Hydrophobic additive for use with fabric, fiber, and film
The present invention relates to a hydrophobic additive for use with fabric, fiber, and film. One aspect of the present invention comprises a master batch composition for use in preparing a non-woven fabric in order to increase the hydrophobicity of the non-woven fabric. In one embodiment, the master batch composition includes a polymer and a lipid ester. The lipid ester comprises 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of the master batch. The fabric, when including the master batch composition, has a contact angle ranging from 100° to 125° when measured according to test method ASTM D2578.
1. A master batch for use in preparing a non-woven fabric in order to increase the hydrophobicity of the non-woven fabric, the master batch comprising:
a carrier polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyester, polylactic acid, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, polyamide, and copolymers thereof; and
a triglyceride ester comprising 10-40 wt. % of the master batch, wherein when a fabric is prepared with the master batch, the fabric has a contact angle ranging from 100° to 125° when measured according to test method ASTM D2578.
2. The master batch of claim 1 , wherein the master batch is substantially halogen-free.
3. The master batch of claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride ester has a number-averaged molecular weight ranging from 500 to 2000.
4. The master batch of claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride ester includes a fatty acid ranging from C 8 -C 30 .
5. The master batch of claim 1 , further comprising an antioxidant.
6. The master batch of claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride ester has a number-averaged molecular weight ranging from 750 to 1000.
7. The master batch of claim 1 , wherein the carrier polymer secures the triglyceride ester to form a pellet having a hardness ranging from 20 to 100 Shore A when measured according to test method ASTM D2240.
8. The master batch of claim 1 , wherein the carrier polymer is a hydrophobic polymer including an amorphous region or a semi-crystalline region comprising a range of 1 wt. % to 100 wt. % of the carrier polymer.
9. A method for preparing a solid master batch usable to form a fiber, the method comprising:
providing a hydrophobic carrier polymer including an amorphous region or a semi-crystalline region comprising a range of 1 wt. % to 100 wt. % of the first polymer; and
blending a triglyceride ester with the hydrophobic carrier polymer and solidifying the materials to form the master batch, the triglyceride ester having a number-averaged molecular weight ranging from 500 to 2000, and comprising 10-95 wt. % of the master batch, wherein the master batch, which when shaped as a film, is hydrophobic and has a contact angle ranging from 100° to 125° when measured according to test method ASTM D2578.
10. The fiber of claim 9 , wherein the carrier polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyester, polylactic acid, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, polyamide, and copolymers thereof.
11. The fiber of claim 9 , wherein the master batch is in a form of a pellet having a hardness ranging from 1 to 20 Shore A when measured according to test method ASTM D2240.
12. A master batch for use in preparing a hydrophobic non-woven fabric in order to increase the hydrophobicity of the non-woven fabric, the master batch:
a hydrophobic carrier polymer comprising an amorphous region or a semi-crystalline region comprising a range of 1 wt. % to 100 wt. % of the hydrophobic polymer; and
a saturated triglyceride ester having a number-averaged molecular weight ranging from 500 to 2000, wherein when a fabric is prepared with the master batch, the fabric has a contact angle ranging from 100° to 125° when measured according to test method ASTM D2578 and is hydrophobic.
13. The master batch of claim 12 , wherein the saturated triglyceride ester is a polymerized, saturated triglyceride ester having the formula [1]:
wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 each have a number of carbons ranging from 11-21.
14. The master batch of claim 13 , wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 comprise a stearic substituent.
15. The master batch of claim 12 , wherein the hydrophobic carrier polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyester, polylactic acid, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, polyamide, and copolymers thereof.
16. The master batch of claim 12 , wherein the hydrophobic carrier polymer is a thermoplastic polymer.
17. The master batch of claim 12 , wherein the saturated triglyceride ester comprises 10-40 wt. % of the master batch, and the master batch is in a form of a pellet having a hardness ranging from 20 to 100 Shore A when measured according to test method ASTM D2240.
18. The master batch of claim 12 , wherein the saturated triglyceride ester comprises 40-95 wt. % of the master batch, and the master batch is in a form of a pellet having a hardness ranging from 1 to 20 Shore A when measured according to test method ASTM D2240.
19. The master batch of claim 12 , wherein the master batch is substantially halogen-free.
20. The master batch of claim 12 , further comprising an antioxidant.