The invention relates to a composition comprising: at least one aliphatic polyester (A) comprising diols containing at least ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol or mixtures thereof and diacids containing at least succinic acid, adipic acid or mixtures thereof; at least one starch (B); at least one organic plasticiser (C) for starch; optionally, an additional polyester or a mixture of additional polyesters (D) different from polyester (A). The composition is characterised in that it also comprises citric acid (E), the amount by weight of citric acid varying between 0.01 and 0.45 parts per 100 parts of the total dry weight of (A), (B), (C) and (D).

A biodegradable and dissolvable container may include a biodegradable and water soluble shell defining the container sized to accommodate a volume of a liquid, the shell having walls extending upward from a closed bottom; an exterior water insoluble layer coating an exterior surface of the walls of the shell; and an inner water insoluble layer coating an interior of the shell, wherein the container may completely dissolve in water over a predetermined period of time.

Described herein are blends of starch or starch-based materials with polymeric materials, where the starch or starch-based material is intimately blended with the polymeric material, so as to exhibit very small particles sizes (e.g., less than 2 m, or less than 1 m) for the starch or starch-based material in the matrix of the polymeric material. Such intimate dispersion of very small particles provides for far more of the particles dispersed more evenly throughout the matrix of the polymeric material, which may enhance various performance characteristics of the blended composite material. Methods of producing articles from such blends exhibiting such small particles and excellent dispersion are also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides a fully degradable Polyglycolic acid (PGA) composite packaging material comprises, by weight part, the following: PGA, polycaprolactone, poly(L-lactide--caprolactone), anti-blocking agent, slipping agent, flexibilizer, waterproofing agent, chitosan, reinforced fibers and the like. The present disclosure further provides a preparation method of the fully degradable modified polyglycolic acid composite packaging materials. The present disclosure has the following advantages. The packaging material of the present disclosure has good microbial degradation and hydrolysis. With complete biodegradation, it would result in end-products, water and carbon dioxide, which are environmentally friendly, non-toxic and pose no threat to human- and animal-health. The packaging material of the present disclosure has good mechanical properties, and can fully meet various application requirements of packaging materials. Inexpensive and environmental pollution-free fillers can be added without influence on mechanical properties. The cost can be effectively reduced. The preparation process is simple.

Disclosed, among other things, are ways to manufacture layered structures. In one 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. These processes may be used to generate products with layered structures.

A composition comprising a fiber component, at least one surfactant/foaming agent, at least one dispersant, and optionally at least one binder, wherein the fiber component forms a viscous mixture that is converted to a foam product upon the addition of the surfactant/foaming agent once the viscous mixture reaches a predetermined dryness, wherein the foam product is resistant to shrinkage during drying and remains rigid.

The present invention is directed to a process for manufacturing a biodegradable synthetic polymeric material wherein the process has the steps of binding, pelletizing, extruding; and sealing. Moreover, the invention discloses degrading substances which participate in the first three steps (a, b, c) wherein the degrading substances comprise betaine (C.sub.5H.sub.11NO.sub.2), cassava (yucca) starch (C.sub.6H.sub.10O.sub.5), carrot carotene (C.sub.40H.sub.56), water, carbon monoxide, corn glucose (C.sub.6H.sub.12O.sub.6), and a carboxylic acid of 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The present invention discloses a low cost bio-based full degradable film and preparation method thereof, the ratio of each component in parts by mass of the film is as follows: 15-25 parts of a polyglycolic acid, 25-35 parts of corn starch, 35-55 parts of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), 5 parts of a compatilizer, 3.75-12.25 parts of a starch plasticizer, 0.5-0.7 part of citric acid, 0.75-1.25 parts of acetyl tributyl citrate, 0.3-0.5 part of maleic anhydride, 0.2 part of antioxidant 164, and 0.2 part of 2-(2-hydroxyl-5-methylphenyl)benzotriazole. The low cost bio-based full degradable film provided by the present invention has a bio-based content, which can reach 30% or more, a lower cost, and a tensile strength exceeding a traditional PE thin film, and has very important significance for solving the problem of white pollution and promoting the popularization and application of full biodegradable materials.

A biodegradable polymer blend contains at least one component (A), at least one component (B) and at least one component (D), whereincomponent (A) includes polymers based on lactic acidcomponent (B) includes thermoplastic starch (TPS) representing a mixture of starch, at least one plasticizer from the group of substances (C), and at least one modifier from the group of substances (E); group of substances (C) includes plasticizers for starchgroup of substances (E) includes modifierscomponent (D) includes homopolymers or copolymers of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and/or mixtures thereof, and the biodegradable polymer blend can optionally contain a component (F), whereincomponent (F) includes plasticizers for PLAs and/or for PHAs, and the biodegradable polymer blend is prepared in a such way that a composition containing the components (A), (B) and (D) is prepared by blending the components (A) and (B), wherein the component (B) is present in the blend at least in one phase of the blending process where at least one component (B) and at least one component (A) are blended concurrently, and this phase of the blending process precedes, by at least one phase, that phase of the blending process where the component (D) is added to the blend, and the optional components (F) and (G) can be added to the blend in any one or multiple phases of the blending process, and in one or several doses.

Described herein are methods for increasing strength of blown films, by forming the films using a film blowing apparatus where the film is formed from a blend of a first polymeric material and a renewable carbohydrate-based polymeric material having particular characteristics. By using such a blend, and ensuring that the film blowing apparatus is operated at a high blow up ratio of at least 2.0, and/or using a narrow die gap of no more than 500 microns, Applicant has discovered that increased strength in the film can be obtained, as compared to where (i) the renewable carbohydrate-based polymeric material is not included or (ii) where the film is blown at lower blow up ratios and/or wider die gaps.