, and polypropylene glycols having a molecular weight of up to 400), trimethylolpropane, erythritol, xylitol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, maltitol, mannitol, and pentaerythritol.

[0028] Examples of the hydroxy acid include lactic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid.

[0029] Examples of the monosaccharides include glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose, and xylose.

[0030] Examples of the disaccharides include maltose, trehalose, sucrose, and lactose.

[0031] Among these, from the viewpoint of further increasing the stress and elongation of the obtained molded body, the plasticizer is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of glycerin, diglycerin, sorbitol, alkylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, trimethylolpropane, erythritol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, lactic acid, glucose, fructose, maltose, and trehalose, more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, sorbitol, and fructose, and even more preferably glycerin or sorbitol.

[0032] The content of the plasticizer is preferably 2 to 90% by mass, more preferably 5 to 85% by mass, even more preferably 10 to 80% by mass, still more preferably 15 to 75% by mass, particularly preferably 20 to 70% by mass, more particularly preferably 22 to 68% by mass, extremely preferably 25 to 60% by mass, and even extremely preferably 25 to 50% by mass, 27 to 45% by mass, 30 to 43% by mass, 30 to 40% by mass, 30 to 39% by mass, or 31 to 38% by mass, based on the mass of the composition. When the content of the plasticizer is within the above range, the processability and elongation of the molded body can be further improved.

[0033] In the present invention, the total amount of the bulb-derived starch or its derivative and the plasticizer in the composition is 50% by mass or more, based on the total mass of the composition. If the total amount of the bulb-derived starch or its derivative and the plasticizer is less than 50% by mass, the composition will not produce a molded article with excellent stress, toughness, and water solubility. The total amount of the bulb-derived starch or its derivative and the plasticizer in the composition is preferably 50 to 100% by mass, more preferably 55 to 100% by mass, even more preferably 60 to 100% by mass, still more preferably 65 to 100% by mass, 70 to 100% by mass, 75 to 100% by mass, 75 to 99% by mass, 75 to 95% by mass, 75 to 90% by mass, 75 to 85% by mass, or 75 to 80% by mass.

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ratio (by mass) of the bulb-derived starch or its derivative, or the starch or its derivative having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass described below, to the plasticizer in the composition is preferably 90:10 to 10:90, more preferably 80:20 to 20:80, even more preferably 75:25 to 25:75, still more preferably 70:30 to 30:70, and particularly preferably 60:40 to 40:60, 63:37 to 37:63, or 65:35 to 35:65. When the ratio of the starch or its derivative to the plasticizer is within the above range, the stress, toughness, and water solubility of a molded article obtained from the composition can be increased.

[0035] <Polysaccharides> In one embodiment of the present invention, the composition of the present invention preferably further comprises at least one polysaccharide in addition to the starch and plasticizer. When the composition further comprises a polysaccharide, the polysaccharide can form a high-order network by hydrogen bonding with the starch, thereby further improving the stress of the resulting molded article.

[0036] Polysaccharides refer to carbohydrates composed of 10 or more monosaccharides bonded together. Examples of polysaccharides include chitin, chitosan, cellulose, hemicellulose, dextrin, gum arabic, carrageenan, alginic acid, guar gum, xanthan gum, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, alkyl cellulose, carboxyalkyl cellulose, tamarind seed gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, karaya gum, succinoglycan, pullulan, and derivatives thereof. These polysaccharides may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, from the viewpoint of further increasing the stress and elongation of the resulting molded body, the polysaccharide is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, alginic acid, guar gum, xanthan gum, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, alkyl cellulose, tamarind seed gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, pullulan, and derivatives thereof, more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, alginic acid, guar gum, xanthan gum, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, alkyl cellulose, tamarind seed gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, and derivatives thereof, and most preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of carrageenan and derivatives thereof.

[0037] Carrageenan is a polysaccharide obtained from red algae and contains repeating units of D-galactose or 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose and sulfate groups. Carrageenan is classified into κ (kappa) carrageenan, ι (iota) carrageenan, and λ (lambda) carrageenan. These can be used alone or in combination. As the carrageenan, for example, commercially available products such as "GENUGEL carrageenan type JPE-126" (manufactured by Sansho Co., Ltd.), "GENUTINE VCS-J" (manufactured by Sansho Co., Ltd.), "GENUVISCO CF02" (manufactured by Sansho Co., Ltd.), the "Soagina" series such as "Soagina MW210" and "Soagina MV320" (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, purified carrageenans), and the "Soar-Ace" series such as "Soar-Ace MW-952" (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, purified carrageenan preparations) may be used.

[0038] Alginic acid is a polysaccharide obtained from brown algae and has a structure in which D-mannuronic acid and L-guluronic acid are randomly polymerized. Commercially available alginic acid products such as "Kimica Acid G" and "Kimica Acid SA" (manufactured by Kimica Co., Ltd.) may be used.

[0039] Guar gum is a polysaccharide obtained from the endosperm of guar beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), and has a structure in which mannose is the main chain and galactose is bonded to the side chain. As the guar gum, for example, commercially available products such as "Guapak (registered trademark)" (manufactured by MP Gokyo Food & Chemical Co., Ltd.), "RG100" (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), "JAGUAR C 17K" (manufactured by Sansho Co., Ltd., cationized guar gum), and "MEYPRO-BOND 111" (manufactured by Sansho Co., Ltd., cationized guar gum) may be used.

[0040] Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide produced by fermenting starch with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris, and has a glucose backbone and a side chain containing one glucuronic acid between two mannose units. Commercially available xanthan gums may be used, such as "Echogum (registered trademark)" (manufactured by MP Gokyo Food & Chemical Co., Ltd.) and "Soaxan XG800" (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation).

[0041] Examples of hydroxyalkyl cellulose include hydroxyalkyl celluloses having 2 to 10 carbon atoms in the hydroxyalkyl group, such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, preferably hydroxyalkyl celluloses having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the hydroxyalkyl group. Examples of alkyl cellulose include alkyl celluloses having 2 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, propyl cellulose, and butyl cellulose, and alkyl celluloses having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. The hydroxyalkyl cellulose refers to cellulose in which one or more hydroxyl groups are modified with a hydroxyalkyl group, and the alkyl cellulose refers to cellulose in which one or more hydroxyl groups are modified with an alkyl group. The carbon numbers of the hydroxyalkyl group and the alkyl group refer to the carbon numbers of one hydroxyalkyl group and one alkyl group, respectively.

