Polystyrene blends and methods of making polystyrene blends including combining a styrene monomer and an epoxy-functional comonomer to form a combined mixture, subjecting the combined mixture to polymerization to obtain a polystyrene copolymer and combining the polystyrene copolymer with a biodegradable polymer to obtain a polystyrene blend.

The present invention relates to a biphasic superabsorbent and partially biodegradable material comprising a biodegradable and/or compostable polymeric phase and a non-biodegradable superabsorbent cross-linked polymer phase. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for the production of said superabsorbent material and the use thereof to contain and/or absorb and/or separate liquids, in particular aqueous liquids, preferably contaminated ones, and/or biological fluids.

A biodegradable polymer includes starch groups, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) backbone having a crosslinked layered configuration and a Schiff base structure bonded to the starch groups. The PVA backbone has double bonds, and the starch groups have reversible acetal linkages. The biodegradable polymer is produced by mixing starch and water; mixing partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and water; mixing the starch solution with the PVA solution; mixing in a catalyst; and mixing in a cross-linking agent and a dialdehyde.

Provided are a plant-derived soft capsule shell having high shell sheet strength, good adhesive property, and good shell performance, and a soft capsule.

A soft capsule shell comprising: (A) iota carrageenan; and (B) waxy corn starch having undergone a heat-moisture treatment in the presence of a salt, the soft capsule shell having a content mass ratio [(A)/(B)] of the component (A) to the component (B) of 0.4 to 3, the soft capsule shell having a content mass ratio [carrageenan/starch] of carrageenan including the component (A) to starch including the component (B) of 0.29 to 1.

Products and methods for producing products which comprise polyethylene and inorganic minerals for a single layer plastic composition.

This invention is directed to composites and films comprising hydroxyapatite, biodegradable polymer, a biocompatible surfactant with inorganic fullerene-like (IF) nanoparticles or inorganic nanotubes (INT); methods of preparation and uses thereof.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to compositions having water soluble and/or degradable and elastomeric properties.

Embodiments of an aqueous-based dispersion of a hydrolytically unstable polymer comprise particles of said hydrolytically unstable polymer and a stabilizing agent in water. The dispersion is substantially free of volatile organic solvents.

This invention relates to a polymer composition that is particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of thermoformed articles, which can be biodegraded in industrial composting. This invention also relates to a process for the production of the said composition and articles obtained thereby.

An oxo-biodegradable antimicrobial receptacle for organic waste or waste from care activities which comprises a layer comprising low density polyethylene, an oxo-biodegradation additive at between 0.2 and 2.2% by weight and an antimicrobial additive at between 0.2 and 2.2% by weight, distributed in the polyethylene. It affords a period of preservation, in the dark, of at least 3 years, preferably 5 years, at a temperature not exceeding 30° C. The preservation is estimated by the carbonyl optical density resulting from the degradation of the polyethylene, measured according to the standard ISO 10640-2011 by FT-IR spectroscopy. The oxo-degradation is inhibited by the absence of light, and a period of degradation estimated by the carbonyl optical density of less than 2 years. The oxo-degradation additive does not promote Clostridium difficile spores.