Aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters and cellulose ester/polymer blends

Claim 2

A binary blend comprising: (A) about 5% to about 98% of a C 1 -C 10 ester of cellulose having a DS/AGU of about 1.7 to about 2.75 and an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 to about 3.0 deciliters/gram as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 g sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane, and (B) about 2% to about 95% of an aliphatic polyester having an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 to about 2.0 deciliters/gram as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 g sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane, said percentages being based on the weight of component (A) plus component (B).

Claim 3

The blend of claim 1 wherein said aliphatic polyester comprises repeat units selected from the group consisting of the following structure: (a) ##STR6## wherein m is an integer of 0 to 10, and R 10 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; C 1 -C 12 alkyl; C 1 -C 12 alkyl substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkyl; and C 5 -C 10 cycloalkyl substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; and (b) ##STR7## wherein R 8 is selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 12 alkylene, or C 2 -C 12 oxyalkylene; C 2 -C 12 alkylene or C 2 -C 12 oxyalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene; C 5 C 10 cycloalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; R 9 is selected from the group consisting of C 0 -C 12 alkylene; C 2 -C 12 oxyalkylene; C 2 -C 12 alkylene or oxyalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene; and C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; or (c) a mixture of (a) and (b).

Claim 4

The blend of claim 1 wherein said cellulose ester has an inherent viscosity of about 0.5 to about 1.5.

Claim 5

The blend of claim 2 wherein aliphatic polyester has an inherent viscosity of about 0.4 to about 1.2 as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 gram sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane.

Claim 6

The blend of claim 4 wherein aliphatic polyester comprises 15 to 600 repeat units.

Claim 7

The blend of claim 2 wherein m is 0 to 5, and R 10 is H, a C 1 -C 4 alkyl or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl substituted with 1-4 substituents selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, C 6 -C 10 aryl and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkyl; and C 5 -C 10 cycloalkyl substituted with 1-4 substituents selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, C 6 -C 10 aryl and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy.

Claim 8

The blend of claim 2 wherein R 8 is selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 6 alkylene, C 4 -C 8 oxyalkylene, or C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene; and R 9 is C 0 -C 10 alkylene, C 2 -C 4 oxyalkylene, or C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene.

Claim 9

The blend of claim 7 wherein R 8 is selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 4 alkylene and C 4 -C 8 oxyalkylene; and R 9 is C 2 -C 4 alkylene.

Claim 10

The blend of claim 1 wherein said aliphatic polyester is prepared from any polyester forming combination of the following: (i) hydroxy acids, (ii) dicarboxylic acids or derivatives thereof, and (iii) diols, wherein said hydroxy acids are selected from the group consisting of 4-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, hydroxypivalic acid, 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, ester forming derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof; said dicarboxylic acids are selected from the group consisting of the following diacids: malonic, succinic, glutaric, adipic, pimelic, azelaic, sebacic, fumaric, 2,2-dimethyl glutaric, suberic, 1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic, 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic, diglycolic, itaconic, maleic, 2,5-norbornanedicarboxylic, ester forming derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof; and said diols are selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediol, thiodiethanol, 1,3-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, tetra-, tri-, dipropylene glycol and combinations thereof.

Claim 11

The blend of claim 1 wherein said aliphatic polyester is produced by natural or genetically altered microorganisms.

Claim 12

The blend of claim 10 wherein said aliphatic polyester is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxybutyrate, polyhydroxy valerate, and a copolymer of polyhydroxybutyrate-polyhydroxyvalerate.

Claim 13

The blend of claim 10 wherein said aliphatic polyester is produced by a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas oleovorans, Alcaligenes eutropus, Bacillus megaterium, and Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Claim 14

The blend of claim 1 wherein said ester of cellulose is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate and cellulose propionate butyrate.

Claim 15

The blend of claim 13 wherein said ester of cellulose is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate and cellulose acetate butyrate.

Claim 16

The blend of claim 14 wherein said ester of cellulose is cellulose acetate.

Claim 17

The blend of claim 4 wherein said ester of cellulose is cellulose acetate propionate.

Claim 18

The blend of claim 14 wherein the Tg of the cellulose ester is from about 85°-210° C.

Claim 19

The blend of claim 16 wherein the Tg of the cellulose ester is from about 140°-180° C.

