IP Library Granted Patent US 12,428,556
Granted Patent B2
US 12,428,556 · App. 17/423,800 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Use of an additive composition for the controlled accelerated decomposition of condensation polymers

Inventors: Matthias Polidar (Darmstadt, DE); Elke Metzsch-Zilligen (Darmstadt, DE); Rudolf Pfaendner (Darmstadt, DE)
Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
C08L67/04C08K5/053C08K5/524C08K5/527C08L2201/06
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,428,556
App. No.
17/423,800
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is the use of a mixture consisting of at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyol, in particular one adlitol or cyclitol, and at least one organic phosphorus compound under protic conditions as an additive that catalyzes the hydrolysis of condensation polymers. Also disclosed is a condensation polymer composition which contains at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyol, at least one organic phosphorus compound and at least one condensation polymer. Further disclosed is a molding compound or a molded part that can be produced from the condensation polymer composition. A method for producing the condensation polymer composition is also disclosed.

Claims (31)

1. A method of catalyzing hydrolysis of a condensation polymer comprising adding a mixture consisting of

(A) at least one polyol selected from the group comprising aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyols and

(B) at least one organic phosphorus compound

to the condensation polymer to form a condensation polymer composition comprising said mixture and said condensation polymer and exposing said condensation polymer composition to water; wherein the condensation polymer composition is exposed to water only after the addition of the mixture consisting of components (A) and (B);

wherein said mixture thermally stabilizes the condensation polymer in the absence of water.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condensation polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyesters of aliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic acids and diols or of hydroxycarboxylic acids, polycarbonates, polyester carbonates, polyamides, semi aromatic polyamides, and mixtures, combinations, or blends of two or more of the above-named polymers.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condensation polymer is selected from the group consisting of PLA, poly(butylene adipate) (PBA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, poly-4-hydroxybutyrate, poly-3-hydroxyvalerate, poly(hexamethylene succinate), poly(butylene succinate) and copolymers and mixtures or blends of two or more of the above-named polymers.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the condensation polymer is selected from the group consisting of PLA, PBA, and copolymers thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the PLA copolymers are obtained by ring-opening polymerization of D-lactide and/or L-lactide with comonomers selected from hydroxycarboxylic acids, diols, and/or carboxylic acids.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyols having at least four OH groups.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic phosphorus compound is selected from the group consisting of organic phosphites, organic phosphonites, organic phosphonates, and organic phosphates.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the organic phosphite is a hydrolyzable phosphite having the general formula I

wherein

(i) R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are selected independently of one another from the group consisting of optionally substituted C 4 -C 32 -alkyl-, cycloalkyl- and aryl residues, or

(ii) R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C 4 -C 32 -alkyl-, cycloalkyl- and aryl residues and R 2 is connected to R 3 to form a cyclic system.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the organic phosphite has one of the following formulas (II) or (III),

wherein R 1 is selected from optionally substituted C 4 -C 32 -alkyl-, -cycloalkyl-, and aryl residues.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the organic phosphite is selected from the following compounds

in which n=1-100,

or from the group consisting of trilauryl phosphite, triisodecylphosphite, tridecylphosphite, trihexadecylphosphite, trioctadecylphosphite, tribehenylphosphite, triarachidylphosphite, tricerylphosphite, tricetylphosphite, and trioleylphosphite.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the organic phosphite is free of a compound in accordance with formula (IV)

wherein R 20 and/or R 21 are, independently of one another on every occurrence, a hydrogen atom, a C 1-8 -alkyl group, a C 5-8 -cycloalkyl group, a C 6-12 -alkylcycloalkyl group, a C 7-12 -aralkyl group, or a phenyl group,

R 23 and R 24 are, independently of one another on every occurrence, a hydrogen atom, a C 1-8 -alkyl group, a C 5-8 -cycloalkyl group, a C 6-12 -alkylcycloalkyl group, a C 7-12 -aralkyl group, or a phenyl group,

R 22 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group on every occurrence,

L 5 is a single bond, a sulfur atom, or a bivalent group in accordance with the formula (IVa)

where R 25 signifies a hydrogen atom, a C 1-8 -alkyl group, or a C 5-8 -cycloalkyl group,

