AU637685B2

AU637685B2 - Single or multiple layer foil partially composed of starch

Info

Publication number: AU637685B2
Application number: AU74815/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ivan Tomka
Original assignee: BioTec Biologische Naturverpackungen GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: BioTec Biologische Naturverpackungen GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1990-04-26
Filing date: 1991-03-27
Publication date: 1993-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-03-27
Also published as: ATE152466T1; NO914797L; JPH04506832A; EP0479964A1; DK0479964T3; FI916038A0; HK1007755A1; GR3023472T3; WO1991016375A1; EP0479964B1; FI916038A7; SG50508A1; CA2060650A1; HU913619D0; DE59108690D1; AU7481591A; HUT61791A; NO914797D0; JP3097754B2; BR9104633A

Abstract

A single or multiple layer foil with an essentially reduced gas permeability has at least one layer composed at least in part of an essentially thermoplastic starch. In order to obtain a single or multiple layer foil which is at least almost completely insensitive to humidity, the one layer has at least one additional hydrophobic polymer, such as a polyolefine, which is mixed with the starch during the production of the one layer, and/or the starch is at least partially cross-linked at the surface of the one layer and/or the one layer is covered with at least one other layer which is at least almost completely insensitive to humidity.

Description

A SINGLE-LAYER OR MULTIPLE-LAYER FOIL, PARTIALLY COMPOSED OF STARCH The present invention relates to a single or multiple-layer foil of substantially reduced gas-permeability, and a method of producing a single-layer or multiple-layer foil, a polymer blend consisting of a polyolefin and starch, a method of producing the polymer blend, thermoplastically processable starch, a method of producing thermoplastically processable starch, a foil consisting of a polymer blend, and a shaped body consisting of a polymer blend.

For the packaging of, for instance, oxygen-sensitive materials such as foodstuffs, it is important that the packing means be of low gas-permeability, i.e. have a low oxygen permeability in the example indicated.

Further requirements on such packing materials are that they be insensitive to moisture, have sufficient mechanical properties, are transparent depending on their use and are of low price.

In particular for the packaging of foodstuffs, there are known sheets of PVC and, even of substantially more general use today, foils of polyvinylidene chloride or PVDC, such as, for instance, "Saran." The gas-permeability of these materials as well as their insensitivity to moisture are excellent. However, these materials have the great disadvantage that the disposal of them is not unobjectionable as a result of their chlorine content, since hydrogen chloride is produced upon burning.

For this reason, these chlorine-containing foils are being increasingly replaced by so-called sandwich foils, such as, for instance, multi-layer foils consisting of a layer of polyamide and a layer of polyethylene or of a layer of polyethylene and a layer of polyvinyl alcohol. There are no limits on the possibilities of variation of the different sandwich foils. In order that these different polymer materials adhere well to each other, intermediate layers of so-called block copolymers are for instance proposed which serve as so-called phase mediators.

In these sandwich foils, the polyamide layer, for example, forms a good barrier to oxygen while, on the other hand, the polyethylene layer is responsible for the impermeability to water. Depending on the properties of the individual polymers and of the required properties of the foil, the layers can be arranged in various manners. Three, four, five or multiple-layer foils, for instance, are known.

The manufacture of these multi-layer foils is, howevei, relatively expensive since, on the one hand, measures must be taken to see to it that there is good adherence between the individual layers and furthermore the polymers selected, such as, for example, polyamide, are relatively expensive raw materials.

Although these polymers are substantially unobjectionable as compared with chlorine-containing polymers such as PVC or PVDC, their disposal is nevertheless not without problems. Plastics consisting of polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, etc. are still today incinerated to a substantial extent since they are scarcely, if at all, .,1 00078.WP5 -2biologically degradable. Furthermore, the so-called recycling of these plastics is scarcely possible or is possible only with difficulty.

One object of the present invention is therefore to create a foil for the packaging of materials which is of low gas-permeability, such as, for instance, oxygen permeability, and which furthermore is substantially insensitive to moisture.

Another object of the present invention is to create a polymer material which is suitable, at least in part, for the production of such a foil.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided a singlelayer or multiple-layer foil having substantially reduced gas-permeability, wherein at least one layer of said foil at least partially comprises substantially thermoplastically processable starch.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention there is provided a polymer blend, comprising a polyolefin and thermoplastically processable starch for use in a foil according to the first embodiment, obtainable by mixing a polyolefin with a maximum of 70wt.%, based on the total weight of the mixture, of thermoplastically processable starch having a water content of less than 3.5wt. According to a third embodiment of the present invention there is provided a thermoplastically processable starch for use in a foil according to the first embodimnent obtainable by mixing starch and/or a derivative thereof with at least 20wt. of an addition substance comprising glycerol, an amino alcohol, DMSO, N-methylacetamide, urea or mixtures of any two or more thereof and at least partially removing any of the naturally bound moisture in the starch.