[0042] Tamarind seed gum is a polysaccharide obtained from the seeds of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and has a structure in which glucose is the main chain and xylose and galactose are bonded to the side chains. As tamarind seed gum, for example, commercially available products such as "Glyloid (registered trademark) 6C," "Glyloid (registered trademark) 3S," "Glyloid (registered trademark) 2A," and "Glyate (registered trademark)" (manufactured by MP Gokyo Food & Chemical Co., Ltd.), and "TG120" (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) may be used.

[0043] Locust bean gum is a polysaccharide obtained from the seeds of carob (Celatonia siliqua), and has a structure in which mannose is the main chain and galactose is bonded to the side chain. As locust bean gum, for example, commercially available products such as "GENU (registered trademark) GUM type RL-200Z" (manufactured by Sansho Co., Ltd.), "Soarlocast A200", "Soarlocast A120", and "MC1000" (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) may be used.

[0044] Tara gum is a polysaccharide obtained from the seeds of tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) and has a structure in which mannose is the main chain and galactose is bonded to the side chain. Commercially available tara gum products such as "MT120" and "MT1000" (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) may be used.

[0045] Examples of polysaccharide derivatives include sodium salts, potassium salts, calcium salts, cationized forms and salts thereof, anionized forms and salts thereof, acid hydrolysates, etc. Polysaccharides may be used singly or in combination of two or more.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the number-average molecular weight (sometimes referred to as Mn) of the polysaccharide is preferably 5 kDa to 50,000 kDa, more preferably 10 kDa to 10,000 kDa, and even more preferably 10 kDa to 5,000 kDa, for example, 5 kDa to 1,000 kDa, 10 kDa to 500 kDa, or 15 kDa to 200 kDa. The weight-average molecular weight (sometimes referred to as Mw) of the polysaccharide is preferably 5 kDa to 150,000 kDa, more preferably 10 kDa to 50,000 kDa, and even more preferably 10 kDa to 30,000 kDa, for example, 10 kDa to 5,000 kDa, 30 kDa to 2,000 kDa, or 50 kDa to 1,000 kDa. When the Mn and / or Mw of the polysaccharide are within the above ranges, the stress and elongation of the resulting molded article can be further increased. When two or more polysaccharides are contained, the Mn of the polysaccharide is a weighted average of the Mn of the two or more polysaccharides. The same applies to the Mw.

[0047] The content of the polysaccharide is preferably 0 to 40% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 35% by mass, even more preferably 1 to 30% by mass, even more preferably 5 to 28% by mass, even more preferably 10 to 28% by mass, even more preferably 15 to 28% by mass, even more preferably 20 to 28% by mass, and particularly preferably 20 to 25% by mass, based on the mass of the composition. When the polysaccharide content is within the above range, the resulting molded article can have excellent stress and elongation.

[0048] Furthermore, the content of at least one polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of more preferred polysaccharides, carrageenan, alginic acid, guar gum, xanthan gum, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, alkyl cellulose, tamarind seed gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, and derivatives thereof, is preferably 0 to 40% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 35% by mass, even more preferably 1 to 30% by mass, even more preferably 5 to 28% by mass, even more preferably 10 to 28% by mass, even more preferably 13 to 25% by mass, and particularly preferably 15 to 22% by mass, relative to the mass of the composition. When the polysaccharide content is within the above ranges, the resulting molded body can have excellent stress and elongation.

[0049] <Additives> The composition of the present invention may contain additives other than the above-mentioned starch, plasticizer, and polysaccharide, as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. Examples of additives include dispersants, moisture, antioxidants, UV absorbers, lubricants, colorants, preservatives, fillers, surfactants, anti-sticking agents, release agents, pigments, crosslinking agents, etc. One type of additive may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

[0050] Examples of fillers include inorganic pigments such as kaolin, clay, engineered kaolin, delaminated clay, heavy calcium carbonate, light calcium carbonate, mica (swelling mica, synthetic mica, white mica (muscovite), sericite (sericite), phloxopite, biotite, fluorphlogopite (artificial mica), red mica, soda mica, vanadium mica, illite, zinc mica, paragonite, brittle mica, etc.), talc, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, zinc oxide, silicic acid, silicates, bentonite (montmorillonite, beidellite, saponite, stevensite, hectorite, etc.), colloidal silica, and satin white, as well as solid, hollow, or core-shell organic pigments. These fillers may be used singly or in combination of two or more.

[0051] When the composition of the present invention contains a filler, the total content of the filler relative to the mass of the composition of the present invention is preferably 0.1 to 50 mass%, more preferably 0.5 to 35 mass%, even more preferably 1 to 30 mass%, even more preferably 1.5 to 20 mass%, even more preferably 2 to 18 mass%, even more preferably 2 to 15 mass%, even more preferably 2 to 10 mass%, and particularly preferably 2 to 6 mass%, from the viewpoint of improving the stress of the resulting molded article. Also, from the viewpoint of increasing the thickness of the coating film, it is preferably 1 to 90 mass%, more preferably 5 to 80 mass%, even more preferably 10 to 75 mass%, even more preferably 20 to 70 mass%, even more preferably 30 to 65 mass%, even more preferably 40 to 60 mass%, even more preferably 42 to 58 mass%, and particularly preferably 45 to 55 mass%.

[0052] Furthermore, a dispersant may be added separately to a coating agent for producing a water-soluble film or the like from the composition. Addition of a dispersant can improve the dispersibility of the filler. The dispersant is preferably a cationic polymer, and examples thereof include polyalkylene polyamines, polyamide compounds, polyamidoamine-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation products, polyamine-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation products, polyamide polyurea-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation products, polyamine polyurea-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation products, polyamidoamine polyurea-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation products, polyamide polyurea compounds, polyamine polyurea compounds, polyamidoamine polyurea compounds, polyamide amine compounds, polyethyleneimine, polyvinylpyridine, amino-modified acrylamide compounds, polyvinylamine, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, and modified polyvinyl alcohol. The dispersant may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When the composition of the present invention contains a dispersant, the content of the dispersant is preferably 0.01 to 20 mass%, more preferably 0.1 to 10 mass%, and even more preferably 1 to 5 mass%, based on the total amount of the composition.

