Patent · US Expired

Hot water soluble disposable films, fabrics and articles

US5658977A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
16References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 1996
Grant dateAug 19, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC08L67/00
  • WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Cold water insoluble, hot water soluble and/or dispersible, disposable films, fabrics and other useful articles of manufacture are formed from a miscible polymeric resin blend comprised of cold water soluble partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, cold water insoluble hot water disintegrable aliphatic polyester, and minor proportions of processing and performance aids. The aliphatic polyester has a melt temperature above the normal body temperature of a human (37 degrees C.; 98.6 degrees F.) and is present in the resin blend at a concentration sufficient to constitute the continuous phase of the blend, with the polyvinyl alcohol constituting a discontinuous phase of the blend. The aliphatic polyester thus renders the resin blend, and the partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol in the blend, cold water insoluble and determines the temperature at which articles formed from the blend will be subject to dissolution in an aqueous bath and subsequent disposal in an environmentally and ecologically sound fashion.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.