There is proposed a single-layer or multiple-layer foil of substantially reduced gaspermeability which comprises at least one layer which is made, at least in part, of substantially thermoplastically processable starch. Foils of starch have the required reduced gas-permeability and furthermore the disposal of starch presents no problem since it is easily biologically degradable.

It is furthermore proposed that said at least one layer be made of a polymer blend, the blend containing a polyolefin in addition to the thermoplastically processable starch.

In this way, the sensitivity to moisture of the foil is greatly reduced.

It is proposed in this connection that said at least one layer consist of a polymer blend which is produced from thermoplastically processable starch with polyethylene anrd/or polypropylene, as well as a phase mediator or bond promotor in order to improve the adherence between the two polymers.

In accordance with the present invention, there is furthermore proposed a singlelayer or multiple-layer foil of substantially reduced gas-permeability which is at least substantially insensitive to moisture, the foil comprising at least one layer obtained in part from substantially thermoplastically processable starch and preferably having a water content of 3.5wt. the insensitivity to moisture of the foil resulting from the 2A fact that said at least one layer furthermore comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer which is mixed with the starch upon the production of said at least one layer and/or that the starch is at least partially cross-linked on the surface of said at least one layer and/or that said at least one layer is covered by at least one additional layer which is at least substantially insensitive to moisture.

In a variant of the foil in accordance with the invention, the foil comprises on both sides of said at least one layer at least one further layer consisting of a polyolefin and/or a polymer blend of thermoplastically processable starch with a polyolefin. The polyolefin is preferably polyethylene and/or polypropylene. When very high demands are made on the moisture impervious of the foil, the other layers consist exclusively of a polyolefin.

Depending on the requirements as to the adherence between the different layers, there is present between said at least one layer and each of said further layers an i3" intermediate layer consisting of a block copolymer as phase mediator or bond promotor between the layers. An inter-mediate layer consisting of the block copolymer is pref-rably provided when said at least one layer consists substantially exclusively of thermoplastically processable starch and the two other layers consist substantially primarily of the polyolefin. The larger the proportion of thermoplastically processable starch in said each other further layer, the less necessary it is to provide an intermediate layer consisting of the block copolymer.

In accordance with another variant of the foil of the invention, it is provided that the foil is provided on at least one side with an aluminum coating and/or a silicon- oxide coating such as, for instance, a silicon monoxide coating. In this connection, the foil may be a single-layer, double-layer or multiple-layer foil, as described above.

The aluminum or silicon oxide coating is applied in an order of magnitude of 100 to 400 A. Silicon oxide, such as preferably silicon monoxide, is selected as coating for the foil when the transparency of the foil is to be substantially retained. The coating of the foil with aluminum or silicon oxide is preferably effected by vapor deposition on the foil in a high vacuum.

In accordance with another variant of the foil of the invention, it is proposed that, at least on one side, the foil have a siloxane coating which is at least partially cross-linked with itself and/or with the starch. This again may be a single-layer or multiple-layer foil, as described above. The siloxane coating of the foil is obtained in the manner .t a siloxane monomer, such as, for instance, an alkyl siloxane, is applied to at least one side of the foil and the siloxane is then treated with an electron gun, whereby the siloxane is cross-linked to itself and in part to the starch on the surface of the foil. By the addition of a photosensitizer to the siloxane monomer the cross-linking to the starch can be additionally increased.

The coating of the foil with the siloxane monomer is effected preferably by means of so-called dip coating in which the sheet is dipped into a bath which contains the siloxane monomer, and the siloxane film is then produced by means of a doctor blade. The depth of penetration upon the cross linking is about 7 to 10 g, depending on the energy selected in the UV source or in the electron beam.

The foil can be coated with the siloxane on one or both sides.

As alkyl siloxanes, diethoxydimethylsilane or tetra-ethoxysilane is particularly suitable. The application of the siloxane monomer is preferably effected in a thickness of 1l.

Instead of applying a coating to the foil it is possible, in accordance with another variant, to treat the foil on its surface with a UV source or an electron gun in such a manner that the starch is at least partially cross- linked on the surface of the foil.

