Extrudable polymer composition and method of making molded articles utilizing the same

Abstract

The present invention provides an extrudable polymer composition comprising a base polymer and a bicomponent fiber comprising a low melt temperature component and a high melt temperature component. The base polymer may be a polymer such as acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate cellulose propionate, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polybutylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, polyether ether ketone, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide-imide, polyarylate, polytetrafluoroethane, polysulfonic poly (p-phenyleneoxide), polyvinyl chloride and mixtures, blends and copolymers thereof.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An extrudable PLA composition having a heat deflection temperature of greater than about 52° C. and a melt temperature between about 153° C. and about 230° C., wherein the extrudable PLA composition comprises:
 a) about 60 to about 99.8% polymer selected from the group consisting of acetal, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate cellulose propionate, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polybutylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, polyether ether ketone, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyimide-imide, polyarylate, polytetrafluoroethane, polysulfonic poly (p-phenyleneoxide), polyvinyl chloride and mixtures, blends and copolymers thereof; 
 b) about 0.1 to about 15% bicomponent fiber comprising an island-in-the-sea structure wherein about 0.1 to about 80% high density polyethylene or low melt temperature polylactic acid is the sea and about 0.1 to about 80% stereocomplex polylactic acid is the island; 
 c) about 0 to about 8% cyclodextrin; 
 d) about 0.1 to about 8% natural oil, fatty acid, fatty acid ester, wax or waxy ester; 
 e) about 0.0 to about 5% nanofibers; 
 f) about 0.0 to about 10% crystallinity agent; 
 g) about 0.0 to about 5% gloss agent; 
 h) about 0 to about 30% natural fibers; and 
 i) about 0.0 to about 5% starch-based rheology agent. 
 
     
     
         2 . The extrudable PLA composition of  claim 1 , wherein the natural oil is selected from the group consisting of lard, beef tallow, fish oil, coffee oil, coconut oil, soy bean oil, safflower oil, tung oil, tall oil, calendula, rapeseed oil, peanut oil, linseed oil, sesame oil, grape seed oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, dehydrated castor oil, tallow oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, canola oil, orange oil, and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The extrudable PLA composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers are derived from fibers of silica or cellulose. 
     
     
         4 . The extrudable PLA composition of  claim 1 , wherein the crystallinity agent is selected from the group consisting of mica, kaolin, clay, talc, calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . An article of manufacture formed from the extrudable PLA composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The article of manufacture of  claim 5 , wherein the article of manufacture is selected from the group consisting of a bottle, lid, cap, closure, container, package and canister. 
     
     
         7 . The article of manufacture of  claim 5 , wherein article of manufacture is a container.