[0053] Examples of crosslinking agents include tannic acid and its salts, tannins other than tannic acid, catechin, anthocyanin, gallic acid and its salts, phenols, hydroquinone, phosphoric acid, and the like.

[0054] The content of the additive is not particularly limited as long as it does not impair the effects of the present invention, but is, for example, about 0 to 10 mass %, preferably 0.001 to 10 mass %, more preferably 0.01 to 5 mass %, and even more preferably 0.1 to 1 mass %, relative to the mass of the composition.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, the content of the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin in the composition of the present invention is preferably less than 30% by mass, more preferably 20% by mass or less, even more preferably 10% by mass or less, even more preferably 5% by mass or less, particularly preferably 1% by mass or less, especially preferably 0.1% by mass or less, and may even be 0% by mass. That is, it is preferably 0 to less than 30% by mass, more preferably 0 to 20% by mass, even more preferably 0 to 10% by mass, even more preferably 0 to 5% by mass, especially preferably 0 to 1% by mass, and especially preferably 0 to 0.1% by mass. When the content of the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin in the composition is equal to or less than the above-mentioned upper limit, the stress, toughness, water solubility, and biodegradability of a molded article obtained from the composition can be improved.

[0056] [Molded Article] The present invention encompasses a molded article comprising the composition of the present invention. In the present invention, the molded article is not particularly limited and may take any form appropriate for the desired application. The molded article may be in the form of, for example, a water-soluble film, fiber, sheet, rod, spherical particle, or porous body, and is preferably a water-soluble film or fiber.

[0057] The molded article of the present invention preferably has a maximum stress of 4 MPa or more and / or a toughness of 440 or more. When the maximum stress and / or toughness of the molded article of the present invention is equal to or more than the lower limit, this means that the molded article has excellent mechanical strength, and furthermore, the mechanical strength of a pouch containing the molded article, which will be described later, will be excellent.

[0058] The maximum stress of the molded body is preferably 4 to 100 MPa, more preferably 6 to 100 MPa, even more preferably 7 to 100 MPa, still more preferably 9 to 99 MPa, particularly preferably 11 to 95 MPa, more particularly preferably 12.5 to 90 MPa, and extremely preferably 13 to 90 MPa, for example, 16 to 90 MPa, 17 to 88 MPa, 18 to 88 MPa, 23 to 85 MPa, more than 26 MPa but not more than 80 MPa, 30 to 80 MPa, 35 to 79 MPa, 40 to 78 MPa, or 45 to 78 MPa. When the stress of the molded body is within the above range, it has excellent moldability and durability, and for example, when the molded body is a film, it is less likely to wrinkle and is also easy to handle.

[0059] The toughness of the molded body is preferably 400 to 3000, more preferably 510 to 3000, even more preferably 550 to 3000, still more preferably 580 to 2900, particularly preferably 620 to 2900, particularly more preferably 780 to 2900, extremely preferably 860 to 2900, for example 880 to 2800, 930 to 2800, 940 to 2800, 960 to 2800, 1070 to 2800, 1120 to 2800, 1210 to 2700, 1330 to 2700, 1370 to 2700, 1450 to 2600, 1460 to 2600, 1490 to 2600, 1710 to 2500, or 1720 to 2500. When the toughness of the molded article is within the above range, the moldability and durability are excellent, and for example, when the molded article is a film, cracks are unlikely to occur. The toughness of the molded article can be determined by multiplying the maximum stress in a tensile test by the breaking elongation described below.

[0060] The breaking elongation of the molded article is preferably 10% or more, more preferably 12 to 250%, even more preferably 21 to 250%, even more preferably 25 to 250%, particularly preferably 50 to 250%, and particularly preferably 56 to 240%, for example, 60 to 240%, 70 to 240%, 80 to 240%, 105 to 230%, 110 to 230%, 120 to 230%, 130 to 230%, 135 to 230%, 140 to 220%, 160 to 220%, or 185 to 210%. When the breaking elongation of the molded article is within the above range, it has excellent moldability and durability, and, for example, when the molded article is a film, it has excellent secondary processability into pouches and the like. The maximum stress and breaking elongation of the molded article can be determined by tensile testing, for example, by the method described in the Examples below.

[0061] The molded article of the present invention is preferably water-soluble. In the present invention, water-soluble means that it is soluble in water, and preferably means that the solubility in 90°C hot water is 90% by mass or more. That is, if the amount of solids that do not pass through a filter (pore size: 21 μm) after adding the molded article to 90°C hot water and stirring for 5 minutes to dissolve the molded article is 10% by mass or less, the molded article can be evaluated as water-soluble. The mass of the molded article to be dissolved in 90°C hot water is 0.1 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of 90°C hot water. The solubility of the molded article in 90°C hot water is 90 to 100% by mass, preferably 95 to 100% by mass, and more preferably 98 to 100% by mass.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention, the shaped body is preferably a non-food or edible packaging material. Non-food refers to an item that is not edible. Edible packaging refers to an edible or edible packaging material, and includes, for example, edible films and pouches (pouches that are sealed or partially open, such as cups, tubes, trays, bottles, boxes, lids, or containers). The item packaged in the edible packaging material is preferably something that can be eaten or ingested, such as food, including beverages such as water or juice, medicine, supplements, or food additives, including seasonings. When the shaped body is a water-soluble edible packaging material, from the viewpoint of stable packaging before eating or ingesting, the moisture content of the packaged item is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 5% by mass or less.

[0063] (Water-soluble film) The molded article of the present invention may be, for example, a water-soluble film. Therefore, the water-soluble film preferably means a film having a solubility of 90% by mass or more in hot water at 90°C.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present invention, the water-soluble film can be dissolved in water at 10°C preferably within 1000 seconds. That is, when a water-soluble film measuring 30 mm in length, 40 mm in width, and 50 μm in thickness is immersed in 500 mL of water at 10°C, the time required for complete dissolution is preferably within 1000 seconds, more preferably within 700 seconds, even more preferably within 600 seconds, and even more preferably within 500 seconds, and may be, for example, within 300 seconds or within 180 seconds. When the time for complete dissolution of the water-soluble film in water at 10°C is equal to or less than the upper limit, the content is preferably released quickly, particularly when a pouch containing the film is dissolved in cold water for use. Furthermore, residue is less likely to remain. The lower limit of the time for complete dissolution is not particularly limited, and the shorter the time required for complete dissolution, the better. The time for complete dissolution of the water-soluble film in water at 10°C can be adjusted to be equal to or less than the upper limit by, for example, appropriately adjusting the type and / or amount of components contained in the water-soluble film; the production conditions (e.g., drying conditions) of the water-soluble film; etc. The time required for complete dissolution in water at 10°C can be calculated as the time required for a water-soluble film of, for example, 30 mm x 40 mm to be completely dissolved when immersed in 500 ml of stirred distilled water at 10°C.

