Flushable tampon applicators

Abstract

Disclosed are flushable tampon applicators which comprise a combination of thermoplastic materials and filler such as calcium carbonate and talc, and which readily disintegrate in water such as toilet water for improved disposal and reduced environmental concerns regarding the destruction of these applicators. The flushable tampon applicators comprise a combination of high molecular weight polyethylene oxides, low molecular weight polyethylene glycols, biodegradable polymers, and filler, wherein this combination of water-dispersible thermoplastic polymers, biodegradable thermoplastic polymers, and filler provide flushable tampon applicators that are readily disposed of and that are smooth, soft, flexible, and non-sticky or non-slimy to the touch before and during use.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flushable tampon applicator comprising: 
 (a) from 0% to about 90% by weight of a water-dispersible polymer;    (b) from about 10% to about 50% by weight of a biodegradable polymer; and    (c) from 0% to about 50% by weight of a filler.    
     
     
         2 . The flushable tampon applicator of  claim 1  wherein the water dispersible polymer is selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight polyethylene oxides, low molecular weight polyethylene glycols, polyethylene/polypropylene oxide copolymers, polyethylene/polybutylene oxide copolymers polyethylene/polypropylene glycol copolymers, thermoplastic starch polymers, polyvinyl alcohols, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols, modified polyvinyl alcohols, infrared treated polyvinyl alcohols, cross-linked polyvinyl alcohols, alkali metal sulfonate thermoplastic polyesters, hydroxyethyl celluloses, hydroxypropyl celluloses, methylated hydroxypropyl celluloses, polyacrylic acids, polyaspartic acids, polymethacrylic acids, polysaccharides, proteins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone homopolymers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone copolymers, polyvinyl methyl ether homopolymers, polyoxazolines, polyvinyl methyl oxazolidones, polyvinyl methyl oxazolidimones, polyethylenimines, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers, water-dispersible polyurethanes, water-dispersible sulfonate polyesters, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The flushable tampon applicator of  claim 2  wherein the water dispersible polymer is selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight polyethylene oxides having a weight average molecular weight of from about 65,000 daltons to about 8,000,000 daltons, low molecular weight polyethylene glycols having a number average molecular weight of from about 500 daltons to about 20,000 daltons, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The flushable tampon applicator of  claim 1  wherein the biodegradable polymer is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesteramides, diacid/diol-based aliphatic polyesters, aromatic polyesters, aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters, polycaprolactones, polycaprolactone copolymers, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates), poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) copolymers, dialkanoyl polymers, polyvinyl acetates, polyethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers, lactic acid polymers, lactide polymers, glycolide polymers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The flushable tampon applicator of  claim 1  wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of inorganic fillers, organic fillers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The flushable tampon applicator of  claim 5  wherein the inorganic filler is selected from the group consisting of clays, silica, mica, wollastonite, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, barium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, kaolin, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, talc, titanium dioxide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The flushable tampon applicator of  claim 5  wherein the organic filler is selected from the group consisting of wood flour, walnut shell flour, alpha cellulose floc, cellulose fibers, chitin, chitosan powders, organosilicone powders, nylon powders, polyester powders, polypropylene powders, starch granules, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The flushable tampon applicator of  claim 1  wherein the applicator further comprises a lubricant selected from the group consisting of metal soaps, hydrocarbon waxes, fatty acids, long-chain alcohols, fatty acid esters, fatty acid amides, silicones, fluorochemicals, acrylics, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The flushable tampon applicator of  claim 1  wherein the applicator further comprises a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of glycerin, triacetin, glycerol, monostearate, sorbitol, erythritol, glucidol, mannitol, sucrose, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, triethylene glycol caprate-caprylate, butylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, hexamethylene glycol, diisobutyl adipate, oleic amide, erucic amide, palinitic amide, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, methyl pyrrolidone, tetramethylene sulfone, oxa monoacids, oxa diacids, polyoxa diacids, diglycolic acids, triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, tri-n-butyl citrate, acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate, acetyl tri-n-hexyl citrate, alkyl lactates, phthalate polyesters, adipate polyesters, glutate polyesters, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, dihexyl phthalate, alkyl alylether diester adipate, dibutoxyethoxyethyl adipate, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A thermoplastic composite comprising: 
 (a) from 0% to about 90% by weight of a water-dispersible polymer;    (b) from about 10% to about 50% by weight of a biodegradable polymer; and    (c) from 0% to about 50% by weight of a filler.    
     
