The present invention provides absorbent materials comprising a hydrogel-forming swellable polymer and a plasticizer, wherein the absorbent material demonstrates an advantageous performance characteristic such as advantageous fluid absorption capacity, fluid absorption rate, and rewetting, wherein the advantageous performance characteristic is within at least about 80% of a similar characteristic exhibited by a crosslinked polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer, or wherein the cumulative performance of the advantageous performance characteristics is comparable or superior to performance exhibited by the crosslinked polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer. The present invention also relates to articles of manufacture comprising such absorbent materials, and methods of manufacture.

The present invention provides absorbent materials comprising a hydrogel-forming swellable polymer and a plasticizer, wherein the absorbent material demonstrates an advantageous performance characteristic such as advantageous fluid absorption capacity, fluid absorption rate, and rewetting, wherein the advantageous performance characteristic is within at least about 80% of a similar characteristic exhibited by a crosslinked polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer, or wherein the cumulative performance of the advantageous performance characteristics is comparable or superior to performance exhibited by the crosslinked polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer. The present invention also relates to articles of manufacture comprising such absorbent materials, and methods of manufacture.

The present invention provides a composition comprising at least one organic component having particles between 1 and 4 mm, and a cured thermoset polymer, and wherein a w/w ratio of the organic component to the thermoset polymer within the composition is between 4:1 and 10:1. Furthermore, provided herein are articles in a form of planting pots comprising the composition of the invention. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing of planting pots.

The present invention provides a composition comprising at least one organic component having particles between 1 and 4 mm, and a cured thermoset polymer, and wherein a w/w ratio of the organic component to the thermoset polymer within the composition is between 4:1 and 10:1. Furthermore, provided herein are articles in a form of planting pots comprising the composition of the invention. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing of planting pots.

The present invention relates to compostable tools for eating and for drinking, such as drinking straws or cutlery. The present invention furthermore relates to biodegradable medical commodities such as cotton swabs, tongue depressors or disposable toothbrushes. The tools and the medical commodities of the present invention comprise plant starch and plant-based thickener and gelling agents and can furthermore comprise cellulose/mechanical pulp, wax, oil and/or glycerine. The tools and the medical commodities of the present invention can furthermore comprise an outer coating which preferably comprises wax and/or a bipolymer, preferably rubber. The present invention additionally relates to a method for producing compostable tools for eating or drinking and for biodegradable medical commodities.

The present invention relates to compostable tools for eating and for drinking, such as drinking straws or cutlery. The present invention furthermore relates to biodegradable medical commodities such as cotton swabs, tongue depressors or disposable toothbrushes. The tools and the medical commodities of the present invention comprise plant starch and plant-based thickener and gelling agents and can furthermore comprise cellulose/mechanical pulp, wax, oil and/or glycerine. The tools and the medical commodities of the present invention can furthermore comprise an outer coating which preferably comprises wax and/or a bipolymer, preferably rubber. The present invention additionally relates to a method for producing compostable tools for eating or drinking and for biodegradable medical commodities.

The present invention relates to compostable tools for eating and for drinking, such as drinking straws or cutlery. The present invention furthermore relates to biodegradable medical commodities such as cotton swabs, tongue depressors or disposable toothbrushes. The tools and the medical commodities of the present invention comprise plant starch and plant-based thickener and gelling agents and can furthermore comprise cellulose/mechanical pulp, wax, oil and/or glycerine. The tools and the medical commodities of the present invention can furthermore comprise an outer coating which preferably comprises wax and/or a bipolymer, preferably rubber. The present invention additionally relates to a method for producing compostable tools for eating or drinking and for biodegradable medical commodities.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polymer having a hydrophobic portion characterized by the following group: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1 and x are as defined herein; and a) an aqueous dispersion of thermoplastic polymer particles imbibed with a thermosettable compound functionalized with structural units of an anti-agglomerating monomer; and/or b) a curing agent. The composition of the present invention is useful for improving Brookfield viscosity and sag resistance in coatings arising from, for example, 2-component acrylic-epoxy hybrid systems cured with a curing agent.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polymer having a hydrophobic portion characterized by the following group: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1 and x are as defined herein; and a) an aqueous dispersion of thermoplastic polymer particles imbibed with a thermosettable compound functionalized with structural units of an anti-agglomerating monomer; and/or b) a curing agent. The composition of the present invention is useful for improving Brookfield viscosity and sag resistance in coatings arising from, for example, 2-component acrylic-epoxy hybrid systems cured with a curing agent.

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for dissolving starch. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for dissolving starch by introducing mechanical force to at least partially gelatinized agueous starch.