The cross-linking has the result that the water resistance of the starch is increased. The cross-linking can be further increased by adding a photosensitizer to the starch.

00078.WP5 In accordance with another variant of the foil of the invention it is proposed that borax, Mg 2 ions and/or Ca 2 ions or other polyvalent cations be added to the thermo-plastically processable starch. This is done in the manner that, upon the production of the thermoplastically processable starch, it is treated with borax, magnesium sulfate or calcium carbonate. The advantage of these additions is that the water sensitivity of the starch can be reduced thereby.

The abovementioned single-layer or multiple-layer foils can be produced by the known, customary methods of producing foils. Thus, for instance, said at least one layer of foil which consists essentially of thermoplastically processable starch can be produced by slot extrusion or by blowing thermoplastically processable starch or a polymer blend consisting of thermoplastically processable starch with a polyolefin, such as preferably polyethylene or polypropylene. The blowing or extrusion conditions depend in this connection on the melting point of the polymer selected.

In analogous manner it is possible to produce, for instance, a three-layer foil by slot backing or blow coextrusion of at least three layers, said at least one layer, consisting substantially of thermoplastically processable starch, being covered on both sides by a further layer which is prepared from a polyolefin and/or a polymer blend of thermoplastically processable starch and a poly-olefin, such as preferably polyethylene or polypropylene. Depending on the requirements, it is furthermore possible to provide an intermediate layer consisting of a block copolymer between said at least one layer and said further layers in order to increase the adherence between the layers.

Alsp in the present case, the extrusion or blowing conditions depend on the melting ranges of the polymers or polymer blend selected, in which connection the extrusion conditions for the thermoplastically processable starch should not substantially exceed 210 0 C since otherwise degradation of the starch can be noted.

Thereiis furthermore proposed a polymer blend consisting of a polyolefin and starch which is particularly suitable for the production of a foil in accordance with the invention which has been described above. This polymer blend is obtained by mixing a polyolefin such as, for instance, polyethylene or polypropylene, with thermoplastically processable starch having a water content of 3.5 the percentage of starch in the total mixture not exceeding 70 wt. The proportion of thermoplastically processable starch is preferably 30 to wt. referred to the total weight of the polymer blend.

In particular, the polymer blend is obtained in the manner that the polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, is mixed with the starch in a kneader or extruder within a temperature range of 150 0 C to 200 0 C, and preferably 160 0 C to 190 0 C, the temperature range depending on the melting range of the polyolefin selected.

A phase mediator is furthermore preferably added, it being a block copolymer which is customarily used in the production of multiple-layer foils as 00078.WP5 intermediate layer or else in the production of polymer blends from polar and non-polar polymers.

For the production of such a polymer blend with starch it is essential that thermoplastically processable starch be used. There are known, for instance, polymer blends of polyethylene with 40% of an at least partially destructured starch, the destructuring being effected substantially by the use of water. Shaped bodies produced from such polymer blends are brittle and the production of foils is substantially out of the question. This is due, not least of all, also to the high water content of the destructured starch.

As compared with this, it is possible with the abovementioned polymer blends of the invention, with the use of preferably 30 to 70 wt. of thermoplastically processable starch, to produce excellent foils and shaped bodies the mechanical and physical properties of which do not differ substantially from those of polyolefin. In this connection, the amount of the thermoplastically processable starch used depends on the desired moisture insensitivity of the polymer blend, sufficient insensitivity to moisture being obtained also with the use of 70% starch as previously. Thus, for instance, such a polymer blend becomes tacky on its surface only when exposed to 100% air humidity.

On the other hand, this polymer blend can be stored without problems at 40% air humidity and room temperature.

In the case of the foils of the invention mentioned above or for the said polymer blend, there is proposed the use of thermoplastically processable starch which is obtained by mixing starch and/or a starch derivative with at least 20 wt. of an addition substance, by feeding thermal or mechanical energy and by at least partially removing the naturally bound moisture in the starch, the addition substance comprising at least one of the following substances: glycerol, an amino alcohol,

DMSO,

N-methylacetamide, urea.

The thermoplastically processable starch preferably has a water content of 3.5% and in particular 1 wt.%.

In order to produce the thermoplastically processable starch, it is proposed that the starch and/or a starch derivative be mixed with at least 20 wt. and preferably 25 to 45 wt. of an addition substance with the feeding of mechanical energy in the form of deformation energy on the order of magnitude of 0.25 to 0.5 kWhr/kg of starch/addition-substance mixture, the mixture being heated at least to a temperature such as to permit a mixing of the components so as to form a homogeneous mass and said at least one addition substance comprising at least one of the abovementioned substances.

