Polyesters and their use in compostable products such as disposable diapers

US5171309A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Francis G. Gallagher · Wilmington, US
• Cathy Jane Hamilton · Wilmington, US
• Steven M. Hansen · Kinston, US
• Hyunkook Shin · Wilmington, US
• Raymond F. Tietz · Wilmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 13, 1992
• Grant date: Dec 15, 1992
• Expiry date: Feb 13, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T442/675
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention provides novel polyesters, fibers and films, nonwovens from the fibers and disposable products of the polyesters such as diapers. The products are degradable under the conditions typically existing in waste composting processes, have low ingredient costs and yet provide strength and toughness properties adequate for end uses such as in disposable diapers. The polyesters are based upon polyethylene terphthalate copolymerized with a cycloaliphatic diacid, preferably hexahydroterephthalic acid, and containing alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfo groups, such as a metal 5-sulfoisophthalic acid derivative.