Pet chew article containing luffa
A pet chew article comprising luffa fibers and a polymer composition. The pet chew article may be formed by supplying luffa fibers, supplying a polymer composition combining the luffa fibers with the polymer composition and forming the pet chew article from the luffa fibers and the polymer composition.
1. A method of forming a pet chew article comprising:
supplying loose luffa fibers wherein the loose luffa fibers are unconnected to one another and formed by grinding or milling a luffa fibrous web structure;
supplying a thermoplastic polymer composition;
melting the thermoplastic polymer composition;
mixing the loose luffa fibers with the melted thermoplastic polymer composition such that the loose luffa fibers are randomly disposed in the melted thermoplastic polymer composition; and
after mixing the loose luffa fibers with the melted thermoplastic polymer composition, molding the pet chew article as an injection molded pet chew article, an extrusion molded pet chew article or a compression molded pet chew article.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the loose luffa fibers are present in the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article in a range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the loose luffa fibers are at least one of luffa aegyptiaca and luffa acutangula.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article has a tensile modulus, as measured by ASTM D638-10, in a range of 50,000 psi to 500,000 psi.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article has a flexural modulus, as measured by ASTM D790-10, in a range of 50,000 psi to 500,000 psi.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the loose luffa fibers are present in the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article in a range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article is an injection molded pet chew article.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article is an extrusion molded pet chew article.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the thermoplastic polymer composition comprises at least one polymeric resin, wherein the at least one polymeric resin is a synthetic, natural or naturally derived polymeric resin.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the thermoplastic polymer composition comprises at least one polymeric resin, wherein the at least one polymeric resin is at least one of biocompatible, edible or digestible.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the thermoplastic polymer composition comprises at least one polymeric resin, wherein the at least one polymeric resin is at least one of polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, elastomer, starch, gluten, casein or gelatin.
12. A method of forming a pet chew article comprising:
melting a thermoplastic polymer composition;
mixing loose luffa fibers with the melted thermoplastic polymer composition such that the loose luffa fibers are randomly disposed in the melted thermoplastic polymer composition, wherein the loose luffa fibers are unconnected to one another and formed by grinding or milling a luffa fibrous web structure; and
after mixing the luffa fibers with the melted thermoplastic polymer composition, molding the pet chew article as an injection molded pet chew article, extrusion molded pet chew article or a compression molded pet chew article.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the loose luffa fibers are at least one of luffa aegyptiaca and luffa acutangula.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the loose luffa fibers are present in the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article in a range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the loose luffa fibers are present in the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article in a range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article has a tensile modulus, as measured by ASTM D638-10, in a range of 50,000 psi to 500,000 psi.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article has a flexural modulus, as measured by ASTM D790-10, in a range of 50,000 psi to 500,000 psi.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article is an injection molded pet chew article.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the injection, extrusion or compression molded pet chew article is an extrusion molded pet chew article.
20. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the thermoplastic polymer composition comprises at least one polymeric resin, wherein the at least one polymeric resin is a synthetic, natural or naturally derived polymeric resin.
21. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the thermoplastic polymer composition comprises at least one polymeric resin, wherein the at least one polymeric resin is at least one of biocompatible, edible or digestible.
22. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the thermoplastic polymer composition comprises at least one polymeric resin, wherein the at least one polymeric resin is at least one of polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, elastomer, starch, gluten, casein or gelatin.