IP Library › Granted Patent US 12692651
Granted Patent B2
US 12692651 · App. 17/279,650 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Coupled Esters of polylactic acid and coupled esters of polyglycolic acid and compositions thereof

Inventors: Jeffrey T. Langley (Gastonia, NC); Kay M. McCoy (Fort Mill, SC); Paul C. Meredith (Huntersville, NC); Philip F. Sims (Waxhaw, NC)
Assignee: FASHION CHEMICALS GMBH & CO. KG
D06M15/53C08L67/04C08L71/02D06M15/256C08L2201/06D06M2101/06D06M2101/32D06M2101/34D06M2200/01D06M2200/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12692651
App. No.
17/279,650
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Esters of polylactic acid, including polyethylene glycol esters of polylactic acid, that are coupled with an acid are disclosed. Exemplary coupled esters of polylactic acid can be used as textile finishes. Methods of making the coupled esters of polylactic acid via direct and/or transesterification reactions are also disclosed.

Claims (15)

1 . A material to which a composition comprising at least one coupled ester of polylactic acid is applied, wherein the at least one coupled ester of polylactic acid is a chemical compound, wherein the chemical compound comprises the reaction product of:

polyethylene glycol;

a dicarboxylic acid as a coupler; and

polylactic acid,

wherein the compound has a weight-average molecular weight of less than 2000 daltons,

wherein the composition is a soil-release formulation,

wherein the composition comprises a fluorine-based compound, and

wherein the material is a nonwoven textile, a woven textile or a knitted textile, and wherein the weight-percent ratio of the polyethylene glycol to the polylactic acid is between 65:35 and 35:65.

2 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has a weight-average molecular weight between 124 daltons and 1450 daltons as determined by gel permeation chromatography.

3 . The material of claim 1 , wherein less than 25 mole percent of the composition has a weight-average molecular weight less than 1000 daltons as determined by gel permeation chromatography.

4 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises an aromatic dicarboxylic acid.

5 . The material of claim 1 , wherein in the chemical compound the coupler is present between 0.2 and 1.0 mole equivalence to the polyethylene glycol.

6 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the reaction product is biodegradable and/or compostable.

7 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the weight-percent ratio of the polyethylene glycol to the polylactic acid is between 60:40 and 40:60.

8 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the weight-percent ratio of the polyethylene glycol to the polylactic acid is between 55:45 to 45:55.