     
         11 . The thermoplastic composite of  claim 10  wherein the water dispersible polymer is selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight polyethylene oxides, low molecular weight polyethylene glycols, polyethylene/polypropylene oxide copolymers, polyethylene/polybutylene oxide copolymers polyethylene/polypropylene glycol copolymers, thermoplastic starch polymers, polyvinyl alcohols, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols, modified polyvinyl alcohols, infrared treated polyvinyl alcohols, cross-linked polyvinyl alcohols, alkali metal sulfonate thermoplastic polyesters, hydroxyethyl celluloses, hydroxypropyl celluloses, methylated hydroxypropyl celluloses, polyacrylic acids, polyaspartic acids, polymethacrylic acids, polysaccharides, proteins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone homopolymers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone copolymers, polyvinyl methyl ether homopolymers, polyoxazolines, polyvinyl methyl oxazolidones, polyvinyl methyl oxazolidimones, polyethylenimines, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers, water-dispersible polyurethanes, water-dispersible sulfonate polyesters, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The thermoplastic composite of  claim 11  wherein the water dispersible polymer is selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight polyethylene oxides having a weight average molecular weight of from about 65,000 daltons to about 8,000,000 daltons, low molecular weight polyethylene glycols having a number average molecular weight of from about 500 daltons to about 20,000 daltons, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The thermoplastic composite of  claim 10  wherein the biodegradable polymer is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesteramides, diacid/diol-based aliphatic polyesters, aromatic polyesters, aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters, polycaprolactones, polycaprolactone copolymers, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates), poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) copolymers, dialkanoyl polymers, polyvinyl acetates, polyethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers, lactic acid polymers, lactide polymers, glycolide polymers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The thermoplastic composite of  claim 10  wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of inorganic fillers, organic fillers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The thermoplastic composite of  claim 14  wherein the inorganic filler is selected from the group consisting of clays, silica, mica, wollastonite, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, barium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, kaolin, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, talc, titanium dioxide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The thermoplastic composite of  claim 14  wherein the organic filler is selected from the group consisting of wood flour, walnut shell flour, alpha cellulose floc, cellulose fibers, chitin, chitosan powders, organosilicone powders, nylon powders, polyester powders, polypropylene powders, starch granules, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The thermoplastic composite of  claim 10  wherein the composite further comprises a lubricant selected from the group consisting of metal soaps, hydrocarbon waxes, fatty acids, long-chain alcohols, fatty acid esters, fatty acid amides, silicones, fluorochemicals, acrylics, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The thermoplastic composite of  claim 10  wherein the composite further comprises a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of glycerin, triacetin, glycerol, monostearate, sorbitol, erythritol, glucidol, mannitol, sucrose, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, triethylene glycol caprate-caprylate, butylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, hexamethylene glycol, diisobutyl adipate, oleic amide, erucic amide, palmitic amide, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, methyl pyrrolidone, tetramethylene sulfone, oxa monoacids, oxa diacids, polyoxa diacids, diglycolic acids, triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, tri-n-butyl citrate, acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate, acetyl tri-n-hexyl citrate, alkyl lactates, phthalate polyesters, adipate polyesters, glutate polyesters, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, dihexyl phthalate, alkyl alylether diester adipate, dibutoxyethoxyethyl adipate, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A method of making a flushable tampon applicator wherein the method comprises the steps of: 
 (a) preparing a thermoplastic composite comprising: 
 (i) from 0% to about 90% by weight of a water-dispersible polymer;  
 (ii) from about 10% to about 50% by weight of a biodegradable polymer; and  
 (iii) from 0% to about 50% by weight of a filler; and  
   (b) injection molding the thermoplastic composite into molded thermoplastic components used to construct the flushable tampon applicator.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of inorganic fillers, organic fillers, and mixtures thereof.