[0065] The thickness of the water-soluble film is preferably 1 to 500 μm, more preferably 5 to 300 μm, and even more preferably 10 to 100 μm. When the thickness of the water-soluble film is within the above range, the mechanical strength (e.g., compressive strength) and water solubility of a pouch containing the water-soluble film can be further increased. The thickness of the water-soluble film can be determined, for example, using a thickness meter.

[0066] In one embodiment of the present invention, the water-soluble film has excellent homogeneity without bleeding out of the plasticizer. The surface of the water-soluble film may be flat, or one or both sides of the water-soluble film may be textured, such as with an embossed or textured pattern, to prevent adhesion between products. Such textured processing can be performed using methods known in the art.

[0067] (Method for Producing Water-Soluble Film) The method for producing the water-soluble film of the present invention is not particularly limited, and the film can be produced by a method known in the art. For example, the water-soluble film can be produced by a method including the steps of: (1) obtaining a coating liquid (coating agent) by stirring starch, a plasticizer, and a solvent, and optionally a polysaccharide and / or the additives, at a predetermined temperature, (2) forming a coating film, and (3) drying the coating film to form a dried coating film.

[0068] The solids concentration of the coating solution is preferably 1 to 15% by mass, more preferably 2 to 10% by mass, where the solids concentration indicates the total mass of components other than the solvent (e.g., starch, plasticizer, polysaccharide, additives, etc.) relative to the mass of the coating solution.

[0069] The temperature at which the starch and plasticizer, and optionally the polysaccharide and / or additives and the solvent are stirred is usually 30 to 100° C., preferably 40 to 98° C. The stirring method is not particularly limited, and stirring can be carried out by a conventionally known method.

[0070] The solvent is not particularly limited, but water, ethanol, methanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, etc. are preferred because they easily dissolve starch and plasticizer and are easy to dry afterwards.

[0071] The coating film can be formed, for example, by applying a coating liquid onto a substrate. Examples of the substrate include polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and norbornene-based polymers, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides such as nylon 6 and nylon 66, fluororesins such as polytetrafluoroethylene, films such as polyvinyl alcohol, poly(meth)acrylic acid esters, cellulose esters such as triacetyl cellulose, diacetyl cellulose, and cellulose acetate propionate, polylactic acid, and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers; kraft paper, one-side glossy kraft paper, one-side glossy bleached kraft paper, bleached kraft paper, unbleached kraft paper, fine paper, medium-quality paper, coated paper, one-side glossy paper, construction paper, glassine paper, graphite paper, parchment paper, synthetic paper, white cardboard, Manila cardboard, milk carton base paper, cup base paper, ivory paper, white silver paper, tissue paper, paperboard, rayon paper, wax paper, liner paper, and metal plates.

[0072] The above-mentioned paper can generally be produced by papermaking a stock containing pulp, fillers, and various auxiliaries. Examples of pulp include chemical pulps such as bleached hardwood kraft pulp (LBKP), bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBKP), unbleached hardwood kraft pulp (LUKP), unbleached softwood pulp (NUKP), and sulfite pulp; mechanical pulps such as stone-ground pulp and thermomechanical pulp; wood fibers such as deinked pulp and recycled paper pulp; and non-wood fibers obtained from kenaf, bamboo, hemp, etc. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, chemical pulp from wood fibers and mechanical pulp are preferred, and chemical pulp is more preferred, from the viewpoints of reducing the possibility of foreign matter being mixed into the base paper and the possibility of discoloration over time when recycled after use, achieving good printing due to high brightness, and increasing the useful value (especially when used as a packaging material). Materials other than pulp can also be used as the secondary paper material as long as they do not impair the effects of the present invention. Examples of such materials include synthetic fibers such as rayon and nylon.

[0073] Examples of fillers include white carbon, talc, kaolin, clay, heavy calcium carbonate, light calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, zeolite, and synthetic resin fillers. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of various auxiliaries include aluminum sulfate, various anionic, cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric retention aids, drainage aids, paper strength agents, and internal sizing agents, which can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Optionally, dyes, fluorescent whitening agents, pH adjusters, defoamers, pitch control agents, slime control agents, and additives consisting of two or more of these can also be used.

[0074] The method for producing paper is not particularly limited, and paper can be produced, for example, according to the following procedure. First, a stock is prepared by mixing a pulp slurry with a filler and various auxiliaries. The pulp slurry can be prepared by beating pulp in the presence of water. The pulp beating method and beating device are not particularly limited, and known beating methods and beating devices can be used. The pulp content in the stock is not particularly limited. For example, it is 60% by mass or more but less than 100% by mass relative to the total mass of the stock. Next, the prepared stock is made into paper by an acidic, neutral, or alkaline papermaking method using a known Fourdrinier former, on-top hybrid former, gap former, or the like. Multiple sheets of wet paper obtained after dewatering are stacked as necessary, and one or more sheets of wet paper are pressed and dried to obtain paper. In this case, if multiple wet paper sheets are not stacked, a single-layer paper is obtained, and if multiple wet paper sheets are stacked, a multi-layer paper is obtained. When multiple wet papers are stacked, adhesive may be applied to the surface of the wet paper (the surface on which other wet papers are stacked).

[0075] The paper surface may be treated with various chemicals. Examples of such chemicals include oxidized starch, hydroxyethyl etherified starch, enzyme-modified starch, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, surface sizing agents, water-resistant agents, water-retention agents, thickeners, and lubricants. These may be used alone or in combination. Furthermore, these chemicals may be used in combination with pigments. Examples of pigments include inorganic pigments such as kaolin, clay, engineered kaolin, delaminated clay, ground calcium carbonate, light calcium carbonate, mica, talc, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, zinc oxide, silicic acid, silicates, colloidal silica, and satin white, as well as organic pigments such as solid, hollow, and core-shell pigments. These may be used alone or in combination.

[0076] The method for treating the surface of paper is not particularly limited, and can be performed using a known coating device such as a rod metering size press, a pond type size press, a gate roll coater, a spray coater, a blade coater, or a curtain coater.