00078.WP5 In contradistinction to the methods of destructuring native starch which have been customary up to the present time, in which the destructuring is effected substantially with the aid of water, there is obtained, in accordance with the method proposed herein, a thermoplastically processable starch which can be worked without problems by the known extrusion and injection molding methods and by means of which shaped bodies and extruded bodies which have excellent mechanical properties can be produced. In particular, the thermoplastically processable starch, in contradistinction to starch which is destructured with water, has an excellent stress-strain behavior which does not deteriorate even upon aging.

Thus, shaped bodies made of thermoplastically processable starch are flexible within limits, while shaped bodies made from starch which has been destructured with water are substantially brittle, particularly after a certain period of aging.

In accordance with a variant of the method proposed above, starch is mixed with 25 to 40 wt. and preferably 32 to 38 wt. of an amino alcohol, such as aminoethanol, aminopropanol and/or trishydroxylethylaminomethane, the mixture being processed, depending on the nature of the addition substance and the amount thereof, within a temperature range of 60°C to 120°C in an extruder or kneader with the feeding of deformation energy of 0.3 to 0.36 kWhr/kg of starch/aminoethanol mixture so as to form a homogeneous mass. The natural moisture of the starch is in this connection removed either before the mixing with the amino alcohol by drying or else upon the mixing, for instance in the kneader or extruder, in accordance with known methods, for instance by aspiration.

In accordance with another variant, the starch or starch derivative is -mixed with 30 to 45 wt. and preferably 34 to 40 wt. glycerol and worked, depending on the amount of addition substance, within an temperature range of 1200C to 180°C in an extruder or kneader while feeding a deformation energy of 0.3 to 0.36 kWhr/kg of starch-glycerol mixture so as to form a homogeneous mass. The natural moisture of the starch is substantially withdrawn by aspiration in the extruder or kneader.

In order to reduce the sensitivity to moisture of the thermoplastically processable starch it is advantageous to replace up to 20 wt. and preferably about wt. of the addition substance by borax, magnesium sulfate or calcium carbonate upon the production of the thermoplastically processable starch.

The abovementioned thermoplastically processable starch as well as the polymer blend are particularly suitable for the production of one or more layers in the abovementioned foils of the invention. Of course, these materials can also be used for the production of extruded products or injection moldings.

The invention will now be explained in further detail below with reference to the accompanying figures and on basis of examples.

Figs. 1 to 5 show, on basis of examples, possible variant constructions of 40 foils in accordance with the invention.

i 00078.WP5 -ig. 1 shows a single-layer foil which comprises one layer 1. This one layer consists of a polymer blend in accordance with the invention, prepared from a polyolefin and thermoplastically processable starch, In this connection, the proportion of thermoplastically processable starch can be 30 to 70 wt. referred to the total weight of the polymer blend. The proportion of thermoplastically processable starch depends on the requirements as to the moisture sensitivity of the film. The oxygen barrier in this film is determined essentially by the proportion of thermoplastically processable starch, while the water impermeability can be adjusted by the proportion of polyolefin, such as for instance polyethylene.

Fig. 2 shows a single-layer foil covered on both sides by a coating 3. In the example shown, the layer 3 consists of thermoplastically processable starch, while the coatings 3 may be an aluminum coating, a silicon-oxide coating, or a siloxane coating. While in the case of aluminum or silicon oxide, the layer thickness is 100 to 400 A, the layer thickness of the siloxane coating is on the order of magnitude of 14. In case of the use of aluminum, the foil shown has excellent imperviousness to oxygen and its resistance to water is also excellent. The advantage of the use of silicon oxide, such as for instance silicon monoxide, is that the foil is still transparent. On the other hand, the water resistance and oxygen resistance are not as good as when aluminum is used.

The advantage of the siloxane coating resides in the excellent water resistance of the foil.

In the example shown in Fig. 3, a three-layer foil is shown, it consisting of a central layer 1 and two peripheral layers 5. The central layer 1 consists of thermoplastically processable starch while the two peripheral layers 5 consist of polyolefin, such as for instance polyethylene. In between the layers 1 and 5 an intermediate layer of a block copolymer can be arranged, as is customary in the production of multiple-layer foils.

In the example shown, the central layer 1 is responsible for the oxygen barrier, while the two polyethylene layers assure the water impermeability of the foil.

