The present invention relates to the use of a polysaccharide adhesive containing cold water-soluble or cold water-swelling, covalently cross-linked starch as a binder together with a foam generator for producing an adhesive foam.

Carrageenan-based compositions containing a carrageenan, a starch, a plasticizer, water, and an optional buffer are disclosed, in which the carrageenan has both a potassium content of less than 4 wt. % and a viscosity configured to produce capsules on pressure-free rotary die equipment. Films and capsules can be formed from the carrageenan-based compositions.

A fire-protecting insulation product has air-laid mineral wool fibres and a binder. The binder is the result of curing a binder composition comprising at least one hydrocolloid. The product further comprises a particulate endothermic material.

The invention relates to a process for producing a blend of a thermoplastic starch and a polyolefin using a first extruder comprising successive zones comprising a first zone, a second zone, a third zone and a fourth zone and a second extruder comprising successive zones comprising a first zone, a second zone, a third zone and a fourth zone, the process comprising the steps of: 1 a) introducing a polyolefin and a compatibilizer in the first zone of the first extruder, 1 b) melt mixing the polyolefin and the compatibilizer in the second zone of the first extruder, 1 c) adding a thermoplastic starch to the mixture of step 1 b) in the third zone of the first extruder and 1 d) melt-mixing the mixture of step 1 c) in the fourth zone of the first extruder to obtain the blend, wherein the thermoplastic starch is produced in the second extruder by a process comprising the steps of: 2a) introducing starch in the first zone of the second extruder, 2b) adding a plasticiser to the mixture of step 2a) in the second zone of the second extruder to obtain the thermoplastic starch, 2c) degassing the thermoplastic starch of step 2b) in the third zone of the second extruder and 2d) pressurizing the degassed thermoplastic starch of step 2c) in the fourth zone of the second extruder to be moved to the third zone of the first extruder.

A process for making a starch-based resin from a starch-based plant feed stock generally comprising the steps of extracting starch content from prepared feed stock, preparing a dried starch from the extracted starch content that may be polymerized in a reactor with a catalytic material, a petroleum-based plastic resin, a quantity of glycerol, and an oil which is high in free hydrogen, and partially cross-linking the polymerized starch with a petroleum-based plastic resin to form a starch-based resin that may be used to produce starch-based film and bag products and other articles of manufacture that have unique degradation properties is disclosed herein.

A method of using an amine compound including at least one amine functional group, wherein the amine functional group(s) comprise primary and/or secondary amine functional groups, to reduce the level of furfural and/or hydroxymethylfurfural in a carbohydrate-based binder or binder composition and/or escaping in the course of preparation, cross-linking and/or curing of carbohydrate-based binders, is provided. The carbohydrate-based binder is obtained from a carbohydrate-based binder composition comprising a carbohydrate component, a cross-linker and optionally one or more reaction products of the carbohydrate component and the cross-linker, wherein the cross-linker is selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts of inorganic acid, carboxylic acids, salts, ester and anhydride derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

Described herein are biodegradable composites and methods of forming the same. The composites generally comprise a base polymer, a plant-based filler material, and optionally a fragrant additive. The fragrant additives may be used for attracting animals to or repelling animals from an area. Methods of forming the biodegradable composites include an extrusion process using a melt formed from the base polymer and the plant-based filler material.

A method of bonding together surfaces of two or more elements. The method includes the steps of providing two or more elements, applying an adhesive to one or more of the surfaces to be bonded together before, during or after contacting the surfaces to be bonded together with each other, and curing the adhesive, wherein the adhesive comprises at least one hydrocolloid.

The present invention provides a hydrophobic thermoplastic starch and method for manufacturing the same, to be used as granules for making biodegradable composites. The hydrophobic thermoplastic Starch of the invention is in a granule type, has the melt flow index in the range of 0.26 g/10 min at 160 C. and has 6080 wt % of starch and the water content less than 9%.

Biodegradable pellet compositions comprising: a starch at about 30% to about 80% by weight of the composition, a plasticizer at about 2% to about 30% by weight of the composition; a flexibility agent at about 10% to about 40% by weight; a binder at about 3% to about 13% by weight of the composition; a hydrophobic agent at about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the composition; and an emulsifier at about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the composition. The compositions further comprise a defoaming agent where a biodegradable foam pellet is the end product. The compositions may optionally include a plant fiber.