Abstract:
Biodegradable compositions of L-lactide, D-lactide, meso D,L-lactide, and racemic D,L-lactide which are suitable for pliable films and other packaging applications are prepared by polymerizing L-lactide, D-lactide, D,L-lactide or mixtures thereof using a catalyst at controlled conditions to allow the polymer in the composition to be plasticized by unreacted lactide monomer. Environmentally biodegradable polymer, composition and process for a polymer and a composition. The biodegradable polymer comprises polymerized lactic acid units of structure (I), where n is an integer between 75 and 10,000 and the alpha carbon is a mixture of L- and D-configurations where the unoriented polymer has a tensile strength of at least 5,000 psi and tangent modulus of at least 200,000 psi. Another embodiment provides for an environmentally degradable composition comprising blends of a physical mixture of polylactic acid, and a polymer selected from the group consisting of the polymers of ethylene terephthalate, a polymer or copolymer of styrene, ethylene, propylene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, alkyl methacrylate, alkyl acrylate, and physical mixtures thereof.
Abstract:
An impact attenuator system includes a hyperelastic member that comprises an energy-absorbing material which behaves in a rate-independent hyperelastic manner so that its permanent set is minimized and the material can absorb tremendous amounts of impact energy while remaining fully recoverable.
Abstract:
Method for solid-state stamping of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. Such method comprises: (a) restricting said thermoplastic to be a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) heating said composite in an oven to a temperature of less than the peak melting temperature of said polymeric material; (c) transferring said heated polymeric material from said oven to a mold and permitting said polymeric material to cool during said transferring; and (d) stamping said composite in said mold, the temperature of said composite at the commencement of stamping being less than the peak melting temperature but greater than the crystallization onset temperature of said composite, said temperatures determined by differential scanning calorimetry of said composite.
Abstract:
A first general embodiment includes environmentally biodegradable compositions of poly(lactic acid) intimately plasticized with derivatives of oligomers of lactic acid, and mixtures such as lactic acid. A second general embodiment includes biodegradable polymer comprising polymerized lactic acid where the number of repeating lactic acid units n is an integer between 450 and 10,000 and the alpha carbon is a mixture of L- and D-configurations with a preponderance of either D- or L-units. A third general embodiment includes an environmentally degradable composition of blends of a physical mixture of poly(lactic acid), and a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), a polymer or copolymer of styrene, ethylene, propylene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, alkyl methacrylate, alkyl acrylate, and physical mixtures thereof. A fourth general embodiment includes an environmentally degradable composition that comprises blends of a physical mixture of a poly(lactic acid), comprising about 1 to 99 weight percent of the composition, and an elastomeric blend compatible polymer.
Abstract:
An impact attenuator system includes a hyperelastic member that comprises an energy-absorbing material which behaves in a rate-independent hyperelastic manner so that its permanent set is minimized and the material can absorb tremendous amounts of impact energy while remaining fully recoverable.
Abstract:
Procédé d'estampage à l'état solide de composites thermoplastiques renforcés par des fibres. Ce procédé consiste (a) à limiter le composite thermoplastique à un matériau polymère thermoplastique semi-cristallin; (b) à chauffer ledit composite dans un four jusqu'à une température inférieure à la température de fusion de crête du matériau polymère; (c) à transférer le matériau polymère chauffé du four à un moule et à le laisser refroidir pendant le transfert; (d) à estamper le composite dans le moule, la température du composite au commencement de l'estampage étant inférieure à la température de fusion de crête mais supérieure à la température de déclenchement de cristallisation du composite, ces températures étant déterminées par calorimétrie à balayage différentiel du composite.
Abstract:
Biodegradable compositions of L-lactide, D-lactide, meso D,L-lactide, and racemic D,L-lactide which are suitable for pliable films and other packaging applications are prepared by polymerizing L-lactide, D-lactide, D,L-lactide or mixtures thereof using a catalyst at controlled conditions to allow the polymer in the composition to be plasticized by unreacted lactide monomer. Environmentally biodegradable polymer, composition and process for a polymer and a composition. The biodegradable polymer comprises polymerized lactic acid units of structure (I), where n is an integer between 75 and 10,000 and the alpha carbon is a mixture of L- and D-configurations where the unoriented polymer has a tensile strength of at least 5,000 psi and tangent modulus of at least 200,000 psi. Another embodiment provides for an environmentally degradable composition comprising blends of a physical mixture of polylactic acid, and a polymer selected from the group consisting of the polymers of ethylene terephthalate, a polymer or copolymer of styrene, ethylene, propylene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, alkyl methacrylate, alkyl acrylate, and physical mixtures thereof.