Degradable Animal Chewing Article Possessing Enhanced Safety, Durability, and Mouth-Feel

Abstract

A chewable, biodegradable article for use as a pet toy comprises a matrix made of a natural polymer, a synthetic organic polymer or a mixture thereof, a natural or synthetic fibrous material that comprises fibers and that is bonded chemically or physically with the matrix material, and, optionally, includes one or more microbe inhibiting agents that inhibit the growth of microbes in or on the article. The presence of the fibrous material inhibits formation of sharp edges upon breakage when the article is chewed, thereby rendering the article safer when used by pets. Also disclosed are processes for manufacturing the above article.

1 . An article for chewing by pets, which comprises: 
 (a) a matrix comprising a starcheous or proteinaceous material in combination with a polyolefin or a polyethylene copolymer; and    (b) a fibrous material dispensed throughout the matrix and comprising collagen fibers, cellulose fibers, polysaccharide fibers or cotton fibers.    
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the matrix and fibrous material are formed into a shape suitable for chewing by pets by melt processing.  
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 2  wherein the melt processing is extrusion or injection molding.  
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said matrix components comprise a reactive blend.  
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 1  and further comprising one or more microbe-inhibiting agents.  
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 5  wherein said microbe-inhibiting agents are selected from the group consisting of triclosan (2,4,4′-trichloro-2′hydroxydiphenol or ester thereof), diiodomethyl-p-tolysulphone, tri-n-butyl tin maleate, and 3-trimethoxy-silylpropyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride, or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 1  and further comprising one or more of a compatibilizer or compatibilizers, a plasticizer or plasticizers, a particulate material or materials, a color modifier or modifiers, a taste agent or agents and aroma modifier or modifiers.  
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 7  wherein said particulate material comprises particles selected from dextran, titanium oxide, silicon oxide, carbon, aluminum oxide, hydroxide and oxy-hydroxide, calcium carbonate, feldspar and kaolin, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein said taste agent is incorporated using particulates as vehicles.  
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein said taste agent is derived from plants.  
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said starcheous material is derived from potatoes, corn, wheat, rice or tapioca.  
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said proteinaceous material is derived from animal sources.  
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said fibrous material has an average fiber length between about 1 micron and 1000 microns, and wherein the length-to-diameter ratio of said fibers is greater than about 25.  
   
   
       14 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the weight fraction of said fibrous material relative to the weight of the article is between about 1 percent and about 30 percent.  
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said fibrous material is chemically or physically bonded to said matrix.  
   
   
       16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein said fibrous material is chemically treated to promote bonding to said matrix.  
   
   
       17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article has a significant aspect ratio and a significant portion of said fibrous material is oriented along a long direction of the article.  
   
   
       18 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous material and the matrix are selected to resist propagation of a clean breakage plane, thereby inhibiting formation of sharp edges upon breakage.  
   
   
       19 . A process for making a composite material that is formable an article according to  claim 1  comprising combining the starcheous or proteinaceous material and the polyolefin or a polyethylene copolymer, the fibrous material and, optionally, the microbe inhibiting agent, under conditions that result in a material that does not tend to splinter or form sharp edges when formed into a chewable article and subjected to chewing.