Melt-Processable Polyvinyl Alcohol Composition, Method for Producing and Use Thereof

1 . A melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition, comprising:

a polyvinyl alcohol, and

a plasticizer for increasing the plasticity of polyvinyl alcohol to achieve melt-processability, and one or more components selected from the group consisting of:

a biodegradable polymer to improve water resistance and maintain biodegradability,

a compatibilizer to provide cross-linkage and increase the compatibility between the components,

a surfactant for promoting the interaction of the components with different polarity to improve the compatibility of the component in the composition,

an antioxidant for inhibiting oxidation reaction during the melt-processing, and

a properties modifier for providing specific properties for different applications.

2 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is raw material in powder, chip, or flake form; and the polyvinyl alcohol is in an amount of 60-95 wt %.

3 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer comprises water, glycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, Tung oil anhydride, epoxidized soybean oil, triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, or any combination thereof; and the plasticizer is in an amount of 0-10 wt %.

4 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is epoxidised soyabean oil or water.

5 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is in an amount of 6-7 wt %.

6 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises cellulose, starch, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA), or any combination thereof; and the biodegradable polymer is in an amount of 0-30 wt %.

7 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymer is polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), or starch.

8 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymer is in an amount of 2-15 wt %.

9 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the compatibilizer comprises modified styrene acrylic polymers (ADR), lactic acid, ethylene glycol, and 1,4-butanediol, maleic anhydride, Tung oil anhydride, epoxidized soybean oil, methylene-diphenyldiisocyanate, acrylic acid, citric acid; or any combination thereof; and the compatibilizer is in an amount of 0-5 wt %.

10 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the compatibilizer is ADR.

11 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the compatibilizer is in an amount of 0.5-1 wt %.

12 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises polysorbates, sorbitan esters, and alkylphenol ethoxylates; ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorobutanesulfonate, alkyl-aryl ether phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium stearate, calcium stearate, dioctadecyldimethylammonium, lauryldimethylamine oxide, myristamine oxide, glycolipids, phospholipids, lipopeptides, neutral lipids, fatty acids, Tween 80, lipopolysaccharides; or any combination thereof; and the surfactant is in an amount of 0-5 wt %.

13 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is calcium stearate or Tween 80.

14 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is in an amount of 1 wt %.

15 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid, tocopherols, glutathione, tetrakis [methylene (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)] methane, tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, lipoic acid, uric acid, or any combination thereof; and the antioxidant is in an amount of 0-1 wt %.

16 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the properties modifier comprises calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, oleamide, talcum powder, organomontmorillonite, bentonite, nanofillers, natural fiber, color masterbatch, scent masterbatch, or any combination thereof; and the properties modifier is in an amount of 0-20 wt %.

17 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the properties modifier is calcium carbonate or oleamide.

18 . The melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , wherein the properties modifier is in an amount of 0.5-6 wt %.

19 . A method for producing the melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , comprising: homogenizing the polyvinyl alcohol, plasticizers and other components in the formulation for different applications in an internal mixer and kneading at a first elevated temperature to obtain a dough like composition; shattering the dough like composition into small pieces; and subjecting the small pieces to a melt-extrusion-pelletization system under a second elevated temperature to obtain the melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol based pellets.

20 . A method for producing the melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol composition of claim 1 , comprising: homogenizing the polyvinyl alcohol and plasticizers in an internal mixer and kneading at a first elevated temperature to obtain a dough like plasticized polyvinyl alcohol; shattering the dough like plasticized polyvinyl alcohol into small pieces; and subjecting the small pieces to a twin-screw extrusion system under a second elevated temperature with other components in the formulation for different applications to obtain the melt-processable polyvinyl alcohol based pellets.