Ultra-low petroleum plastics
Plastic-like compositions having ultra-low contents of petroleum derived materials are provided. The materials comprise up to about 80% by weight of an inorganic salt having an average particle size between about 0.001 and about 300 μm and a plastic binder. The compositions have a low propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame.
1 . A plastic-like composition comprising:
(a) about 10 to about 80% by weight of a plastic polymer; and
(b) about 20 to about 80% by weight of an inorganic salt having an average particle size between about 0.001 and about 300 μm;
said composition having a reduced propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame as compared to said plastic polymer alone.
2 . The plastic-like composition of claim 1 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a thermoplastic polymer.
3 . The plastic-like composition of claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyvinyl polymer.
4 . The plastic-like composition of claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyurethane polymer.
5 . The plastic-like composition of claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyester polymer.
6 . The plastic-like composition of claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyolefin polymer.
7 . The plastic-like composition of claim 6 wherein said polyolefin polymer comprises polyethylene.
8 . The plastic-like composition of claim 6 wherein said polyolefin polymer comprises polypropylene.
9 . The plastic-like composition of claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyamide polymer.
10 . The plastic-like composition of claim 1 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a thermosetting polymer.
11 . The plastic-like composition of claim 10 wherein said thermosetting polymer comprises an epoxy resin.
12 . The plastic-like composition of claim 10 wherein said thermosetting polymer comprises a polyester resin.
13 . The plastic-like composition of claim 1 wherein said inorganic salt comprises an ammonium salt.
14 . The plastic-like composition of claim 1 wherein said inorganic salt comprises a salt of sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
15 . The plastic-like composition of claims 13 or 14 wherein said inorganic salt comprises an ammonium salt of sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
16 . The plastic-like composition of claim 15 wherein said inorganic salt comprises ammonium sulfate.
17 . The plastic-like composition of claim 1 wherein said inorganic salt has an average particle size between about 0.01 and about 100 μm.
18 . The plastic-like composition of claim 17 wherein said inorganic salt has an average particle size between about 0.1 and about 30 μm.
19 . The plastic-like composition of claim 18 wherein said inorganic salt has an average particle size between about 1 and about 10 μm.
20 . The plastic-like composition of claim 1 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 60% by weight of said composition and inorganic salt comprises between about 30 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
21 . The plastic-like composition of claim 20 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 50% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 40 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
22 . The plastic-like composition of claim 21 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 40% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 50 to about 80% of said composition.
23 . The plastic-like composition of claim 22 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 30% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 60 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
24 . The plastic-like composition of claim 1 further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, blending resins, pigments, and impact modifiers.
25 . The plastic-like composition of claim 24 wherein said one or more additives are present in an amount between about 0.05% and about 35% by weight of said composition.
26 . A plastic-like composition comprising:
(a) about 10 to about 80% by weight of a plastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyvinyls, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyolefins, epoxy resins, polyester resins, and combinations thereof;
(b) about 20 to about 80% by weight of an inorganic salt selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts of sulfuric and phosphoric acid; said inorganic salt having an average particle size between about 0.1 and about 100 μm; and
(c) one or more additives selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, blending resins, pigments, and impact modifiers;
said composition having a reduced propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame as compared to said plastic polymer alone.
27 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 60% by weight of said composition and inorganic salt comprises between about 30 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
28 . The plastic-like composition of claim 27 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 50% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 40 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
29 . The plastic-like composition of claim 28 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 40% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 50 to about 80% of said composition.
30 . The plastic-like composition of claim 29 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 30% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 60 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
31 . The plastic-like composition of claim 30 wherein said plastic polymer comprises between about 10 and about 20% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 70 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
32 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a polyvinyl polymer.
33 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a polyurethane polymer.
34 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a polyester polymer.
35 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a polyolefin polymer.
36 . The plastic-like composition of claim 35 wherein said polyolefin polymer comprises polyethylene.
37 . The plastic-like composition of claim 35 wherein said polyolefin polymer comprises polypropylene.
38 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a polyamide polymer.
39 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said plastic polymer comprises an epoxy resin.
40 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a polyester resin.
41 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said inorganic salt comprises ammonium sulfate.
42 . The plastic-like composition of claim 41 wherein said ammonium sulfate has an average particle size between about 1 and about 30 μm.
43 . The plastic-like composition of claim 26 wherein said one or more additives comprises a plasticizer.
44 . The plastic-like composition of claim 43 wherein said plasticizer is present in an amount between about 0.05% and about 35% by weight of said composition.
45 . A plastic-like composition comprising:
(a) about 10 to about 50% by weight of a plastic polymer comprising a polyvinyl polymer;
(b) at least 26% to about 80% by weight of ammonium sulfate having an average particle size between about 0.1 and about 100 μm; and
(c) a plasticizer;
said composition having a reduced propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame as compared to said thermoplastic polymer alone.
46 . A plastic-like composition comprising:
(a) about 10 to about 50% by weight of a plastic polymer comprising a thermosetting plastic; and
(b) at least 26% to about 80% by weight of ammonium sulfate having an average particle size of between about 0.1 and about 100 μm;
said composition having a reduced propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame as compared to said thermoplastic polymer alone.
47 . A composition comprising a plurality of inorganic salt particles having an average particle size between about 0.001 and about 300 μm held in a homogenous physical unit by a plastic polymeric binder.
48 . The composition of claim 47 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a thermoplastic polymer.
49 . The composition of claim 48 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyvinyl polymer.
50 . The composition of claim 48 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyurethane polymer.
51 . The composition of claim 48 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyester polymer.
52 . The composition of claim 48 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyolefin polymer.
53 . The composition of claim 52 wherein said polyolefin polymer comprises polyethylene.
54 . The composition of claim 53 wherein said polyolefin polymer comprises polypropylene.
55 . The composition of claim 48 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyamide polymer.
56 . The composition of claim 47 wherein said plastic polymer comprises a thermosetting polymer.
57 . The composition of claim 56 wherein said thermosetting polymer comprises an epoxy resin.
58 . The composition of claim 56 wherein said thermosetting polymer comprises a polyester resin.
59 . The composition of claim 47 wherein said inorganic salt comprises an ammonium salt.
60 . The composition of claim 47 wherein said inorganic salt comprises a salt of sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
61 . The composition of claims 59 or 60 wherein said inorganic salt comprises an ammonium salt of sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
62 . The composition of claim 61 wherein said inorganic salt comprises ammonium sulfate.
63 . The composition of claim 47 wherein said inorganic salt has an average particle size between about 0.01 and about 100 μm.
64 . The composition of claim 63 wherein said inorganic salt has an average particle size between about 0.1 and about 30 μm.
65 . The composition of claim 64 wherein said inorganic salt has an average particle size between about 1 and about 10 μm.
66 . The composition of claim 47 wherein said plastic polymeric binder comprises between about 10 and about 60% by weight of said composition and inorganic salt comprises between about 30 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
67 . The composition of claim 66 wherein said plastic polymeric binder comprises between about 10 and about 50% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 40 to about 80% by weight of said composition.
68 . The composition of claim 67 wherein said plastic polymeric binder comprises between about 10 and about 40% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 50 to about 80% of said composition.
69 . The composition of claim 68 wherein said plastic polymeric binder comprises between about 10 and about 30% by weight of said composition and said inorganic salt comprises between about 60 to about 80% by weight of said composition.