COLORABLE AND BIODEGRADABLE TRIMMER LINE AND METHOD THEREOF
Trimmer lines are provided. The trimmer lines include a nylon majority component, a monomer such as caprolactam, a biodegradation promoter, and a color additive and advantageously having desirable durability, biodegradability, and colorability.
1 . A trimmer line composition comprising:
a nylon polymer or copolymer,
a monomer comprising caprolactam, caprolactone, 6-aminocaproic acid (6-ACA), adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine, or a mixture thereof,
a biodegradation promoter, and
a color masterbatch.
2 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the nylon polymer or copolymer or terpolymers comprises nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, nylon 611, nylon 612, nylon 613, nylon 614, nylon 615, nylon 618, nylon 12, nylon 6/66, nylon 66/6, nylon 6/69, nylon 6/610, nylon 6/612 mixtures thereof, and/or copolymers thereof.
3 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the nylon polymer or copolymer is present in an amount of from about 80% to about 99% by weight of the trimmer line.
4 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the monomer is present in an amount of from about 0% to about 15% by weight of the trimmer line.
5 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation promoter is present in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the trimmer line.
6 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the color masterbatch is present in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 2% by weight of the trimmer line composition.
7 . The trimmer line composition of claim 6 , wherein the color masterbatch comprises a color additive present in an amount of from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the color masterbatch.
8 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the trimmer line biodegrades by between 22% to about 50% after 666 days as measured by ASTM D5511.
9 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the trimmer line loses between about 15% and about 20% less material in use as compared to non-biodegradable commercial trimmer line.
10 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation promoter comprises 2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl ether.
11 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation promoter comprises a monosaccharide.
12 . The trimmer line composition of claim 11 , wherein the monosaccharide comprises an aldohexose.
13 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation promoter comprises an aliphatic-aromatic ester.
14 . The trimmer line composition of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation promoter comprises a polylactide.
15 . A trimmer line comprising the trimmer line composition of claim 1 .
16 . The trimmer line of claim 15 , wherein the trimmer line has a cross-sectional shape comprising:
three lobes, wherein each lobe has an asymmetric profile relative to a radial lobal midline, and wherein each lobe has a first edge having a convex profile and a second edge having a concave profile.
17 . The trimmer line of claim 15 , wherein the trimmer line has been embossed.
18 . The trimmer line of claim 15 , wherein the trimmer line has been twisted.
19 . A method for producing trimmer line comprising:
compounding (i) a nylon polymer, copolymer, terpolymer, or mixture thereof, (ii) caprolactam, caprolactone, 6-aminocaproic acid (6-ACA), adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine, or a mixture thereof, (iii) a biodegradation promoter, and (iv) a color masterbatch in a compounder to produce a blend; and
extruding the blend through an extruder to produce the trimmer line.