[0077] Examples of a method for applying the coating liquid to a substrate or the like include known methods such as spin coating, extrusion, bar coating, applicator, etc. Examples of coaters that can be used include blade coaters, bar coaters, roll coaters, gravure coaters, reverse gravure coaters, comma coaters, air knife coaters, reverse roll coaters, curtain coaters, spray coaters, size press coaters, and gate roll coaters.

[0078] The solvent is then removed by drying or the like to form a dry coating film. Drying methods include natural drying, ventilation drying, heat drying, and reduced pressure drying. Conventional dryers can be used, including steam heaters, gas heaters, infrared heaters, electric heaters, hot air heaters, microwaves, and cylinder dryers.

[0079] Alternatively, the water-soluble film can be produced by a melt extrusion film-forming method, in which a film-forming stock solution (e.g., a water-soluble film-forming material) obtained using an extruder or the like is extruded through a T-die or the like to form a film, or an inflation molding method.

[0080] After forming the water-soluble film on the substrate, a molded article (e.g., a water-soluble film) can be obtained by removing the substrate. Alternatively, the substrate may be used as is without being peeled off. When the substrate is not peeled off, a laminate including the substrate (support) and the molded article (e.g., a water-soluble film) can be obtained. When peeling off is required, it is preferable that a release agent is applied to the coating surface.

[0081] (Pouch) The present invention also encompasses a pouch comprising the molded article of the present invention, preferably a molded article that is a water-soluble film. Since the pouch of the present invention comprises the molded article, it can exhibit properties similar to those of the molded article described above. That is, the pouch of the present invention has excellent mechanical strength and water solubility.

[0082] The molded article (preferably a water-soluble film) contained in the pouch may be a single layer or a multilayer. When the pouch comprises (or is composed of) a multilayer molded article, the multilayer molded article may be a laminate of a plurality of the molded articles, or may be a laminate of the molded article and another molded article other than the molded article. From the viewpoint of increasing the mechanical strength and water solubility of the pouch, it is preferable that the pouch be made of a single layer or a multilayer molded article, and further from the viewpoint of production efficiency, it is more preferable that the pouch be made of a single layer molded article.

[0083] The pouch of the present invention has excellent mechanical strength, and its compressive strength is preferably 50 N or more, more preferably 100 N or more, even more preferably 200 N or more, even more preferably 300 N or more, and particularly preferably 400 N or more, and may be, for example, 500 N, 600 N, 700 N, or 800 N or more. The upper limit of the compressive strength of the pouch is usually 2000 N or less, preferably 1000 N or less. That is, preferred ranges are 50 to 2000 N, 100 to 2000 N, 200 to 2000 N, 300 to 2000 N, 400 to 2000 N, 500 to 2000 N, 600 to 2000 N, 700 to 2000 N, or 800 to 1000 N. The compressive strength of the pouch can be adjusted to be equal to or greater than the lower limit by, for example, appropriately adjusting the type and / or amount of components in the composition contained in the molded body constituting the pouch; the manufacturing conditions of the molded body (e.g., the drying temperature and solution concentration during film formation by aqueous solution coating); the manufacturing conditions of the pouch (e.g., the amount, temperature, and pressure of water applied during water sealing, and the temperature and pressure during heat sealing); etc.

[0084] The pouch is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of packaging a substance (preferably a content), and may be sealed or partially open. The pouch may be, for example, a two-sided pouch, a three-sided pouch, a flat pouch, a standing pouch, a gusset pouch, a bottom gusset pouch, a twin pouch, a spout pouch, a side-seal pouch, a bottom-seal pouch, or the like, or may be in the form of a container, a cup, or the like. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pouch may be partially open, but is preferably sealed. In such an embodiment, the pouch more preferably contains a content and is sealed.

[0085] (Method for manufacturing a pouch) The method for manufacturing the pouch of the present invention from a molded body is not particularly limited, and can be any method known in the art. The pouch of the present invention can be manufactured, for example, by a method including a step of sealing one or more molded bodies to form a bag. Furthermore, a pouch containing a content can be manufactured, for example, by a method including a step of pouring the content into a molded body formed into a bag shape and a step of sealing the pouring opening; a step of forming a recess in a first molded body, a step of pouring the content into the recess, and a step of laminating and sealing a second molded body.

[0086] Examples of methods for sealing the molded body include a method of applying water to the surface of the molded body and sealing the coated surface by adhering (also called water sealing), a method of sealing by thermocompression (also called heat sealing), a method of sealing with an adhesive, etc. Water sealing is preferred from the viewpoint of reducing thermal degradation of the molded body.

[0087] In one embodiment of the present invention, the molded article has high adhesive strength due to moisture, and therefore water sealing can be suitably used. In another embodiment of the present invention, the molded article has high water sealing properties and low heat sealing properties. Due to the low heat sealing properties, when a film-shaped molded article is manufactured using a roll-to-roll method, the film is less likely to adhere to the roll, effectively preventing damage during manufacturing. Furthermore, due to the high water sealing properties, the manufactured molded article can be simply and easily formed into a pouch using moisture.

[0088] (Uses of Pouch) The pouch of the present invention has excellent mechanical strength and water solubility, and is therefore particularly suitable for use in applications where it is dissolved in water. Therefore, the pouch of the present invention preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent, a fabric softener, and a fragrance. There are no particular restrictions on the physical properties of the contents, and they may be acidic, neutral, or alkaline. Furthermore, the form of the contents may be any of powder, block, gel, and liquid.

[0089] (Fiber) The molded article of the present invention may be, for example, a fiber. Therefore, the fiber may preferably have a solubility in hot water at 90°C of 90% by mass or more.

[0090] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fiber can be dissolved in water at 10°C preferably within 1000 seconds. That is, when a 5 cm length of the fiber is immersed in 500 mL of water at 10°C, the time required for complete dissolution is preferably within 1000 seconds, more preferably within 700 seconds, even more preferably within 600 seconds, and even more preferably within 500 seconds, and may be, for example, within 300 seconds or within 180 seconds. When the time for complete dissolution of the fiber in water at 10°C is equal to or less than the upper limit, it is possible to suppress residual dissolution, particularly when a fiber structure (e.g., nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, knitted fabric, etc.) containing the fiber is dissolved in cold water for use. The lower limit of the time for complete dissolution is not particularly limited, and the shorter the time required for complete dissolution, the better. The time for complete dissolution of the fiber in water at 10°C can be adjusted to be equal to or less than the upper limit by, for example, appropriately adjusting the type and / or amount of components contained in the fiber; the fiber production conditions (drying temperature, residual water content, stretching temperature, stretch ratio, etc.); etc.