Claim 20

The blend of claim 15 wherein the Tg of the cellulose ester is from about 180°-210° C.

Claim 21

The blend of claim 14 wherein the DS/AGU is from about 2.1-2.6.

Claim 22

The blend of claim 16 wherein said cellulose acetate propionate has a DS/AGU of 1.7-2.75 and the DS/AGU of acetyl ester is 1-50% of the total ester content.

Claim 23

The blend of claim 16 wherein said cellulose acetate propionate has a DS/AGU of 2.1-2.6 and the DS/AGU of acetyl ester is about 4% to about 30% of the total ester content.

Claim 24

The blend of claim 16 wherein said ester of cellulose is cellulose acetate propionate having a DS/AGU for propionyl of greater than about 1.

Claim 25

The blend of claim 1 wherein said aliphatic polyester is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxybutyrate, a copolymer of polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhydroxyvalerate, poly(hexamethylene glutarate), poly(hexamethylene adipate), poly(ethylene succinate), poly(butylene glutarate), poly(butylene adipate), poly(butylene succinate), poly(ethylene glutarate), poly(ethylene adipate), poly(diethylene glutarate), poly(diethylene adipate), poly(diethylene succinate) and poly(hexamethylene succinate).

Claim 26

The blend of claim 1 wherein component (B) is present in an amount of about 8% to about 60% and component (A) is present in an amount of about 40% to about 92%.

Claim 27

The blend of claim 20 wherein component (B) is present in an amount of about 8% to about 60% and component (A) is present in an amount of about 40% to about 92%.

Claim 28

The blend of claim 1 wherein component B is present in the amount of about 35 to 65% and (A) is present in an amount of about 35 to about 65%.

Claim 29

The blend of claim 22 wherein component (B) is present in the amount of about 35 to 65% and (A) is present in an amount of 35 to about 65%.

Claim 30

The blend of claim 1 additionally comprising 0.001 to 50 weight %, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one additional additive selected from the group consisting of non-polymeric plasticizer, a thermal stabilizer, an antioxidant, a pro-oxidant, an acid scavenger, an ultraviolet light stabilizer, a promoter of photodegradation, inorganics, and colorants.

Claim 31

The blend of claim 29 wherein the inorganic is CaCO 3 .

Claim 32

The blend of claim 29 wherein the colorant is a polyester with 0.01 to 50% of a covalently bound dye.

Claim 33

A ternary blend comprising: (A) about 4% to about 97% of a C1-C10 ester if cellulose having a DS/AGU of about 1.7 to 3.0 and an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 to about 3.0 deciliters/gram as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 g sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane, (B) about 2% to about 95% of an aliphatic polyester and/or an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester having an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 to about 2.0 deciliters/gram as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 g sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane, (C) about 1% to about 94% of polymeric compounds having an inherent viscosity of about 0.4 to about 2.0 deciliters/gram as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 g sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane, said percentages being based on the weight of component (A) plus component (B) plus component (C).

Claim 34

A ternary blend comprising: (A) about 4% to about 97% of a C1-C10 ester if cellulose having a DS/AGU of about 1.7 to 3.0 and an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 to about 3.0 deciliters/gram as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 g sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane, (B) about 2% to about 95% of an aliphatic polyester and/or an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester having an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 to about 2.0 deciliters/gram as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 g sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane, (C) about 1% to about 94% of polymeric compounds having an inherent viscosity of about 0.4 to about 2.0 deciliters/gram as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 g sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 parts by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane, said percentages being based on the weight of component (A) plus component (B) plus component (C).

Claim 35

The blend of claim 32 wherein said ester of cellulose is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose propionate butyrate.

Claim 36

The blend of claim 33 wherein said ester of cellulose is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate propionate and cellulose acetate butyrate.

Claim 37

The blend of claim 34 wherein said ester of cellulose is cellulose acetate propionate.

Claim 38

The blend of claim 35 wherein said ester of cellulose is cellulose acetate propionate having a DS/AGU of 1.7-3.0 wherein the DS/AGU of acetyl ester is 1-50% of the total ester content.

Claim 39

The blend of claim 35 wherein said cellulose acetate propionate has a DS/AGU of 2.5-2.75 wherein the DS/AGU of acetyl ester is 4-30% of the total ester content.