The layer thicknesses in this connection can be selected as required, for example, the two layers 5 may each be 1/ while the central layer 1 is 7/z. It is however definitely also poss;ble for the two outer layers 5 to be 3 0 in thickness while the central layer is The example shown in Fig. 4 is practically identical to the foil of Fig. 3 only that the two peripheral layers 5 consist of a polymer blend which has been produced from a polyolefin with thermoplastically processable starch. In this case, the water resistance of the two peripheral layers 5 depends on the polyolefin content of the polymer blend. This foil can always be selected when the requirements as to water imperviousness are not too high. The advantage of this foil resides on the one hand in its price, since the starch is somewhat cheaper than polyethylene and, on the other hand, starch is biologically very easily degradable upon disposal, while polyethylene must be r \Nincinerated.

Fig. 5, finally, again shows a three-layer foil similar to Fig. 4, coated on both sides by a coating 3. The coating 3 can be selected similar to the coating 3 in Fig.

2, i.e. it may consist of aluminum, silicon oxide or silane.

The examples of a foil in accordance with the invention which are shown in Figs. 1 to 5 can, of course, be varied in numerous ways. Thus, of course, two-, fourfive- or multiple-layer foils can be produced. Furthermore, it is possible, for instance, to coat a foil only on one side.

The production of thermoplastically processable starch, of polymer blends, and of foils in accordance with the invention will now be described in further detail on the basis of examples, with reference to Figs. 6 to 11.

A. Production of thermoplastically processable starch First Example: Glycerol Starch Potato starch and 36 wt. glycerol, referred to the total weight of glycerol/starch, were introduced into a twin-shaft extruder. The mixture was intensively mixed in the extruder at about 1600C with the addition of deformation energy of 0.32 kWhr/kg of starch/glycerol mixture, the melt being at the same time degassified in order to remove the water from the starch. As a result of the mixing of the two components a homogeneous melt is obtained which can then be withdrawn and granulated. The water content of the thermo-plastically processable starch which has been homogenized in this manner is about 0.3 wt. By the mixing and homogenizing of the native starch with glycerol, all crystallites and crystal structures of the native starch are broken up and the starch is substantially amorphous in the thermoplastically processable starch. In contradistinction to this, destructured starch which has been produced by known methods from native starch by destructuring with water at elevated temperatures still has a certain crystallinity. The difference between thermoplastically processable starch and destructured starch can be shown, for instance, on the basis of the water vapor absorption isotherms.

Fig. 6 shows in this connection a water-vapor absorption isotherm for thermoplastically processable starch as well as for destructured starch.

The water-vapor absorption isotherm 11 shows the water absorption of thermoplastically processable starch prepared in accordance with Example 1. The essential feature of this isotherm is that it does not have any point of inversion. It can furthermore be noted that the desorption isotherm is identical to the absorption isotherm.

Curve 12 shows the water-vapor absorption isotherm of destructured starch which has been destructured with 25% water at 1250C. In-bontradistinction to the isotherm 11, curve 12 shows two points of inversion.

Curve 13 furthermore shows the desorption isotherm of destructured starch, which is not identical to the water-vapor absorption curve. The desorption is obviously delayed as compared with the absorption.

00078.WP5 The isotherms in Fig. 6 were furthermore measured at Another difference between thermoplastically processable starch in accordance with the present invention and destructured starch is that, even in the event of advanced aging, the water-vapor absorption isotherm of thermoplastically processable starch remains substantially the same while that of destructured starch changes with aging.

Thermoplas'cally processable starch differs furthermore from waterdestructured starch by a different glass transition point. The glass transition point or GT of thermoplastically processable starch is below room temperature while the glass transition point of the destructured starch having a water content of 18 wt. is always above 40°C, as a result of which the material is brittle. With more than 18 wt. water, the starch is sticky, as a result of which the material always has a certain flexibility.

This feature is retained even upon aging of thermoplastically proces ble starch, while in the case- destructured starch the glass transition point increases ging in such a manner that the material becomes brittle after a certain period of time.

Another feature of thermoplastically processable starch resides in its extremely low water content, which is normally 3.5 wt.% and preferably 1 wt.%.

Second Example: Thermoplastically Processable Starch with an Amino Alcohol 2.1 Ethanolamine Native starch was dried at 100°C for two days in a drying oven. Two mixtures were then prepared with ethanolamine, namely one mixture with 30 wt. ethanolamine referred to the total weight of the starch/ethanolamine mixture and a second mixture with 34 wt. ethanolamine.