[0091] The single yarn fineness of the fiber of the present invention is preferably 0.01 to 10,000 dtex, more preferably 0.3 to 5,000 dtex, and even more preferably 1 to 10 dtex. When the single yarn fineness is within the above range, the strength and texture are excellent. The single yarn fineness can be adjusted to within the above range by appropriately adjusting, for example, the size of the spinneret during spinning, the draw ratio, the draw speed, etc. The single yarn fineness can be calculated by measuring the total fiber fineness in accordance with JIS L 1013 and dividing this by the number of filaments.

[0092] The total fineness of the fiber of the present invention is preferably 10 to 100,000 dtex, more preferably 100 to 10,000 dtex, and even more preferably 1,000 to 5,000 dtex. When the total fineness is equal to or less than the upper limit, the fiber has excellent handleability. The total fineness can be adjusted to within the above range by, for example, appropriately adjusting the single yarn fineness during spinning, the number of filaments, etc. The total fineness can be determined in accordance with JIS L 1013.

[0093] The cross-sectional shape of the fiber of the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, round, oval, flower-shaped, leaf-shaped, polygonal, star-shaped, Y-shaped, snowman-shaped, hollow, cross-shaped, etc.

[0094] (Method for producing fiber) The method for producing the fiber of the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be any of melt spinning, dry spinning, and wet spinning, and can be produced by a method known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber of the present invention is preferably produced by dry spinning, and can be produced, for example, by a method including a step of obtaining a yarn from the composition by dry spinning, and a step of drawing the obtained yarn.

[0095] In dry spinning, the volatile solvent used in the spinning dope containing the composition of the present invention can be any solvent conventionally used in dry spinning, such as water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, and N-methylpyrrolidone. These solvents can be used alone or in combination. The concentration of the composition of the present invention in the spinning dope can be adjusted appropriately depending on the composition of the composition and the solvent used, and is, for example, approximately 5 to 85% by mass. The spinning dope is typically discharged from a known dry spinning apparatus into a heated gas (e.g., an inert gas such as helium, argon, or nitrogen) or air, and the solvent evaporates to obtain a solidified fiber (fiber). The cross-sectional shape and diameter of the resulting fiber can be freely controlled by adjusting the shape and size of the discharge nozzle. In this process, starch, plasticizer, and volatile solvent, as well as optionally polysaccharides and / or additives, may be mixed in the dry spinning apparatus.

[0096] The spinning dope may be preheated, and the temperature is preferably 20 to 200° C., more preferably 80 to 150° C. When the temperature of the spinning dope is within the above range, the spinnability can be stabilized.

[0097] The drawing may be performed after the solidified filament is wound up, or may be performed immediately after solidification, but either method may be used for the fiber of the present invention. The drawing operation is usually performed by hot drawing, and may be performed using any of hot air, a hot plate, atmospheric heating, a heated roller, etc. The temperature during hot drawing is preferably 100 to 300°C, more preferably 200 to 250°C.

[0098] The drawn fiber is preferably wound at a speed of 100 to 10,000 m / min, more preferably 500 to 2,000 m / min. When the winding speed is within the above range, stable spinnability can be achieved.

[0099] In the present invention, after spinning, any processing may be carried out within a range that does not deteriorate the fiber properties (stress, toughness, water solubility, etc.) Examples of such processing include processing in which an oil is applied after drawing to prevent sticking, converging processing by interlacing, false twisting, taslan processing, crimping, mercerization, shrink-proofing, wrinkle-proofing, dye-resistant processing, bulking processing, softening processing, and antibacterial processing.

[0100] The fiber of the present invention may be in the form of a continuous fiber (monofilament, multifilament), staple fiber, thread, string, rope, or the like. It may also be in the form of a fabric, such as a woven fabric, knitted fabric, or nonwoven fabric, that contains the fiber of the present invention. These forms may consist solely of the fiber of the present invention, or may be composed of a combination of the fiber with other fibers. In one embodiment, the form of a nonwoven fabric is preferred.

[0101] The fiber of the present invention is a molded article containing the composition of the present invention, and therefore has excellent stress resistance, toughness, and water solubility, as well as excellent texture and breathability.

[0102] [Coated Article (Laminate)] The present invention also encompasses a coated article obtained by coating a substrate with the composition of the present invention. That is, the coated article is a laminate having a layer comprising the composition of the present invention and a substrate layer. Because the coated article of the present invention is coated with the starch-containing composition of the present invention, it can have high mechanical strength and excellent gas barrier properties. The layer comprising the composition of the present invention may preferably be a water-soluble film. The coated article may have one or more layers comprising the composition of the present invention. When the coated article has multiple layers, the layers may be the same or different from each other. The coated article may also contain any other layer. The coated article may have one or more layers selected from the group consisting of a barrier layer, a protective layer, and a heat-seal layer at any location in the layer structure. When the laminate has a protective layer and / or a heat-seal layer, it is preferable that the layer is disposed as the outermost layer of the laminate.

[0103] The substrate that can be used for the coated article of the present invention is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include paper (kraft paper, one-side glossy kraft paper, one-side glossy bleached kraft paper, bleached kraft paper, unbleached kraft paper, fine paper, medium-quality paper, coated paper, one-side glossy paper, construction paper, glassine paper, graphene paper, parchment paper, synthetic paper, white cardboard, manila cardboard, milk carton base paper, cup base paper, ivory paper, white silver paper, tissue paper, paperboard, rayon paper, wax paper, liner paper, etc.), film (polyolefin films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and norbornene-based polymers; polyvinyl alcohol film; polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film; poly(meth)acrylic acid ester film; cellulose ester films such as triacetyl cellulose, diacetyl cellulose, and cellulose acetate propionate; polylactic acid film; ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer film, etc.), sheet, etc. The thickness of the substrate is not particularly limited and may be appropriately changed depending on the application, for example, about 1 to 500 μm or about 10 to 300 μm.