Claim 40

The blend of claims 33, 34, or 37 wherein component (B) is present in an amount of about 10% to about 50%, component (A) is present in an amount of about 40% to about 88%, and component (C) is present in the amount of 2% to 10%.

Claim 41

The blend of claim 33, 34, or 37 wherein component (B) is present in an amount of about 2% to about 10%, component (A) is present in an amount of about 40% to about 88%, and component (C) is present in the amount of 10% to 50%.

Claim 42

The blend of claims 33, 34, or 37 wherein component (B) is present in an amount of about 40% to about 88%, component (A) is present in an amount of about 2% to about 10%, and component (C) is present in the amount of 10% to 50%.

Claim 43

The blend of claim 33, 34, or 37 wherein component (B) is present in an amount of about 10% to about 50%, component (A) is present in an amount of about 2% to about i0%, and component (C) is present in the amount of 40% to 88%.

Claim 44

The blend of claim 33, 34, or 37 wherein component (B) is present in an amount of about 20% to about 40%, component (A) is present in an amount of about 20% to about 40%, and component (C) is present in the amount of 20% to 40%.

Claim 45

The blend of claim 32 wherein said aliphatic-aromatic copolyester comprises repeat units of: ##STR8## wherein R 4 and R 7 are selected from one or more of the following groups consisting of C 2 -C 12 alkylene or oxyalkylene; C 2 -C 12 alkylene or oxyalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; R 5 is selected from one or more of the following groups consisting of C 0 -C 122 alkylene; C 2 -C 12 oxyalkylene; C 2 -C 12 alkylene or oxyalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene; and C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; R 6 is selected from one or more of the following groups consisting of C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 6 -C 10 aryl substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy.

Claim 46

The blend of claim 32 wherein said aliphatic polyester comprises repeat units of the following structure: (a) ##STR9## wherein m is an integer of 0 to 10, and R 10 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; C 1 -C 12 alkyl; C 1 -C 12 substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkyl; and C 5 -C 10 cycloalkyl substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; or (b) ##STR10## wherein R 8 is selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 12 alkylene, or C 2 -C 12 oxyalkylene; C 2 -C 12 alkylene, or C 2 -C 12 oxyalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 C 10 cycloalkylene; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; R 9 is selected from the group consisting of C 0 -C 12 alkylene; C 2 -C 12 oxyalkylene; C 2 -C 12 alkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene; and C 5 -C 10 cycloalkylene substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy; or (c) a mixture of (a) and (b).

Claim 47

The blend of claim 44 wherein said aliphatic polyester is produced by natural or genetically altered microorganisms.

Claim 48

The blend of claim 45, wherein said aliphatic polyester is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxybutyrate, polyhydroxyvalerate, and a copolymer of polyhydroxybutyrate-polyhydroxyvalerate.

Claim 49

The blend of claim 45 wherein said aliphatic polyester is produced by a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas oleovorans, Alcaligenes eutrophus, Bacillus megaterium, and Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Claim 50

The blend of claim 32 wherein component (B) has an inherent viscosity of about 0.4 to about 1.2 as measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 0.5 gram sample in 100 ml of a 60/40 by weight solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane.

Claim 51

The blend of claim 48 wherein component (B) comprises 15 to 600 repeat units.

Claim 52

The blend of claim 32 wherein component (C) is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, or hydroxypropyl cellulose.

Claim 53

The blend of claim 50 wherein component (C) is polyvinyl acetate or partially hydrolyzed polyvinylacetate.

Claim 54

The blend of claim 50 wherein component (C) is vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer.

Claim 55

The blend of claim 50 wherein component (C) is hydroxypropyl cellulose.

Claim 56

The blend of claim 32 additionally comprising 0.001 to 50 weight %, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one additional additive selected from the group consisting of non-polymeric plasticizer, a thermal stabilizer, an antioxidant, a pro-oxidant, an acid scavenger, an ultraviolet light stabilizer, a promoter or photodegradation, inorganics, and colorants.

Claim 57

The blend of claim 54 wherein the inorganic is CaCO 3 .

Claim 58

The blend of claim 54 wherein the colorant is a polyester with 0.01 to 50% of a covalently bound dye.

Claim 59

The blend of claim 32 wherein components (A), components (B), and component (C) are miscible.

Claim 60

The blend of claim 32 wherein components (A), components (B), and component (C) are partially miscible.