Both mixtures were then homogenized in a kneader at 100 0 C, the moment of rotation of the kneader being so selected in the case of the first mixture as to introduce a deformation energy of 0.3 kWhr/kg of starch/ethanol mixture, while 0.34 kWhr/kg of starch/ethanol mixture were added to the second mixture by adjustment of the moment of rotation. Thereupon, plates were pressed with the two homogenized compositions for minutes at 100 0 C. No undigested starch granules could be noted any longer in the two plates under a microscope. The two plate specimens were thereupon subjected to bending tests, the first specimen, containing 30 wt. ethanolamine breaking immediately as the result of high brittleness while the second specimen, containing 34 wt. ethanolamine, was bendable due to a certain flexibility.

It was furthermore also found that the water sorption of the first sample was substantially greater than the water sorption of the second, flexible specimen.

2.2 3-Amino-l-Propanol Once again, native starch was dried for two days in a dr_ ag oven at 1000C. Again two mixtures were prepared, namely in one case with 32 wt. of 3amino-1-propanol referred to the total weight of the mixture and in the other case with 36 wt. of 3-amino-l-propanol, referred to the total weight of the mixture.

The two mixtures were thereupon again homogenized at 100°C in a 1 'neader, the moment of rotation of the kneader being so selected that in the first case a deformation energy of 0.29 kWhr/kg of mixture and in the second case a deformation energy of 0.32 kWhr/kg of mixture were fed. After homogenization of the compositions, plates were again formed by pressing, again for 15 minutes at 100 0

C.

Subsequent bending tests showed that the plate of the first mixture was relatively brittle and broke already upon the slightest bending, while the second sample showed increased flexibility and broke only after strong bending. Again, the first specimen showed greater water sorption as than the second.

Of course, the mixtures and processing conditions indicated above in the first and second examples are to be considered merely examples and of course native starch may be thermoplastically processable also with a different content of the addition substance and at other processing temperatures. It was, to be sure, found that upon the use of glycerol the amount of addition is ideally 36 to 38 wt. referred to the weight of the total mixture.

Upon the addition of aminoethanol or ethanolamine, the amount of addition is ideally 35 upon the addition of aminopropanol ideally 34 to 36 wt.%, and upon the addition of trishydroxyethylaminomethane ideally 34 to 36 wt. For the added deformation energy, an ideal value of 0.32 kWhr/kg of starch/addition mixture was found, in which connection deviations from this value also led to the goal.

B. Production of a Polymer Blend Third Example: Polymer Blend of Polyethylene and Thermoplastically Processable Starch We started from thermoplastically processable starch or glycerol starch such as prepared in Example 1.

A mixture of 50 wt. low-density polyethylene (LDPE), 40 wt. glycerol starch, and 10 wt. of a block copolymer (Orevac 18211 of Ato Chemie) were mixed and introduced together into a kneader. The mixture was compounded at a temperature of 160 0 C with the introduction of 0.2 kWhr/kg of mixture and then granulated.

With this polymer blend, containing 40 wt. thermo-plastically processable starch, standard bodies were produced and the water absorption on the one hand and the stress/strain behavior on the other hand measured.

The shaped bodies were stored for 10 hours in boiling water after which a water absorption of at most 2% could be noted.

The stress/strain behavior was measured by means of a simple elongation test at 20°C. The curve obtained is shown in Fig. 10 and bears the reference number 21. The stress/strain curve will be discussed later.

Thereupon another mixture, containing 70 wt. of thermoplastically 40 processable starch, 20 of polyethylene, and 10% block copolymer was worked in the S 00078.WP5 kneader to form the corresponding polymer blend. The compounding conditions were the same as indicated above. Standard bodies were again made from this polymer blend in order to measure the water resistance. The standard bodies were stored for 10 hours at 70% relative humidity and room temperature without noting any deformation on the surface.

On the other hand, with 100% relative humidity, and therefore in contact with liquid water, it was found that the surface of the standard bodies had become sticky.

On the basis of the two polymer blends produced it can be concluded that the amount of addition of the starch, referred to the total weight of the polymer blend, is to be selected in accordance with the requirements as to water resistance, that a value of 70 wt. should not be exceeded. Evidently, sufficient polyethylene must still be present in the polymer blend to form a coherent structure of the polyethylene in the blend. If good water resistance is necessary, the proportion of thermoplastically processable starch in the polymer blend should not exceed 50 wt. Referred to the phase mediator or the block copolymer, it may be stated that an amount of addition of 2 to 5 wt. already gives good phase mixing of the two polymers. As phase mediator other materials can, of codrse, also be used such as, for instance, Lotader of CDF Chemie, Novatec of Mitsubishi Chemicals, Surlyn of DuPont, Lonply of Mitsui Toatsu, etc. Said block copolymers are products which are customarily used in the compounding of two-phase polymer blends.

