BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC FORMULATIONS AND ANIMAL CHEWS PREPARED FROM THE SAME

Abstract

Recyclable and biodegradable and/or industrially compostable plastic formulations that include a recyclable and biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, a recyclable and biodegradable filler, and halloysite are provided. Also provided are articles of manufacture produced using the recyclable and biodegradable and/or compostable plastic formulations. In particular, super chewer toys, e.g. dog bones, made of a recyclable and biodegradable and/or industrially compostable plastic formulation are described.

Claims

1. A recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation comprising: A recyclable and biodegradable thermoplastic polymer; a recyclable and biodegradable filler; and halloysite.

2. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable thermoplastic polymer is present at a concentration of about 40% by weight to about 98% by weight.

3. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable filler is present at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 50% by weight.

4. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the halloysite is present at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight.

5. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises polylactic acid and an acrylic cross-linker.

6. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 7, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises polylactic acid and an acrylic cross-linker at a ratio of about 99:1 to about 85:15.

7. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises cellulose acetate and a biocompatible plasticizer.

8. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 7, wherein the biocompatible plasticizer is a recyclable and biodegradable cross-linker.

9. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises one or more polyhydroxyalkanoates.

10. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises calcium sulfate.

11. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises boric acid.

12. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable filler comprises dried pulverized animal cartilage, chitosan, or a combination thereof.

13. The recyclable biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 12, wherein the dried pulverized animal cartilage has a particle size of about 50 m to about 2 mm.

14. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable filler comprises milk-whey-protein-derived polymer.

15. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, further comprising one or more micronutrients.

16. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 15, wherein the one or more micronutrients comprises lauryl phosphate, urea, or a combination thereof.

17. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, further comprising a recyclable and biodegradable scent.

18. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 17, wherein the biodegradable scent comprises a carrier.

19. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 18, wherein the carrier comprises dispersed halloy site.

20. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 19, wherein the biodegradable scent is adsorbed upon halloysite.

21. The recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable plastic formulation is compatible with injection molding.

22. A super chewer toy comprising the recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1.

23. The super chewer toy of claim 22, wherein the super chewer toy is in the form of a dog bone.

24. The super chewer toy of claim 22, wherein the super chewer toy is formed by injection molding the recyclable and biodegradable plastic formulation of claim 1.

25. A super chewer toy comprising a single homogenous recyclable and biodegradable material, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable material is a thermoplastic and wherein the recyclable and biodegradable material is compatible with injection molding.

26. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the super chewer toy is in the form of a dog bone.

27. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable material comprises polylactic acid and an acrylic cross-linker.

28. The super chewer toy of claim 27, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable material comprises polylactic acid and an acrylic cross-linker at a ratio of about 99:1 to about 85:15.

29. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable material comprises cellulose acetate and a biocompatible plasticizer.

30. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable material comprises a recyclable and biodegradable filler.

31. The super chewer toy of claim 30, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable material comprises a recyclable and biodegradable filler at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 50% weight.

32. The super chewer toy of claim 30, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable filler comprises dried pulverized animal cartilage, chitosan, or a combination thereof.

33. The super chewer toy of claim 32, wherein the dried pulverized animal cartilage has a particle size of about 50 m to about 2 mm.

34. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable plastic material comprises a milk-whey-protein-derived polymer.

35. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable plastic material comprises halloysite.

36. The super chewer toy of claim 35, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable plastic material comprises halloysite at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight.

37. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable plastic material comprises one or more polyhydroxyalkanoates.

38. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable plastic material comprises calcium sulfate.

39. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable plastic material comprises boric acid.

40. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable plastic material comprises one or more micronutrients.

41. The super chewer toy of claim 40, wherein the one or more micronutrients comprises lauryl phosphate, urea, or a combination thereof.

42. The super chewer toy of claim 25, further comprising a recyclable and biodegradable scent.

43. The super chewer toy of claim 42, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable scent comprises a carrier.

