Process for making a pellet
The invention comprises a shaping process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition. The resin composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally further additives. The plasticiser comprises a component which is solid at room temperature. The process is run at a temperature above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting/plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.
1 . A shaping process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally further additives, the plasticiser comprising a component which is solid at room temperature, wherein the process is run at a temperature above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.
2 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein the process comprises pressing, extrusion, calendaring or compaction.
3 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 5.
4 . A process according to claim 2 , wherein the shaping process comprises extrusion.
5 . A process according to claim 4 , wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 110° C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.
6 . A process according to claim 4 , wherein the temperature of material within the extruder is at least 40° C.
7 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein the particle size of the raw materials used is below 2000 μm.
8 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein the plasticiser comprises a carbohydrate.
9 . A process according to claim 8 , wherein the carbohydrate is selected from gluconic acids, amino sugars, sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt.
10 . A process according to claim 8 , wherein the carbohydrate is selected from sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt.
11 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is water-soluble or water dispersible.
12 . A process according to claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises PVOH or a derivative thereof.
13 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises poly(vinylpyrollidone), poly(acrylic acid), poly(maleic acid), a cellulose derivative, poly(glycolide), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactides), poly (lactic acid) and copolymers thereof.
14 . A process according to claim 12 , wherein the pellets are for use in injection moulding processes.
15 . An injection molding process for manufacturing water soluble pouches containing a detergent formulation for use in an automatic washing machine or an automatic dishwasher according to claim 12 .
16 . A process according to claim 3 , wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 10%.
17 . A process according to claim 16 , wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 15%.
18 . A process according to claim 5 , wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 15° C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.
19 . A process according to claim 18 , wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 30° C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.
20 . A process according to claim 18 , wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 45° C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.