Biopolymer Compositions Having Improved Impact Resistance
The present disclosure is directed to polymer blends comprising a biopolymer and one or more impact modifiers, wherein at least one impact modifier is an ester of formula I: and to methods for increasing the impact resistance of a biopolymer with one or more impact modifiers, wherein at least one impact modifier is a ester of formula I. The polymer blends disclosed herein provide impact resistance, and are useful, for example, in the production of packaging materials, industrial products, durable goods, and the like.
1 . A polymer blend comprising
(i) a biopolymer and
(ii) one or more impact modifiers, wherein at least one impact modifier is an ester of formula I:
wherein R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
R 2 and R 3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 4 to 14 carbon atoms;
and the one or more impact modifiers are present in a total amount of about 5 to about 30 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the biopolymer.
2 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms.
3 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —(CH 2 ) 2 — and —(CH 2 ) 8 —.
4 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
5 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 8 to 10 carbon atoms.
6 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of n-octyl, isooctyl, and 2-ethylhexyl.
7 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is —(CH 2 ) 2 —, and R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting of n-octyl, isooctyl, and 2-ethylhexyl.
8 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is —(CH 2 ) 8 —, and R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting of n-octyl, isooctyl, and 2-ethylhexyl.
9 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the ester of formula I is selected from the group consisting of diisoctyl adipate, di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, diisooctyl sebacate, di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate, diisoctyl glutarate, di-2-ethylhexyl glutarate, diisooctyl succinate, di-2-ethylhexyl succinate, di-n-octyl sebacate, tributyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, and tetraethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexoate.
10 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the impact modifiers are present in a total amount of about 5 to about 15 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the biopolymer.
11 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyrate, polyvinyl alcohol, polybutylene succinate, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactones, aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters, starches, celluloses, and mixtures thereof.
12 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the biopolymer is polylactic acid.
13 . The polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the impact modifiers comprise two or more esters of formula I.
14 . The polymer blend of claim 1 further comprising a second impact modifier selected from the group consisting of polyesters and acrylic polymers.
15 . The polymer blend of claim 14 , wherein the ester of formula I is present in an amount of about 5 to about 15 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the biopolymer and the polyester or acrylic polymer is present in an amount of about 5 to about 15 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the biopolymer.
16 . The polymer blend of, claim 14 wherein the polyester comprises a copolymer of an aliphatic diol and an aliphatic diacid.
17 . The polymer blend of claim 14 , wherein the polyester comprises a copolymer of 1,2-propanediol, succinic acid, and decanol.
18 . The polymer blend of claim 14 , wherein the polyester comprises a copolymer of an aliphatic diol, an aromatic diacid, and an aliphatic diacid.
19 . The polymer blend of claim 14 , wherein the polyester comprises a copolymer of 1,4-butanediol, terephthalate, and adipate.
20 . A method for increasing the impact resistance of a biopolymer comprising mixing a biopolymer and one or more impact modifiers, wherein at least one impact modifier is a ester of formula I:
wherein R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
R 2 and R 3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 4 to 14 carbon atoms;
and the one or more impact modifiers are present in a total amount of about 5 to about 30 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the biopolymer.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein R 1 is —(CH 2 ) 2 —, and R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting of n-octyl, isooctyl, and 2-ethylhexyl.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein R 1 is —(CH 2 ) 8 —, and R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting of n-octyl, isooctyl, and 2-ethylhexyl.
23 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising a second impact modifier selected from the group consisting of polyesters and acrylic polymers.
24 . A polymer blend comprising
(i) a biopolymer and
(ii) one or more impact modifiers, wherein at least one impact modifier is an ester of formula I:
wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —(CH 2 ) 2 — and —(CH 2 ) 8 —,
R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting of n-octyl, isooctyl, and 2-ethylhexyl;
and the impact modifiers are present in a total amount of about 5 to about 30 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the biopolymer.
25 . The polymer blend of claim 24 , wherein the impact modifiers are present in a total amount of about 5 to about 15 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the biopolymer.
26 . The polymer blend of claim 24 , wherein the biopolymer is polylactic acid.
27 . The polymer blend of claim 24 , wherein R 1 is —(CH 2 ) 2 —, and R 2 and R 3 are isooctyl.
28 . The polymer blend of claim 24 , wherein R 1 is —(CH 2 ) 8 —, and R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting of isooctyl and n-octyl.
29 . A polymer blend comprising
(i) a biopolymer and
(ii) two or more impact modifiers, wherein at least one impact modifier is a polyester comprising a copolymer of an aliphatic diol, an aromatic diacid, and an aliphatic diacid; and at least one impact modifier is an ester of formula I:
wherein R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
R 2 and R 3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 4 to 14 carbon atoms;
and the two or more impact modifiers are present in a total amount of about 5 to about 30 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the biopolymer.
30 . The polymer blend of claim 29 , wherein the polyester comprises a copolymer of 1,4-butanediol, terephthalate, and adipate.