44. The super chewer toy of claim 43, wherein the carrier comprises dispersed halloysite.

45. The super chewer toy of claim 44, wherein the recyclable and biodegradable scent is adsorbed upon the halloysite.

46. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the super chewer toy comprises a central cavity.

47. The super chewer toy of claim 46, wherein a recyclable and biodegradable scent is evenly dispersed within the central cavity.

48. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the animal chew is formed by injection molding the single homogenous recyclable and biodegradable material.

49. The super chewer toy of claim 25, wherein the super chewer toy in the form of a single-manufactured-layer dog bone.

Description

ENUMERATED EMBODIMENTS

[0075] Further embodiments of the disclosure are set out in the following enumerated clauses: [0076] 1. A biodegradable plastic formulation comprising: [0077] a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer; [0078] a biodegradable filler; and [0079] halloysite. [0080] 2. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 1, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer is present at a concentration of about 40% by weight to about 98% by weight. [0081] 3. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 1 or 2, wherein the biodegradable filler is present at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 50% by weight. [0082] 4. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the biodegradable filler is present at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight. [0083] 5. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the biodegradable filler is present at a concentration of about 30% by weight to about 50% by weight. [0084] 6. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the halloysite is present at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight. [0085] 7. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises polylactic acid and an acrylic cross-linker. [0086] 8. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises polylactic acid and an acrylic cross-linker at a ratio of about 99:1 to about 85:15. [0087] 9. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 8, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises cellulose acetate and a biocompatible plasticizer. [0088] 10. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 9, wherein the biocompatible plasticizer is a biodegradable cross-linker. [0089] 11. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 10, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate. [0090] 12. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 11, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises calcium sulfate. [0091] 13. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 12, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises boric acid. [0092] 14. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 10, wherein the biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate, calcium sulfate, and boric acid. [0093] 15. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 14, wherein the biodegradable filler comprises dried pulverized animal cartilage. [0094] 16. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 15, wherein the dried pulverized animal cartilage is equine-derived, bovine-derived, or porcine-derived. [0095] 17. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 15 or 16, wherein the dried pulverized animal cartilage has a particle size of about 50 m to about 2 mm. [0096] 18. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 17, wherein the filler comprises milk-whey-protein-derived polymer. [0097] 19. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 18, further comprising one or more micronutrients. [0098] 20. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 19, wherein the one or more micronutrients comprises lauryl phosphate. [0099] 21. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 19 or 20, wherein the one or more micronutrients comprises one or more amino acids. [0100] 22. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 25, further comprising a biodegradable scent. [0101] 23. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 22, wherein the biodegradable scent is a liquid. [0102] 24. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 22 or 23, wherein the biodegradable scent is a terpene. [0103] 25. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 24, wherein the terpene is naturally-derived. [0104] 26. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 23 to 25, wherein the biodegradable scent comprises a carrier. [0105] 27. The biodegradable plastic formulation of clause 26, wherein the carrier comprises dispersed halloy site. [0106] 28. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 23 to 25, wherein the biodegradable scent is adsorbed upon halloysite. [0107] 29. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 28, wherein the biodegradable plastic formulation is compatible with injection molding. [0108] 30. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 29, wherein the biodegradable plastic formulation has a Shore D scale hardness value of 67 D when cured. [0109] 31. