A water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film mainly containing a polyvinyl alcohol resin (A), wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin (A) includes: a polyvinyl alcohol resin (a1) having a 4 mass % aqueous solution viscosity of not lower than 21 mPa.Math.s at 20° C. as a main component of the polyvinyl alcohol resin (A); and a polyvinyl alcohol (a2) resin satisfying the following requirements (α) and (β) with respect to the polyvinyl alcohol resin (a1): (α) the polyvinyl alcohol resin (a2) has a 4 mass % aqueous solution viscosity that is higher than the 4 mass % aqueous solution viscosity of the polyvinyl alcohol resin (a1) as measured at 20° C., and (β) a difference in average saponification degree between the polyvinyl alcohol resin (a1) and the polyvinyl alcohol resin (a2) is not greater than 5 mol % in absolute value.

Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a low-cost fully-biodegradable plant fiber starch tableware. A plant cellulose material containing dregs of Scutellaria baicalensis is modified to obtain a modified plant fiber starch blank. Konjac gum is subjected to pulverization and ultrafine pulverization to obtain a colloidal binder combined with a deacetylated konjac gum. The colloidal binder is mixed with the modified plant fiber starch blank to obtain a mixture. The mixture is subjected to foam molding in a forming mold to obtain the low-cost fully-biodegradable plant fiber starch tableware.

A plastic pro-biodegradation additive includes a carrier polymer and a nanostarch compound. The nanostarch compound can include nanostarch with a particle size in a range of about 40 to about 500 nm. The nanostarch compound can include small-size and/or large-size regular starch. The carrier polymer can be a biodegradable polymer. The additive can include: a polysaccharide; an organic filler; one or more of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide and an oligosaccharide; a surfactant; and/or an inorganic filler. The carrier polymer can include a non-biodegradable polymer. Biodegradable plastic compositions and methods of preparing a biodegradable plastic material are also disclosed.

Disclosed, among other things, are ways to manufacture reduced density thermoplastics using rapid solid-state foaming and machines useful for the saturation of plastic. In one embodiment, a foaming process may involve saturating a semi-crystalline polymer such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) with high levels of gas, and then heating, which may produce a reduced density plastic having high levels of crystallinity. In another embodiment, a foaming process may produce layered structures in reduced density plastics with or without integral skins. In another embodiment, a foaming process may produce deep draw structures in reduced density plastics with or without integral skins. In yet another embodiment, a foaming process may utilize additives, blends, or fillers, for example. In yet another embodiment, a foaming process may involve saturating a semi-crystalline polymer such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) with high levels of gas, and then heating, which may produce a reduced density plastic having high levels of crystallinity.

The invention provides moisture-resistant foam compositions comprising at least one fiber component; at least one foaming agent; at least one wax binder; and optionally at least one dispersant, where the at least one fiber component, the at least one foaming agent, the at least one wax binder, and when present the at least one dispersant are uniformly dispersed throughout a matrix, wherein the matrix is a foam.

The present application relates to a thermally expandable composition containing at least one peroxide cross-linking polymer, at least one peroxide, at least one polysaccharide and at least one endothermic, chemical blowing agent; as well as to shaped bodies containing said composition and to a method for sealing and filling voids in components, for strengthening or reinforcing components, in particular hollow components, and for bonding mobile components using shaped bodies of this type.

A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; in derivatives thereof (such as esters); salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent. A process for manufacturing a foamed polymer, such as foamed PVC, comprising shaping and heating the foamable polymer composition, and a foamed polymer obtained by such process.

A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; derivatives thereof; salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent. A process for manufacturing a foamed polymer, such as foamed PVC, comprising shaping and heating the foamable polymer composition, and a foamed polymer obtained by such process.

The present invention relates to a film comprising at least one biodegradable layer (i) having an elastic modulus of more than 450 MPa, consisting of a mixture of polyhydroxyalkanoate constituting the continuous phase and aliphatic and/or aliphatic-aromatic polyester constituting the discontinuous phase, and at least one coating layer (ii) preferably capable of having barrier effects against gases and liquids. The surface of said layer (i) will have a root mean square roughness Sq of more than 10 nm and less than 45 nm, measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The film is particularly suitable for use in food packaging.

Disclosed herein are biodegradable resinous composite and extruded sheets comprising polystyrene and a thermoplastic amorphous starch and use thereof.