Figs. 7 to 9 show the effect of the amount of phase mediator added on the one hand on the stress at the yield point, on the relative elongation at the yield point and on the modulus of elasticity. We started from a polymer blend of 50 to 60 wt. polypropylene, 40 wt. thermoplastically processable starch in accordance with Example 1, and 10 to 0 wt. added phase mediator Lotader 3318.

Figs. 7 to 9 show the effects of different added quantities of phase mediator. In Fig. 7 the stress at the yield point is shown, it passing through an optimum at about 3 wt. added phase mediator, and then assuming a more or less constant value as from 5 wt%.

The same can be noted in connection with the relative elongation at the yield noint from Fig. 8, where the value also remains more or less constant as from 5 added phase mediator.

As compared with this, the modulus of elasticity decreases linearly with the amount of phase mediator added.

Fourth Example: Polymer Blend from Thermoplastically Processable Starch and Polypropylene We again started from glycerol starch, as prepared in Example 1. wt. of the glycerol starch was mixed A ith 50 wt. of polypropylene and 10 wt. of Lotader 2400 of CDF Chemie and introduced into a kneader. The polypropylene used had a melt index (MFI) of 20g/10sec at 190 0 C and a load of 5.61 kg. The mixture was 00078.WP5 mixed in the kneader at 190°c and 0.2 kWhr/kg of mixture and then granulated. Again standard bodies were extruded and the stress/strain behavior measured by means of strain tests at 20 0

C.

The corresponding stress/strain curve is also shown in Fig. 7 and bears the reference number 22.

Discussion of Fi. Fig. 10 shows a stress/strain diagram in which different test bodies were subjected to elongation tests at For this purpose, standard bodies, prepared from polymer blends with polyethylene and polypropylene as mentioned above, were compared with standard bodies prepared from pure thermoplastically processable starch. Curve 21 shows the stress/strain behavior of a polymer blend with polyethylene and 40 wt. of thermoplastically processable starch and Curve 22 shows a polymer blend with polypropylene and 40 wt. of thermoplastically processable starch.

By way of comparison, two stress/strain curves of samples of starch are also included in Fig. 10, they being designated by 23 and 24.

Curve 23 shows the stress/strain curve of a thermo-plastically processable starch with 30 wt. glycerol, to which 0.32 kWhr/kg of starch/glycerol mixture had been added in the kneader upon production.

Finally, Curve 24 refers to the thermoplastically processable starch as prepared in Example 1, i.e. with 36 wt.% glycerol.

Upon comparison of the four curves it is clear that sample 23 has the lowest strength.

As compared with this, sample 24 has increased strength but cracks take place already upon a relatively short elongation of about 12%.

The stress/strain behavior of samples 21 and 23 is approximately the same, while samples 22 and 24 have a high tensile strength with a particularly high yield point.

It can be concluded from this that upon the production of polymer blends, particularly with polyethylene, the tensile strength is approximately comparable to that of pure thermoplastically processable starch. Since Curve 24, in particular, even has a higher tensile strength than Curve 21, it is assumed that by the incorporation of thermoplastically processable starch in polyethylene the mechanical properties, referred to pure polyethylene, are not impaired. A pre-requisite for this, to be sure, is that the plasticization of the starch takes place in accordance with the processing conditions required in the invention.

In addition, it could also be noted that the cracking of the samples from the two polymer blends takes place at a substantially higher elongation than in the case of the pure starch samples.

C. Production of Foils 00078.WP5 Fifth Example: Production of a Sinele-Laver Starch Foil We proceeded from a thermoplastically processable starch having a glycerol content of 35.6 wt. and a water content of 0.5 wt. referred to the total weight of the starch mixture.

The starch was melted in a single-shaft extruder with an L/D ratio of and within a temperature range of 180°C to 200 0 C, operated with a speed of rotation of 110 rpm and a pressure of 90 to 120 bar. As temperature of the composition a value of 212'C was measured. A clear transparent foil was extruded in a slot nozzle at a temperature of 170 0 C, the speed of withdrawal being up to 12 m/min and the draw-off rolls being cooled to 15 0 C. In the single-shaft extruder there was furthermore used a screen with different filter screens in order to increase the homogeneity of the melt and keep impurities away from the nozzle.

