US2001010849A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for microcellular polypropylene extrusion, and polypropylene articles produced thereby

33
Priority: Jan 21, 1998Filed: Mar 26, 2001Published: Aug 2, 2001
Est. expiryJan 21, 2018(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kent BlizardSrinath TupilWilliam Malavich
Y10T428/1397Y10T428/1376B29K 2105/046A47G 21/18B29K 2105/041B29K 2023/12B29C 44/507B29C 44/348B29C 44/3446C08L 23/12B29L 2023/008Y10T428/249979B29C 44/50
33
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Claims

Abstract

A polymeric foam article is comprised mainly of homopolymeric polypropylene, or unimodal polypropylene. The polymeric article can be microcellular, and can be formed into a drinking straw.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article comprising foamed microcellular polypropylene having an average cell size less than about 100 microns.  
     
     
         2 . An article as in    claim 1   , the article including at least about 80% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         3 . An article as in    claim 1   , the article including at least about 90% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         4 . An article as in    claim 1   , the article including at least about 95% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         5 . An article as in    claim 1   , consisting essentially of polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         6 . An article as in    claim 1   , consisting of polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         7 . An article as in    claim 1   , comprising foamed polymeric material including at least about 80% by weight homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         8 . An article as in    claim 1   , comprising foamed polymeric material including at least about 90% by weight homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         9 . An article as in    claim 1   , comprising foamed polymeric material including at least about 95% by weight homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         10 . An article as in    claim 1   , comprising foamed polymeric material consisting essentially of homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         11 . An article as in    claim 1   , comprising foamed polymeric material consisting of homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         12 . An article as in    claim 1   , formed as a drinking straw.  
     
     
         13 . An article as in    claim 1   , having a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 10, a wall thickness of no more than 1.0 mm.  
     
     
         14 . An article as in    claim 1   , comprising a foamed polymeric tubular article having a diameter-to-thickness ratio of from about 9:1 to about 50:1.  
     
     
         15 . An article as in    claim 1   , consisting essentially of homopolymeric polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution and having a viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         16 . An article comprising foamed polymeric material including at least about 80% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         17 . An article as in    claim 16   , comprising foamed polymeric material including at least about 90% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         18 . An article as in    claim 16   , comprising foamed polymeric material including at least about 95% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         19 . An article as in    claim 16   , comprising foamed polymeric material consisting essentially of polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         20 . An article as in    claim 16   , comprising foamed polymeric material consisting of polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         21 . An article as in    claim 16   , formed as a drinking straw.  
     
     
         22 . An article as in    claim 16   , having a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 10, a wall thickness of no more than 1.0 mm.  
     
     
         23 . An article as in    claim 16   , comprising a foamed polymeric tubular article having a diameter-to-thickness ratio of from about 9:1 to about 50:1.  
     
     
         24 . An article comprising foamed polymeric material including at least about 80% by weight homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         25 . An article as in    claim 24   , comprising the article including at least about 90% by weight homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         26 . An article as in    claim 24   , comprising the article including at least about 95% by weight homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         27 . An article comprising foamed polymeric material consisting essentially of homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         28 . An article comprising foamed polymeric material consisting of homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         29 . An article as in    claim 24   , comprising foamed polymeric material including at least about 90% by weight homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         30 . An article as in    claim 29   , having a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 10, a wall thickness of no more than 1.0 mm.  
     
     
         31 . An article as in    claim 29   , comprising a foamed polymeric tubular article having a diameter-to-thickness ratio of from about 9:1 to about 50:1.  
     
     
         32 . An article comprising polymeric material including at least about 80% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution and viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         33 . An article as in    claim 32   , comprising microcellular material.  
     
     
         34 . An article as in    claim 33   , consisting essentially of microcellular polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution and a viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         35 . An article comprising a foam polymeric drinking straw.  
     
     
         36 . An article as in    claim 35   , wherein the foam polymeric drinking straw comprises microcellular material.  
     
     
         37 . An article as in    claim 36   , wherein the polymeric drinking straw includes at least about 80% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         38 . An article as in    claim 36   , wherein the polymeric drinking straw includes at least about 80% by weight homopolymeric polypropylene of viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         39 . An article as in    claim 38   , wherein the drinking straw includes at least about 80% by weight polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution.  
     
     
         40 . An article as in    claim 35   , the article comprising a microcellular polymeric drinking straw consisting essentially of homopolymeric polypropylene having a unimodal molecular weight distribution and having a viscosity of at least about 2.5×10 3  poise.  
     
     
         41 . An article comprising a foamed polymeric tubular article having a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 10 and a wall thickness of no more than about 1.0 mm.  
     
     
         42 . An article comprising a foamed polymeric tubular article having a diameter-to-thickness ratio of from about 9:1 to about 50:1.

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