Biodegradation-enhanced synthetic fiber and methods of making the same

Abstract

The disclosure provides a synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber, methods of making such fiber, and articles including such fiber. The fiber includes a polymer material and 0.1 to 10 wt % one or more biodegradation additives at least partially contained within the polymer material. The biodegradation additives enhance the biodegradation rate of the polymer material in a biodegradation environment. The biodegradation additives may comprise at least one of an aliphatic-aromatic ester, a polylactide, an organoleptic, a monosaccharide, an aldohexose or a combination thereof. The synthetic fiber may be micro-denier fiber have a denier of less than or equal to 1, or macro-denier fiber having a denier greater than 1. The synthetic fiber may be siliconized.

1 . A synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber comprising:
 a polymer material; and   0.1 to 10 wt % of one or more biodegradation additives at least partially contained within the polymer material that enhance the biodegradation rate of the polymer material in a biodegradation environment, said biodegradation additive comprising at least one of an aliphatic-aromatic ester, a polylactide, an organoleptic, a monosaccharide, an aldohexose or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 , comprising at least 85% of the polymer material. 
     
     
         3 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claims 1 , wherein the polymer material comprises polyester. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation additive comprises at least one aliphatic-aromatic ester, at least one polylactide, at least one organoleptic, at least one monosaccharide and at least one aldohexose. 
     
     
         6 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 5 , wherein the synthetic fiber is siliconized. 
     
     
         7 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 6 , wherein the siliconizing material is void of the one or more biodegradation additives. 
     
     
         8 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more biodegradation additives are homogenously dispersed within the polymer material. 
     
     
         9 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 , comprising 0.5 to 3 wt % of the one or more biodegradation additives. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 , having a denier of less than or equal to 1. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the fiber meets or exceeds the standards for biodegradability as determined according to ASTM D6400-12. 
     
     
         14 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is a staple fiber having a length of 5 to 120 mm. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . Insulation material comprising the synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An article comprising the synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         25 . The article according to  claim 24 , wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of an outerwear product, footwear, clothing, a sleeping bag, bedding and an industrial textile. 
     
     
         26 . A synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber comprising:
 a polymer material;   0.1 to 10 wt % of one or more biodegradation additives at least partially contained within the polymer material that enhance the biodegradation rate of the polymer material in a biodegradation environment, said biodegradation additives comprising at least one of an aliphatic-aromatic ester, a polylactide, an organoleptic, a monosaccharide, an aldohexose or a combination thereof; and   a silicon coating extending about the polymer material and biodegradation additives.   
     
     
         27 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 26 , comprising at least 85% of the polymer material. 
     
     
         28 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 26 , wherein the polymer material comprises polyester. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 26 , wherein the biodegradation additives comprise at least one aliphatic-aromatic ester, at least one polylactide, at least one organoleptic, at least one monosaccharide and at least one aldohexose. 
     
     
         31 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 the one or more biodegradation additives are homogenously dispersed within the polymer material;   the silicon coating is void of the biodegradation additives; and   the synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber comprises 0.5 to 3 wt % of the one or more biodegradation additives.   
     
     
         32 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method of making the synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to  claim 1 , said method comprising:
 mixing the one or more biodegradation additives and the polymer material, thereby forming a biodegradation-enhanced polymer mixture; and   extruding the biodegradation-enhanced polymer mixture; and   optionally performing one or more additional processing steps, thereby forming the synthetic fiber.   
     
     
         51 - 57 . (canceled)