BIODEGRADATION-ENHANCED SYNTHETIC FIBER AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME
The disclosure provides a synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber, methods of making such fiber, and articles including such fiber. The fiber includes a polymer material and 0.1 to 10 wt % one or more biodegradation additives at least partially contained within the polymer material. The biodegradation additives enhance the biodegradation rate of the polymer material in a biodegradation environment. The biodegradation additives may comprise at least one of an aliphatic-aromatic ester, a polylactide, an organoleptic, a monosaccharide, an aldohexose or a combination thereof. The synthetic fiber may be micro-denier fiber have a denier of less than or equal to 1, or macro-denier fiber having a denier greater than 1. The synthetic fiber may be siliconized.
1 . A synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber comprising:
a polymer material; and
0.1 to 10 wt % of one or more biodegradation additives at least partially contained within the polymer material that enhance the biodegradation rate of the polymer material in a biodegradation environment, said biodegradation additive comprising at least one of an aliphatic-aromatic ester, a polylactide, an organoleptic, a monosaccharide, an aldohexose or a combination thereof.
2 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 , comprising at least 85% of the polymer material.
3 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claims 1 , wherein the polymer material comprises polyester.
4 . (canceled)
5 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation additive comprises at least one aliphatic-aromatic ester, at least one polylactide, at least one organoleptic, at least one monosaccharide and at least one aldohexose.
6 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 5 , wherein the synthetic fiber is siliconized.
7 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 6 , wherein the siliconizing material is void of the one or more biodegradation additives.
8 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more biodegradation additives are homogenously dispersed within the polymer material.
9 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 , comprising 0.5 to 3 wt % of the one or more biodegradation additives.
10 . (canceled)
11 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 , having a denier of less than or equal to 1.
12 . (canceled)
13 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber meets or exceeds the standards for biodegradability as determined according to ASTM D6400-12.
14 - 18 . (canceled)
19 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber is a staple fiber having a length of 5 to 120 mm.
20 . (canceled)
21 . (canceled)
22 . Insulation material comprising the synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 .
23 . (canceled)
24 . An article comprising the synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 .
25 . The article according to claim 24 , wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of an outerwear product, footwear, clothing, a sleeping bag, bedding and an industrial textile.
26 . A synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber comprising:
a polymer material;
0.1 to 10 wt % of one or more biodegradation additives at least partially contained within the polymer material that enhance the biodegradation rate of the polymer material in a biodegradation environment, said biodegradation additives comprising at least one of an aliphatic-aromatic ester, a polylactide, an organoleptic, a monosaccharide, an aldohexose or a combination thereof; and
a silicon coating extending about the polymer material and biodegradation additives.
27 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 26 , comprising at least 85% of the polymer material.
28 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 26 , wherein the polymer material comprises polyester.
29 . (canceled)
30 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 26 , wherein the biodegradation additives comprise at least one aliphatic-aromatic ester, at least one polylactide, at least one organoleptic, at least one monosaccharide and at least one aldohexose.
31 . The synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 26 , wherein:
the one or more biodegradation additives are homogenously dispersed within the polymer material;
the silicon coating is void of the biodegradation additives; and
the synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber comprises 0.5 to 3 wt % of the one or more biodegradation additives.
32 - 49 . (canceled)
50 . A method of making the synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber according to claim 1 , said method comprising:
mixing the one or more biodegradation additives and the polymer material, thereby forming a biodegradation-enhanced polymer mixture; and
extruding the biodegradation-enhanced polymer mixture; and
optionally performing one or more additional processing steps, thereby forming the synthetic fiber.
51 - 57 . (canceled)