Cellulose ester composition containing bloom resistant or bio-based plasticizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional biodegradable polymers, such as cellulose esters, face challenges in melt processing due to stiffness and poor elongation properties, and plasticizers often migrate to the surface, compromising their performance in applications like food handling and medical devices.
Innovation Solution
A polymer composition combining cellulose acetate with a bloom-resistant, bio-based plasticizer and optionally other bio-based polymers, such as polylactic acid or polyhydroxyalkanoate, to enhance melt processing and physical properties while maintaining food-grade characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional plasticizers are added to cellulose esters to improve melt processing, then processability is improved, but plasticizer migration to the surface occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the plasticizer by using esterified sugars (such as sucrose esters, glucose esters, fructose esters) with specific molecular weight ranges (500-5000 g/mol) and controlled esterification degrees. These parameter changes result in plasticizers that have improved compatibility with cellulose esters and reduced tendency to migrate to the surface, while still providing the necessary melt processing improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite plasticizer system by combining esterified sugars with specific hydroxyl values (10-100 mg KOH/g) and controlling the ratio of different sugar esters. This composite approach enhances the overall performance by combining the benefits of different plasticizer components while minimizing migration issues through synergistic interactions.
2Reliability
If cellulose esters are used as biodegradable polymers, then environmental friendliness is improved, but physical properties such as stiffness and elongation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical properties of cellulose esters by controlling the degree of substitution (DS) and inherent viscosity (IV) parameters. By selecting specific ranges for these parameters (DS: 2.0-2.8, IV: 0.6-1.8 dL/g), the patent achieves an optimal balance between maintaining the biodegradability of cellulose esters and improving their mechanical strength, stiffness, and elongation properties for practical applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A polymer composition containing cellulose acetate in combination with one or more bloom resistant or bio-based plasticizers and optionally one or more bio-based polymers is described. The polymer composition is formulated so as to have properties similar to petroleum-based polymers for producing, for example, single-use biodegradable articles.