Process for making a pellet

Abstract

The invention comprises a shaping process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition. The resin composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally further additives. The plasticiser comprises a component which is solid at room temperature. The process is run at a temperature above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting/plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extrusion process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally one or more processing aids, the plasticiser comprising a component which is solid at room temperature and which is a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of: sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt, wherein the maximum temperature of the extrusion process is above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasticiser comprises at least 5% wt of the mass of the thermoplastic extrudable resin composition. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the plasticiser comprises at least 10% wt of the mass of the thermoplastic extrudable resin composition. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein the plasticiser comprises at least 15% wt of the mass of the thermoplastic extrudable resin composition. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle size of raw materials used is below 2000 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is water-soluble or water dispersible. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises PVOH or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises: poly(vinylpyrollidone), poly(acrylic acid), poly(maleic acid), a cellulose derivative, poly(glycolide), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactides), poly(lactic acid) and copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the thermoplastic extrudable resin composition within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 10° C. below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein the temperature of the thermoplastic extrudable resin composition within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 15° C. below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the temperature of the thermoplastic extrudable resin composition within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 30° C. below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature within the extruder is at least 40° C. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature within the extruder is at least 50° C. 
     
     
         14 . An extrusion process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition consisting of:
 a thermoplastic polymer, plasticizer and optionally one or more processing aids, the plasticiser comprising a component which is solid at room temperature and which is a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of: sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt,   wherein the maximum temperature of the extrusion process is above the melting point of the plasticizer and below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.   
     
     
         15 . A process of manufacturing an injection molded water soluble pouch containing a detergent formulation, the method comprising the steps of:
 injection molding a water soluble pouch from pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition formed by an extrusion process for making the pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally one or more processing aids, the plasticiser comprising a component which is solid at room temperature and which is a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of: sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt, wherein the maximum temperature of the extrusion process is above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.   
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more processing aids are selected from: mono-, di-, tri-carboxylic acids/salts thereof, fatty acids, mono-, di-, and tri glycerides/salts thereof, aerosol, inorganic pigments and organic pigments. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein water is excluded from the process. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 14 , wherein water is excluded from the process. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein water is excluded from the process.