The present application relates to a thermally expandable preparation containing at least one binder, at least one physical blowing agent, at least two polysaccharides and water, to a method for soundproofing using such preparations, and to the corresponding use of these preparations.

Disclosed herein are water-soluble films including a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) resin blend and optionally one or more additional components such as plasticizers, fillers, surfactants, and other additives. The PVOH resin blend includes a first copolymer including a first anionic monomer unit and a second PVOH copolymer including a second anionic monomer unit. When the PVOH copolymers are blended in particular proportions and/or selected with regard to various criteria related to physical and chemical film properties, the resulting water-soluble film formed from the PVOH resin blend exhibits maintained film stiffness, and pouch tautness when in contact with liquid pouch contents, and/or maintain acceptable clarity properties, without impairing the ultimate solubility of the water-soluble film.

A composite material includes a porous foam, having a density of less than 1 g/cm.sup.3, with a polymer matrix including chitosan, chitin, or chitosan oligosaccharide, and a first laminate adhered to a first surface of the porous foam.

There is provided a polyurethane and/or polyacrylic coating and/or film that includes a polyurethane and/or polyacrylic layer; a biodegradation-inducing additive in the polyurethane and/or polyacrylic layer at a concentration of between 0.1 to 6% by weight. This polyurethane and/or polyacrylic coating and/or film is biodegradable.

A packaging film is provided. The packaging film includes a polymer matrix composed of poly (butylene succinate) (PBS), and a modified tapioca starch (TPS), where a weight ratio (w/w) of the PBS to the TPS is in a range of 3:2 to 2:3. The packaging film also includes an antimicrobial composite including an organometallic compound dispersed within the polymer matrix. The packaging film has a water vapor permeability in a range of 94,000-95,000 micrometer gram per second per square meter per pascal (g.Math.μm/m.sup.2.Math.s.Math.Pa). A method to prepare the packaging film is also disclosed. The packaging films of the present disclosure prevent or inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria, particularly on food surfaces.

A method of producing a thermoplastic starch by an in-situ reactive extrusion plasticization process and a method for preparing a starch/polymer blend by an in-situ reactive extrusion plasticization and compatibilization process. In the method, a plasticizer reaction precursor (or a plasticizing compatibilizer reaction precursor) is mixed with starch to adhere to the surface of the starch or enter the starch to break the intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the starch. Then a mixture of the plasticizer reaction precursor (or the plasticizing compatibilizer reaction precursor) and starch is subjected to extrusion to produce the thermoplastic starch (or the starch/polymer blend), where the reaction precursor undergoes an in-situ reaction on the surfaces of the starch and in the starch to form a macro-molecular plasticizer (or a plasticizing compatibilizer) to plasticize starch or provide plasticizing and compatibilizing effect on the starch/polymer blend.

The flame retardant foam is a molded form of a mixture containing at least a cellulose containing powder, a hydrophilic polymer, a foamable thermoplastic resin, a flame retardant, and water. The mixture contains at least one of tricalcium phosphate or silica as a dispersant.

The present invention provides a continuous process for solid-state expansion of a biopolymer, e.g., polylactic acid, which can be used to manufacture reduced-density thermoplastic materials with improved physical and thermal properties. By incorporating multiple stages of heating into the process as a means to regulate heat flux, unprecedented control of microstructure and crystallinity can be achieved. Thermoplastic sheets with the distinct cellular characteristics imparted by the process disclosed herein were found to be thicker and stronger than materials prepared by conventional processes. Thermoforming sheets with such characteristics enabled the production of light-weight, thermally-stable, compostable products that resist warping, and are thus suitable for a range of industrial applications.

The invention relates to a method for producing a compound or a film containing thermoplastic starch, an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid ROHCOOH, in which R is CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.3CH.sub.2, in an amount of from 0.1 to 5, preferably 0.1 to 3, particularly preferably 0.1 to 1 wt. % in relation to the thermoplastic starch, and a thermoplastic polymer, in which method the compound or the film is exposed during or after its extrusion to an additional heating step to 100-140° C. A thermoplastic starch usable for the production of the compound, a compound produced by the method, and a transparent film produced from such a compound are also described.

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.