Biodegradable and/or compostable articles of manufacture

Abstract

Articles of manufacture formed from starch ester biodegradable and/or compostable compositions and blends of starch ester biodegradable and/or compostable compositions with biodegradable and/or compostable polymer compositions. The articles of manufacture may include but are not limited to inks, paints, compost bag, laminate bags, agricultural films, binder for earthenware, landscape piles or spikes, bottles, strands, sheets, films, packaging materials, pipes, tubes, lids, cups, rods, laminated films, sacks, bags, cutlery, pharmaceutical capsules, foams, granulates and powders.

1 . A biodegradable and/or compostable product or film prepared from a bio-based starch mixed ester biodegradable and/or compostable composition comprising a mixed starch mixed ester having a total degree of substitution of at least 1.0, wherein the ester substituents include a mixture of (a) acetate and (b) one or more C 10  to C 24  ester residues, wherein the degree of substitution of (a) is greater than (b). 
     
     
         2 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further includes a plasticizer. 
     
     
         3 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further includes a filler. 
     
     
         4 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more C 10  to C 24  ester residues are selected from the group consisting of laurate, stearate, oleate, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 1  wherein the composition has a glass transition temperature between about 125° C. to about 165° C. 
     
     
         6 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 1  wherein the starch mixed ester has a total degree of substitution between 1.5 to about 2.9. 
     
     
         7 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 1  wherein the product is an ink, paint, compost bag, laminate bag, agricultural film, binder for earthenware, landscape pile, spike, bottle, strand, sheet, packaging material, pipe, tube, lid, cup, rod, laminated film, sack, bag, cutlery, pharmaceutical capsule, foam, granulate, or powder. 
     
     
         8 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 1  wherein the bio-based starch mixed ester biodegradable composition further comprises a biodegradable polymer other than the bio-based starch mixed ester. 
     
     
         9 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 8  wherein the one or more C 10  to C 24  ester residues are selected from the group consisting of laurate, stearate, oleate, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 8  wherein the composition has a glass transition temperature between about 125° C. to about 165° C. 
     
     
         11 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 8  wherein the starch mixed ester has a total degree of substitution between 1.5 to about 2.9. 
     
     
         12 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 8  wherein the bio-based starch mixed ester comprises from about 20% to about 90% of the blend and the biodegradable polymer other than the bio-based starch mixed ester comprises from about 10% to about 80% of the blend. 
     
     
         13 . The biodegradable and/or compostable product or film according to  claim 8  wherein the biodegradable polymer other than the bio-based starch mixed ester is selected from the group consisting of polylactide (PLA), poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyhydroxy butyrate valerate (PHB-V), poly(β-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA), Poly(1,4-butylene succinate) (PBS), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), cellulose-based ester derivatives or a mixture thereof.