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 30, wherein the biodegradable plastic formulation is compostable under industrial conditions, optionally wherein the biodegradable plastic formulation is compostable at elevated temperatures and/or in the presence of forced air. [0110] 32. The biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 31, wherein the biodegradable plastic material can be degraded and/or composted within a period of less than about 90 days. [0111] 33. An animal chew comprising the biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 32. [0112] 34. The animal chew of clause 33, wherein the animal chew is in the form of a dog bone. [0113] 35. The animal chew of clause 33 or 34, wherein the animal chew is formed by injection molding the biodegradable plastic formulation of any one of clauses 1 to 32. [0114] 36. An animal chew comprising a single homogenous biodegradable material, wherein the biodegradable material is a thermoplastic and wherein the biodegradable material is compatible with injection molding. [0115] 37. The animal chew of clause 36, wherein the animal chew is in the form of a dog bone. [0116] 38. The animal chew of clause 36 or 37, wherein the biodegradable material comprises polylactic acid and an acrylic cross-linker. [0117] 39. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 38, wherein the biodegradable material comprises polylactic acid and an acrylic cross-linker at a ratio of about 99:1 to about 85:15. [0118] 40. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 39, wherein the biodegradable material comprises cellulose acetate and a biocompatible plasticizer. [0119] 41. The animal chew of clause 40, wherein the biocompatible plasticizer is a biodegradable cross-linker. [0120] 42. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 41, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a filler. [0121] 43. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 42, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a filler at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 50% weight. [0122] 44. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 43, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a filler at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight. [0123] 45. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 44, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a filler at a concentration of about 30% by weight to about 50% by weight. [0124] 46. The animal chew of any one of clauses 42 to 45, wherein the filler comprises dried pulverized animal cartilage. [0125] 47. The animal chew of clause 46, wherein the dried pulverized animal cartilage is equine-derived, bovine-derived, or porcine-derived. [0126] 48. The animal chew of clause 46 or 47, wherein the dried pulverized animal cartilage has a particle size of about 50 m to about 2 mm. [0127] 49. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 48, wherein the biodegradable plastic material comprises a milk-whey-protein-derived polymer. [0128] 50. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 49, wherein the biodegradable plastic material comprises halloysite. [0129] 51. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 50, wherein the biodegradable plastic material comprises halloysite at a concentration of about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight. [0130] 52. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 51, wherein the biodegradable plastic material comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate. [0131] 53. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 52, wherein the biodegradable plastic material comprises calcium sulfate. [0132] 54. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 53, wherein the biodegradable plastic material comprises boric acid. [0133] 55. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 51, wherein the biodegradable plastic material comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate, calcium sulfate, and boric acid. [0134] 56. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 55, wherein the biodegradable plastic material comprises one or more micronutrients. [0135] 57. The animal chew of clause 56, wherein the one or more micronutrients comprises lauryl phosphate. [0136] 58. The animal chew of clause 56 or 57, wherein the one or more micronutrients comprise one or more amino acids. [0137] 59. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 58, wherein the biodegradable plastic material has a Shore D scale hardness value of 67D. [0138] 60. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 59, wherein the biodegradable plastic material is compostable under industrial conditions, optionally wherein the biodegradable plastic material is compostable at elevated temperatures and/or in the presence of forced air. [0139] 61. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 60, wherein the biodegradable plastic material can be degraded and/or composted within a period of less than about 90 days. [0140] 62. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 61, further comprising a biodegradable scent. [0141] 63. The animal chew of clause 62, wherein the biodegradable scent is a liquid. [0142] 64. The animal chew of clause 62 or 63, wherein the biodegradable scent is a terpene. [0143] 65. The animal chew of clause 64, wherein the terpene is naturally-derived. [0144] 66. The animal chew of any one of clauses 63 to 65, wherein the biodegradable scent comprises a carrier. [0145] 67. The animal chew of clause 66, wherein the carrier comprises dispersed halloysite. [0146] 68. The animal chew of any one of clauses 63 to 65, wherein the biodegradable scent is adsorbed upon halloy site. [0147] 69. The animal chew of any one of clauses 62 to 68, wherein the animal chew comprises a central cavity. [0148] 70. The animal chew of clause 69, wherein the central cavity is tubular in shape. [0149] 71. The animal chew of clause 70, wherein the central cavity has a diameter of about 1% to about 10% of a diameter of the animal chew. [0150] 72. The animal chew of any one of clauses 69 to 71, wherein the biodegradable scent is disposed within the central cavity. [0151] 73. The animal chew of any one of clauses 36 to 72, wherein the animal chew is formed by injection molding the single homogenous biodegradable material.