Degradable Polymer Fibers with Enhanced Degradability

Abstract

A thermoplastic fiber is formed of a blend including a degradable polymer and a material that generates an agent upon exposure to stimulus that accelerates degradation of the degradable polymer. The degradable polymer can include a biodegradable polymer, such as poly(lactic acid) polymer, and the material that generates an agent upon exposure to stimulus can include a soy-based material.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermoplastic fiber comprising a blend, wherein the blend comprises a degradable polymer and a material that generates an agent upon exposure to stimulus that accelerates degradation of the degradable polymer. 
     
     
         2 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the degradable polymer comprises a biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 2 , wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol, hydrolyzable aliphatic polyester, hydrolyzable aliphatic polyurethane, cis-polyisoprene, cis-polybutadiene, poly(caprolactone), poly(lactic acid) polymer, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a copolymer thereof, or a blend thereof 
     
     
         4 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the degradable polymer comprises poly(lactic acid) polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a soy-based material. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 5 , wherein the soy-based material comprises a refined soy-based material. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 6 , wherein the refined soy-based material comprises soy flour. 
     
     
         8 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the agent accelerates hydrolysis of the degradable polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the material generates the agent upon exposure to water, caustic, heat, radiation, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         10 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the material generates the agent upon exposure to water. 
     
     
         11 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 1 , comprising a continuous filament, spunbonded filament, staple fiber, meltblown fiber, nanofiber, nanofilament, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the blend comprises the degradable polymer and the material that generates an agent upon exposure to stimulus in a weight ratio of about 50:50 to about 99.99:0.01. 
     
     
         13 . The thermoplastic fiber of  claim 12 , wherein the blend comprises the degradable polymer and the material that generates an agent upon exposure to stimulus in a weight ratio of about 90:10 to about 99:1. 
     
     
         14 . A textile structure comprising a thermoplastic fiber comprising a blend, wherein the blend comprises a degradable polymer and a material that generates an agent upon exposure to stimulus that accelerates degradation of the degradable polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The textile structure of  claim 14 , comprising a nonwoven web, a knit web, a woven web, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The textile structure of  claim 14 , comprising a nonwoven web. 
     
     
         17 . The textile structure of  claim 16 , wherein the nonwoven web comprises a spunbonded web, a meltblown web, a web including staple fibers, a web formed by electrospinning, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . An article comprising a textile structure formed using a thermoplastic fiber comprising a blend, wherein the blend comprises a degradable polymer and a material that generates an agent upon exposure to stimulus that accelerates degradation of the degradable polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 18 , comprising a cigarette component. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 19 , comprising a cigarette filter.