[0104] When the substrate is paper, the basis weight of the paper is 20 to 400 g / m from the viewpoint of being suitable for packaging applications. ２ It is preferable that the density is 25 to 150 g / m ２From the viewpoint of suitability for use as a flexible packaging material, which will be described later, the basis weight of the paper is 30 to 100 g / m ２ More preferably, it is 40 to 70 g / m ２ It is more preferable that the basis weight of the paper is measured in accordance with JIS P 8124:2011. The paper can be produced by the production method described above. Materials other than pulp can also be used as the secondary paper material as long as they do not impair the effects of the present invention. Examples of such materials include synthetic fibers such as rayon fiber and nylon fiber.

[0105] When the substrate is a film, examples of the film include films (polyolefin films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and norbornene-based polymers; polyvinyl alcohol films; polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films; poly(meth)acrylic acid ester films; cellulose ester films such as triacetyl cellulose, diacetyl cellulose, and cellulose acetate propionate; polylactic acid films; ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer films, etc.), sheets, etc.

[0106] The thickness of the composition in the coating of the present invention is preferably 1 to 500 μm, more preferably 5 to 100 μm, and even more preferably 10 to 50 μm. When the thickness of the composition in the coating is within the above range, the mechanical strength and gas barrier properties of the coating can be further improved.

[0107] The average thickness of the paper or film used as the substrate in the coating of the present invention is, for example, about 1 to 500 μm, or about 10 to 300 μm.

[0108] The method for producing the coated article of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a method that can coat a substrate with a composition, and conventional methods such as spin coating, extrusion, gravure coating, die coating, bar coating, applicator coating, spray coating, and dipping can be used. Examples of coaters that can be used include blade coaters, bar coaters, roll coaters, gravure coaters, reverse gravure coaters, comma coaters, air knife coaters, reverse roll coaters, curtain coaters, spray coaters, size press coaters, and gate roll coaters. The coated article of the present invention may also be produced by integrating a molded article (e.g., a film) produced by a melt extrusion film-forming method, in which a film-forming stock solution (e.g., a water-soluble film-forming material) obtained using an extruder or the like is extruded through a T-die or the like to form a film, with the substrate.

[0109] The coating of the present invention is obtained by coating a substrate with the composition of the present invention, and therefore has high mechanical strength and excellent gas barrier properties.

[0110] The coated article of the present invention can be produced, for example, by a method including the same steps (1) to (3) as those described in the method for producing a water-soluble film. The coating film in the coated article may be a single layer or multiple layers. By repeatedly coating a support with a coating liquid (coating agent) and removing the solvent, a multilayer laminate containing any layers in any stacking order can also be produced.

[0111] The coated article of the present invention can also be produced by integrating a water-soluble film, which has been produced by, for example, a melt extrusion film-forming method, in which a film-forming solution (e.g., a water-soluble film-forming material) obtained using an extruder or the like is extruded through a T-die or the like to form a film, or an inflation molding method, with a support. The integration method is not limited, and examples include a method of applying water to the surface of the water-soluble film and adhering the coated surface to the support, a method of integrating the water-soluble film and the support by thermocompression bonding, a method of integrating the water-soluble film and the support via a pressure-sensitive adhesive or adhesive, and an inflation method in which the water-soluble film-forming material and the support (film) material are co-extruded. When integrating by thermocompression bonding, the conditions may be appropriately selected depending on the type of polysaccharide contained in the water-soluble film and the type and amount of plasticizer, if any. For example, integration can be achieved by compression bonding at a temperature of 100 to 200°C and a pressure of 0.1 to 30 MPa for 0.1 to 10 seconds. When integrating via a pressure-sensitive adhesive or adhesive, such pressure-sensitive adhesives or adhesives are known in the art. The coated article of the present invention can also be produced as a multi-layer laminate by laminating a plurality of water-soluble films obtained by melt extrusion film formation or inflation molding onto a support by a known method.

[0112] When the covering contains a plurality of water-soluble films, the covering may contain a combination of a water-soluble film produced by coating and a water-soluble film produced by a melt extrusion film forming method, an inflation molding method, or the like.

[0113] [Packaging Material] The present invention also encompasses a packaging material comprising the shaped article of the present invention. Since the packaging material of the present invention comprises the shaped article, it can exhibit the same mechanical strength and water solubility as the shaped article described above. In other words, the packaging material of the present invention is excellent in mechanical strength and water solubility.

[0114] The packaging material is a material used for packaging, and may include a thin film, a thick film, etc., and may be in the form of a container, a cup, a tube, a tray, a bottle, etc. In one embodiment of the present invention, the packaging material may contain a substance therein, similar to the above-mentioned pouch, preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent, a fabric softener, and a fragrance.

[0115] <Composition> The present invention also encompasses compositions comprising a starch or derivative thereof having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and a plasticizer, wherein the combined amount of the starch or derivative thereof having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and the plasticizer is 50% by mass or more relative to the total mass of the composition. In this embodiment, the composition of the present invention contains a starch or derivative thereof having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass, and thus the resulting molded article exhibits excellent stress, toughness, and water solubility. The amylose content of the starch can be measured, for example, by measuring the absorbance at a wavelength of 620 nm when iodine is adsorbed onto the starch according to the method described in "Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Notification No. 332, Standard Measurement Methods, March 14, 2001." When a composition contains two or more types of starch, the amylose content refers to the average amylose content, which is a weighted average value taking into account the constituent proportions of the two or more types of starch.

[0116] The amylose content in the starch is preferably 5 to 23% by mass, more preferably 5 to 22% by mass, and even more preferably 6 to 21% by mass, and may be, for example, 7 to 20% by mass, 8 to 18% by mass, or 10 to 17% by mass. When the amylose content is within the above range, the strength, toughness, and water solubility of the resulting molded article can be further improved.

[0117] The present inventors focused on the amylose content of starch and unexpectedly found that a molded article containing a composition containing starch or its derivatives with an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and a plasticizer has excellent stress, toughness, and water solubility. Although the reason for this is unclear, it is thought that when the amylose content is within the above range, the compatibility between amylose and amylopectin is improved, thereby increasing the stress, toughness, and water solubility of the molded article.

[0118] The water content in the starch having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass is preferably 1 to 20% by mass, more preferably 5 to 15% by mass. The water content in the starch can be determined, for example, by a halogen moisture meter.

