Starch Biodegradable Injection Molding Composition for Fast Crystallization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Starch-based biodegradable materials for animal entertainment articles face issues with low digestibility in gastric and intestinal environments, poor fluidity in injection molding, and low crystallization temperatures, leading to energy-intensive processing and long molding cycles.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable material comprising 20-90% starch, 5-50% non-pre-plasticized polyvinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate copolymer with >95% hydrolysis, and 5-45% plasticizers, such as glycerol and sorbitol, which enhances fluidity and crystallization temperature, allowing for shorter molding cycles and improved digestibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If starch-based biodegradable materials are used for animal entertainment articles, then digestibility in gastric and intestinal environments is improved, but fluidity in injection molding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using a copolymer with >95% hydrolysis degree and specific vinyl acetate content (5-20%), combined with plasticizers in controlled amounts (5-45%), to achieve both high digestibility and improved fluidity for injection molding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining starch (20-90%), copolymer (5-50%), and plasticizers (5-45%) where the synergistic interaction between components achieves both biodegradability/digestibility and processability
2Reliability
If starch-based biodegradable materials are used for animal entertainment articles, then digestibility in gastric and intestinal environments is improved, but crystallization temperature deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the material's thermal properties by selecting a copolymer with >95% hydrolysis degree and specific composition ratios, which increases the crystallization temperature to above 90°C while preserving digestibility through the starch-copolymer-plasticizer system
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymer mixtures are used for injection molding, then fluidity is improved, but energy expenditure during processing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the rheological parameters by incorporating plasticizers (5-45%) and a copolymer with specific hydrolysis degree (>95%), which improves fluidity at lower processing temperatures, thereby reducing energy expenditure during injection molding
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The material achieves high fluidity and crystallization temperatures, enabling efficient industrial processing with short molding cycles and >80% digestibility in gastric and intestinal environments, reducing energy consumption and production time while ensuring safety and performance.
Implementation Method 1
the material presents a viscosity in molten state, measured at T=180° C. and γap=103 s−1, of 105° C.
Implementation Method 2
it has properties of increased fluidity in the usual processing conditions with injection molding press and of higher crystallization temperatures
Implementation Method 3
The material according to the present invention biodegradable according to the ISO 14851 and ISO 14852 standards
Implementation Method 4
said articles are digestible in conditions simulating those of the gastric and intestinal environment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a starch based biodegradable material comprising starch, polyvinyl-alcohol-co-vinylacetate copolymer and at least one plasticizer and to articles obtained therefrom particularly suitable to be injection molded.