Laminate comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer
A laminate that is useful as a flushable, fluid impervious backsheet for flushable absorbent articles. The laminate includes a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and a nonwoven. The flushable absorbent article includes a fluid permeable topsheet, absorbent core, and a flushable fluid impervious backsheet including the same laminate.
1 . A laminate comprising:
a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units
wherein a first monomer unit has structure (I)
where R 1 is CH 3 , and n is 1; and
wherein a second monomer unit has structure (II)
where R 2 is a CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 wherein between 6 and 18% of the randomly repeating monomer units has the structure of the second monomer unit, and a nonwoven.
2 . The laminate of claim 1 wherein between 8 and 16% of the randomly repeating monomer units have the structure of the second monomer unit.
3 . The laminate of claim 1 wherein said nonwoven is a water-dispersible nonwoven selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, rayon, cotton, wood pulp, starch, aliphatic polyester, aliphatic-aromatic polyester, polyester amide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide and mixtures thereof.
4 . The laminate of claim 1 wherein said nonwoven is a biodegradable nonwoven selected from the group consisting of rayon, cotton, wood pulp, starch, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide and mixtures thereof.
5 . The laminate of claim 1 in the form of fluid impervious backsheet of an absorbent article.
6 . The laminate of claim 1 further comprising a processing aid.
7 . The laminate of claim 1 wherein the processing aid is a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sebacate, glycerin, triacetin, glycerol, monostearate, sorbitol, erythritol, glucidol, mannitol, sucrose, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, triethylene glycol caprate-caprylate, butylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, hexamethylene glycol, diisobutyl adipate, oleic amide, erucic amide, palmitic amide, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, methyl pyrrolidone, tetramethylene sulfone, oxa monoacids, oxa diacids, polyoxa diacids, diglycolic acids, triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, tri-n-butyl citrate, acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate, acetyl tri-n-hexyl citrate, alkyl lactates, phthalate polyesters, adipate polyesters, glutate polyesters, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, dihexyl phthalate, alkyl alylether diester adipate, dibutoxyethoxyethyl adipate, and mixtures thereof.
8 . A flushable absorbent articles comprising:
a) a fluid permeable topsheet
b) an absorbent core
c) a flushable fluid impervious backsheet comprising:
a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units
wherein a first monomer unit has structure (I)
where R 1 is CH 3 , and n is 1; and
wherein a second monomer unit has structure (II)
wherein R 2 is a CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 :
wherein between 6 and 18% of the randomly repeating monomer units has the structure of the second monomer unit, and a nonwoven.
9 . The flushable absorbent article of claim 8 is a flushable feminine pad.
10 . The flushable absorbent article of claim 8 is a flushable pantiliner.
11 . The flushable absorbent article of claim 8 is a flushable inner labia pad.
12 . The flushable fluid impervious backsheet of claim 8 wherein between 8 and 16% of the randomly repeating monomer units has the structure of the second monomer unit.
13 . The flushable fluid impervious backsheet of claim 8 wherein said nonwoven is a biodegradable nonwoven selected from the group consisting of rayon, cotton, wood pulp, starch, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide and mixtures thereof.
14 . The flushable fluid impervious backsheet of claim 8 wherein said nonwoven is a water-dispersible nonwoven selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, rayon, cotton, wood pulp, starch, aliphatic polyester, aliphatic-aromatic polyester, polyester amide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide and mixtures thereof.
15 . The flushable fluid impervious backsheet of claim 8 wherein the processing aid is a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sebacate, glycerin, triacetin, glycerol, monostearate, sorbitol, erythritol, glucidol, mannitol, sucrose, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, triethylene glycol caprate-caprylate, butylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, hexamethylene glycol, diisobutyl adipate, oleic amide, erucic amide, palmitic amide, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, methyl pyrrolidone, tetramethylene sulfone, oxa monoacids, oxa diacids, polyoxa diacids, diglycolic acids, triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, tri-n-butyl citrate, acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate, acetyl tri-n-hexyl citrate, alkyl lactates, phthalate polyesters, adipate polyesters, glutate polyesters, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, dihexyl phthalate, alkyl alylether diester adipate, dibutoxyethoxyethyl adipate, and mixtures thereof.