[0119] The content of the starch or derivative thereof having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass, relative to the total mass of the composition, is preferably 10 to 98% by mass, more preferably 15 to 95% by mass, even more preferably 20 to 90% by mass, still more preferably 25 to 85% by mass, particularly preferably 30 to 80% by mass, more particularly preferably 32 to 78% by mass, extremely preferably 40 to 75% by mass, even extremely preferably 50 to 75% by mass, 55 to 73% by mass, 57 to 70% by mass, 60 to 70% by mass, 61 to 70% by mass, or 62 to 69% by mass. When the content of the starch or derivative thereof having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass is within the above range, the stress, toughness, and water solubility of the molded article can be increased.

[0120] In the present invention, the total amount of the starch or its derivative having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and the plasticizer is 50% by mass or more, based on the total mass of the composition. If the total amount of the starch or its derivative having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and the plasticizer is less than 50% by mass, a molded article having excellent stress, toughness, and water solubility cannot be obtained from the composition. The total amount of the starch or its derivative having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and the plasticizer in the composition is preferably 50 to 100% by mass, more preferably 55 to 100% by mass, even more preferably 60 to 100% by mass, still more preferably 65 to 100% by mass, 70 to 100% by mass, 75 to 100% by mass, 75 to 99% by mass, 75 to 95% by mass, 75 to 90% by mass, or 75 to 85% by mass.

[0121] Because the composition of the present invention contains starch or its derivative having a specific amylose content and a plasticizer, the resulting molded article has high mechanical strength and water solubility, and can also be used to form water-soluble films, fibers, and pouches with these properties. The composition can also be used to form coated articles by coating a substrate with the composition. The composition is preferably similar to the composition described above in the "Composition" section, except that it contains, as essential components, starch or its derivative having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and the plasticizer, and the total amount of the starch or its derivative having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and the plasticizer is 50% by mass or more relative to the total mass of the composition.

[0122] The present invention will be described in more detail below based on examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0123] <Amylose Content of Starch> The amylose content was measured from the absorbance at a wavelength of 620 nm when iodine was adsorbed onto starch in accordance with the standard measurement method "4 Amylose" of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Notification No. 332 of March 14, 2001. <Preparation of Composition and Molded Product>

[0124] Example 1: 7.5 g of potato starch (amylose content 20% by mass, modified by oxidation with sodium hypochlorite) was added to water and stirred at 95°C for 2 hours to obtain a 4% aqueous solution. 2.5 g of sorbitol was added as a plasticizer to prepare a coating solution. The coating solution was applied to a polyethylene terephthalate film using a bar coater and dried with hot air for 1 hour. The resulting dried coating film was peeled off from the polyethylene terephthalate film substrate to obtain a molded product (film) with a thickness of approximately 50 μm.

[0125] Examples 2 to 24 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10 Molded articles (films) were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the type and amount of starch used and the amount of plasticizer were changed as shown in Table 1.

[0126]

[0127]

[0128]

[0129] <Evaluation of Molded Articles> (Water Solubility) The molded articles prepared in the Examples and Comparative Examples were added to hot water at 90°C, and the molded articles were dissolved by stirring for 5 minutes. The amount of solids that did not pass through a filter (pore size: 21 μm) was measured and evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria. The mass of the added molded articles was 0.1 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of hot water at 90°C. A: The amount of solids that did not pass through the filter was 10% by mass or less. B: The amount of solids that did not pass through the filter was more than 10% by mass.

[0130] (Toughness) The molded articles prepared in the Examples and Comparative Examples were stored for 7 days in an environment of 23°C and 50% RH, and then five test pieces measuring 25.4 mm in width and 127 mm in length were cut out. For each prepared test piece, the maximum stress and breaking elongation were measured using an autograph (apparatus name: AG-5000B, Shimadzu Corporation) at a chuck distance of 25.4 mm and a tensile speed of 500 mm / min, and the average value was calculated. The value of the maximum stress x the breaking elongation was taken as the toughness of the molded article.

[0131] The evaluation results are shown in Table 2.

[0132]

[0133] As shown in Table 2, it was confirmed that the molded articles obtained from the compositions of Examples 1 to 24 had high stress, toughness, and water solubility. On the other hand, the molded articles obtained from the compositions of Comparative Examples 1 to 10 were insufficient in at least one of stress, toughness, and water solubility. Therefore, it was found that the composition of the present invention can produce molded articles excellent in stress, toughness, and water solubility.

[0134] <Preparation and Evaluation of Pouches> Water is applied to the obtained molded body, and the coated surfaces are bonded together to prepare a pouch, and the pouch is then evaluated for sealing property, a compression test, and water solubility. The pouches of the examples have high compressive strength and excellent mechanical strength. Furthermore, since the pouches of the examples are made of the molded body of the present invention, they reflect the physical properties of the molded body and have excellent water solubility. Furthermore, the molded body constituting the pouch has good sealing property.

Claims

1. A product comprising potato starch or a derivative thereof and a plasticizer, The total amount of the potato starch or its derivative and the plasticizer is 50% by mass or more of the total mass of the composition. A composition in which the content of the plasticizer is 15 to 60% by mass relative to the total mass of the composition.

2. The mixture contains starch or a derivative thereof having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass, and a plasticizer. A composition in which the total amount of starch or its derivative having an amylose content of 5 to 25% by mass and the plasticizer is 50% by mass or more of the total mass of the composition.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content of the starch or its derivative is 10 to 85% by mass with respect to the total mass of the composition.

4. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plasticizer is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, hydroxy acids, monosaccharides, and disaccharides.

5. Furthermore, the composition according to claim 1 or 2 further comprises at least one polysaccharide.

6. The composition according to claim 5, wherein the polysaccharide is at least one selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, alginic acid, guar gum, xanthan gum, hydroxyalkylcellulose, alkylcellulose, tamarind seed gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, and derivatives thereof.

7. The composition according to claim 5, wherein the polysaccharide is at least one selected from the group consisting of carrageenan and its derivatives.

8. A molded article comprising the composition according to claim 1 or 2.

9. A coated object obtained by coating a substrate with the composition described in claim 1 or 2.

10. The molded article according to claim 8, wherein the maximum stress is 4 MPa or more, and / or the toughness is 440 or more.

11. The molded article according to claim 8, wherein the molded article is a water-soluble film or fiber.

12. A pouch comprising the molded body described in claim 8.

13. The pouch according to claim 12, comprising inside at least one selected from the group consisting of cleaning agents, fabric softeners, and fragrances.

14. A packaging material comprising the molded body described in claim 8.