L 6 is a C 2-8 -alkylene group or a bivalent group in accordance with the formula (IVb)

where L 7 is a single bond or a C 1-8 -alkylene group and * represents an oxygen bonding site, and

one of Z 1 and Z 2 is a hydroxyl group, a C 1-8 -alkyl group, a C 1-8 -alkoxy group or a C 7-12 -aralkyloxy group, and the other is a hydrogen atom or a C 1-8 -alkyl group.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the organic phosphate is selected from the group consisting of trilauryl phosphate, triisodecyl phosphate, tridecyl phosphate, trihexadecyl phosphate, trioctadecyl phosphate, tribehenyl phosphate, triarachidyl phosphate, triceryl phosphate, tricetyl phosphate, trioleyl phosphate, diphosphates, polyphosphates, monostearyl phosphate, distearyl phosphate, and mixtures of a monoalkyl phosphate, of a dialkyl phosphate and of a trialkyl phosphate.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of component (A) to component (B) is from 1:10 to 10:1.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2021
From: PFAENDNER, RUDOLF; METZSCH-ZILLINGEN, ELKE; POLIDAR, MATTHIAS
To: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
Reel/Frame 058476/0290 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 200 596.9 · Jan 17, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220073734A1 · Mar 10, 2022
References Cited (102)
US 10138354B2 · Groos et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10214631B2 · Pfaendner et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10323136B2 · Pfaendner et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10364340B2 · Pfaendner et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10370537B2 · Pfaendner et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10392505B2 · Tojo et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10450442B2 · Pfaendner et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10544284B2 · Pfaendner et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10781296B2 · Groos et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10913743B2 · Pfaendner et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11292859B2 · Klein et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11407720B2 · Fischer et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11591450B2 · Pfaendner et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11634560B2 · Ciesielski et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20050027053A1 · Uchiumi · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20060177669A1 · Yamana · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20060293416A1 · Peeters et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20120088875A1 · Kimmura · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130041086A1 · Kimura et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140343200A1 · Takimoto et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140360728A1 · Tashiro et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20160052927A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160115299A1 · David · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160272789A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170107375A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170121499A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170260362A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170260363A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170260366A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170267835A1 · Groos et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180186970A1 · Groos et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190062547A1 · Tojo et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190248927A1 · Klein et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200231783A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200317886A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200361879A1 · Fischer et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210130582A1 · Ciesielski et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210388176A1 · Metzsch-Zilligen et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220073734A1 · Polidar et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220119624A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220162422A1 · Pfaendner · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220267568A1 · Pfaendner · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220340717A1 · Olschewski et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230117792A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230119120A1 · Pfaendner et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
CN 1262691A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
CN 103408827A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 104093783A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 105949763A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
DE 102017217312A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 0987276A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
EP 2423251A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 2558737A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002543261A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009132851A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010270311A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011236401A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012107092A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012107180A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014525506A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015071714A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO199407949A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
WO WO0066659A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005063037A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010000638A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011127979A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013033287A2 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014022197A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015166896A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017025431A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017073623A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
English machine translation of JP 2012-107092A (Year: 2012). [cited by examiner]
Van den Oever et al. Agrofibre reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites: Effect of moisture on degradation and mechanical properties. Composites: Part A (2010) 1628-1635. (Year: 2010). [cited by examiner]
German Patent Office, Examination Report in German Patent Application No. 10 2019 200 596.9 (Jun. 7, 2019). [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, International Search Report in International Application No. PCT/EP2020/000019 (Apr. 29, 2020). [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/EP2020/000019 (Apr. 29, 2020). [cited by applicant]
International Bureau of WIPO, International Preliminary Report on Patentability in International Application No. PCT/EP2020/000019 (Jun. 16, 2021). [cited by applicant]
Japan Patent Office, Notice of Reasons for Refusal in Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-541116 (Mar. 28, 2023). [cited by applicant]
China National Intellectual Property Administration, Second Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 202080009650.6 (May 13, 2023). [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 14/442,606, filed May 13, 2015. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 14/779,849, filed Sep. 24, 2015. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/311,674, filed Nov. 16, 2016. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/317,899, filed Dec. 9, 2016. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/511,410, filed Mar. 15, 2017. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/511,471, filed Mar. 15, 2017. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/511,445, filed Mar. 15, 2017. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/529,026, filed May 23, 2017. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/738,515, filed Dec. 20, 2017. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/344,830, filed Apr. 25, 2019. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/488,902, filed Aug. 26, 2019. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/633,645, filed Jan. 24, 2020. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/649,656, filed Mar. 22, 2020. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/764,291, filed May 14, 2020. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/287,079, filed Apr. 20, 2021. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/425,267, filed Jul. 22, 2021. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/441,626, filed Sep. 21, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Elsawy et al., “Hydrolytic degradation of polylactic acid (PLA) and its composites,” [cited by applicant]
Georgiopoulos et al., “The effect of silica nanoparticles on the thermomechanical properties and degradation behavior of polylactic acid,” [cited by applicant]
Göpferich et al., “Mechanisms of polymer degradation and erosion,” [cited by applicant]
Pattanasuttichonlakul et al., “Accelerating biodegradation of PLA using microbial consortium from dairy wastewater sludge combined with PLA-degrading bacterium,” [cited by applicant]
Wang et al., “Accelerated hydrolytic degradation of poly(lactic acid) achieved by adding poly(butylene succinate),” [cited by applicant]
China National Intellectual Property Administration, Third Office Action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 202080009650.6 (Mar. 28, 2024). [cited by applicant]