Films comprising biodegradable PHA copolymers

{
  "publication_number": "US6174990B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Films comprising biodegradable PHA copolymers",
  "abstract": "The present invention relates to biodegradable PHA copolymers comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units. The present invention further relates to a plastic article comprising a biodegradable copolymer, wherein the biodegradable copolymer comprises at least two randomly repeating monomer units (RRMU) wherein the first RRMU has the structure wherein R 1 is H, or C 1 or C 2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2; the second RRMU has the structure and wherein at least 50% of the RRMUs have the structure of the first RRMU. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet comprising a film comprising a PHA of the present invention and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A film comprising a biodegradable copolymer, wherein the biodegradable copolymer comprises at least two randomly repeating monomer units wherein the first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure wherein R 1 is H, or C 1 or C 2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2; the second randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure and wherein at least 50% of the randomly repeating monomer units have the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit.",
    "2. The film of claim 1, wherein R 1 is a C 1 or C 2 alkyl and n is 1.",
    "3. The film of claim 2, wherein R 1 is a C 1 alkyl.",
    "4. The film of claim 1, wherein R 1 is H and n is 2.",
    "5. A bag comprising the film of claim 1.",
    "6. A wrap comprising the film of claim 1.",
    "7. A bag comprising the film of claim 2.",
    "8. A wrap comprising the film of claim 2.",
    "9. The film of claim 1, wherein the copolymer comprises one or more additional randomly repeating monomer units having the structure wherein R 3 is H, or a C 1 -C 19 alkyl or alkenyl; and m is 1 or 2; and wherein the additional randomly repeating monomer units are not the same as the first randomly repeating monomer unit or the second randomly repeating monomer unit.",
    "10. The film of claim 9, wherein R 1 is a C 1 or C 2 alkyl and n is 1.",
    "11. The film of claim 10, wherein R 1 is a C 1 alkyl.",
    "12. The film of claim 10, wherein m is 1.",
    "13. The film of claim 10, wherein m is 2.",
    "14. The film of claim 9, wherein R 1 is H and n is 2.",
    "15. The film of claim 14, wherein m is 1.",
    "16. The film of claim 14, wherein m is 2.",
    "17. A bag comprising the film of claim 9.",
    "18. A wrap comprising the film of claim 9."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to biodegradable PHA copolymers and plastic articles comprising such biodegradable PHA copolymers.\n\nPolymers find uses in a variety of plastic articles including films, sheets, fibers, foams, molded articles, adhesives and many other specialty products. For applications in the areas of packaging, agriculture, household goods and personal care products, polymers usually have a short (less than 12 months) use cycle. For example, in food packaging, polymers play the role of a protective agent and are quickly disposed of after the contents are consumed. Household products such as detergent bottles and diapers are immediately discarded once the product is used.\n\nThe majority of this plastic material ends up in the solid waste stream, headed for rapidly vanishing and increasingly expensive landfill space. While some efforts at recycling have been made, the nature of polymers and the way they are produced and converted to products limits the number of possible recycling applications. Repeated processing of even pure polymers results in degradation of material and consequently poor mechanical properties. Different grades of chemically similar plastics (e.g., polyethylenes of different molecular weights, as used in milk jugs and grocery sacks) mixed upon collection can cause processing problems that make the reclaimed material inferior or unusable.\n\nAbsorbent article applications such as diapers, sanitary napkins, pantiliners and the like, involve several different types of plastics. In these cases, recycling is particularly costly because of the difficulty in separating the different components.",
  "cpc": [
    "C08J 5/18",
    "C08J 2367/04",
    "Y10S 428/913"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A41B 17/00",
    "A61F 13/15",
    "A61F 13/49",
    "A61F 13/514",
    "A61F 13/551",
    "A61F 5/44",
    "B32B 27/00",
    "B32B 7/02",
    "B65D 30/02",
    "B65D 65/46",
    "C08G 63/06",
    "C08J 5/18",
    "C08L 101/16"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Procter and Gamble Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Isao Noda"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1998-12-21",
  "publication_date": "2001-01-16",
  "grant_date": "2001-01-16",
  "priority_date": "1998-12-21",
  "application_number": "US-21813398-A",
  "family_id": "22813876",
  "cited_by_count": 68,
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}