Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil- and marine-biodegradable, as well as home- and industrial-compostable.

The invention is characterized in that the straw body (1) is consisting of two or more segments, which are attached together with connection (5) and that the straw body (1) on its both ends has a cross-slit valve (2, 3) closure and the valves (2, 3) and the straw body (1) are integrated by molecular adhesion. The inlet and outlet valves (2, 3) are of a slit type. The straw body (1) is preferably made of a thermoplastic material and the valves (2, 3) are preferably made of elastomer material. The edge of the straw body (1) is shaped to enable larger surface of the connection between the straw body (1) and the valve (2, 3). The said shape is preferably a groove (8). On the wall on the end of the straw body (1) a tongue-shaped groove (9) is formed on the surface side.

The present embodiment provides a straw that is bent near its middle portion to form a reservoir compartment to store a liquid for cooling. When a user sips from the straw, hot liquid from a container enters the reservoir compartment, where it begins to cool towards the surrounding air temperature. When the liquid in the reservoir compartment reaches an acceptable drinking temperature, the user again sips from the straw, which allows him to drink the cooled liquid from the reservoir compartment, and to draw additional hot liquid from the container into the reservoir compartment for cooling.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil-and marine-biodegradable, as well as home-and industrial-compostable.

The present invention relates to the technical field of polymer material manufacturing, and in particular to a biodegradable material and preparation method thereof. The biodegradable material is prepared by using a resin comprising only PHA, and further incorporating suitable fillers and/or auxiliary agents. The biodegradable material of the present invention exhibits excellent performance in that it can swiftly and thoroughly degrade in natural environments, ensuring complete environmental friendliness throughout its life cycle. As a result, it facilitates the reduction of white environmental pollution caused by disposable plastic products and the lowering of petroleum consumption.

A resin tube contains: a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) resin (A) including at least one copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate units and other hydroxyalkanoate units; and a reaction product (B) of a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) resin (b1) and an organic peroxide (b2), the poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) resin (b1) including at least one copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate units and other hydroxyalkanoate units. The poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) resin (b1) includes a copolymer (b1-1) in which a content of the other hydroxyalkanoate units is from 1 to 6 mol % and/or a copolymer (b1-2) in which a content of the other hydroxyalkanoate units is from 24 to 99 mol %. The proportion of the poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) resin (A) is from 20 to 99 wt % and the proportion of the reaction product (B) is from 1 to 80 wt % in the total amount of the poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) resin (A) and the reaction product (B).

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil- and marine-biodegradable, as well as home- and industrial-compostable.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil- and marine-biodegradable, as well as home- and industrial-compostable.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil- and marine-biodegradable, as well as home- and industrial-compostable.

A method of producing a device for protecting a beverage straw is provided. The method includes the steps of providing an outer body mold for use with an epoxy resin to form an outer body of the device. An inner cavity is then bored into the outer body of the device to receive a beverage straw. Finally, a fastener is attached to the device to allow a user quick and convenient access to the device when on the go.