00078.WP5 Upon the production of the foil it was found that a dwell time of the starch in the extruder of 3 minutes should not be exceeded. With a dwell time of more than 3 minutes in the extruder the starch was obviously degraded and the foil obtained was brown in color. Furthermore, it is important that the starch granulate does not stand too long (for more than 5 hours) in air before the extrusion since it will otherwise absorb water and thus vapor bubbles can be produced in the foil. By varying the speed of withdrawal it was possible to produce layer thicknesses of the starch foil of 9 to 270/.

Sixth Example: Three-Layer Foil A three-layer foil was produced, consisting of low-density polyethylene/starch/low-density polyethylene. As starch, the thermoplastically processable glycerol starch produced in the First Example was used, it having a water content of 0.3 wt. In addition to the single-shaft extruder used in the Fifth Example, another single-shaft extruder having a compression of 1:3 and an L/D ratio of 28 was used. The temperatures on this other extruder were set from 180°C to 1900C and we operated with a pressure of 180 bar and a speed of rotation of about 40 rpm, whereby a temperature of the polyethylene composition of 230° was obtained. The through-put was 10 kg/hour.

The three-layer foil was withdrawn by means of a blow head and in the present example we dispensed with an intermediate layer of a block copolymer. Of course, it is advantageous to use an intermediate layer of a block copolymer in order to obtain excellent adherence between the three layers. All block copolymers, such as already mentioned in Examples 2 and 3, are suitable. Other adherence improving methods are also possible, such as, for instance, corona treatment, ozonizing, etc.

The foils prepared in Examples 5 and 6 were used on the one hand, to determine the gas-permeability and the moisture permeability, the values of which are compiled in Table 11. Furthermore, these foils were provided with coatings in accordance with the following examples.

D. Vapor Deposition on the St -ch Foils Seventh Example: Vapor Deposition of Aluminum A starch foil with a layer thickness of 50g, prepared in accordance with the Fifth Example, was treated in a high vacuum with aluminum. An aluminum vapor pressure atmosphere of 6 x 10 4 mm Hg was selected, the coating of the starch foil being carried out on both sides for 20 minutes. The layer which built up during this time amounted to 400 nm each, or a total of 800 nm or 0.8pt.

Another starch foil was vaporized with aluminum under the same conditions on both sides for 24 minutes, thereby obtaining in each case a layer of 500 nm or, as a whole, a layer of 1000 nm.

The two starch foils which had been vapor treated with aluminum in this manner were then subjected to gas- permeability and moisture-permeability tests, the values of which are set forth in Table 11.

00078.WP5 Eighth Example: Vapor Deposition with Silicon Oxide Similar to the above example, a starch foil of a thickness of 80/. was used, which had been prepared in accordance with the Fifth Example. The starch foil was vapor treated with silicon oxide in a high vacuum on both sides, silicon being vaporized by an arc in an oxygen atmosphere of 4 x 10-"4 mm Hg. The coating of the starch foil was effected for 100 minutes, at the end of which a layer of 400 nm had built up on both sides of the foil.

With a coating time of 150 minutes under the same vapor deposition conditions, a layer thickness of the silicon oxide layer of 600 nm each was obtained.

Again, gas-permeability and moisture-permeability tests were carried out on the starch foils which had been vapor deposited with silicon oxide, the values thereof being given in Table 11.

Discussion of Table 11 For Table 11, the oxygen gas-permeability as well as the permeability uf water vapor were measured for different foils which had been produced in accordance with the invention.

As comparison for the foils of the invention, foils of cellulose acetate, cellulose hydrate, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and PVC were also included in the experiment.

With regard to the measurement of the water-vapor permeability, it should furthermore be pointed out that this was done at 23°C and the relative humidity in the case of the aluminum coating was 100% relative humidity, in the case of silicon oxide relative humidity, and in the case of cellulose acetate, cellulose hydrate and polyethylene, 90% relative humidity.

With reference to the gas-permeability, the oxygen permeability was measured.

Discussion of the Gas-permeability As reference values, there are to be considered the values for the PVDC and PVC foils which, as is known, find far greater use as a result of their low oxygen permeability. As compared with this, the value of the polyethylene foil shows a very high oxygen gas-permeability, while the three-layer foil with a starch intermediate layer has an oxygen permeability which is comparable to that of the PVDC foil.

The oxygen permeability of the aluminum-coated starch foils is less by a factor of 10 than that of the PVDC foil or the said three-layer foil. As compared with this, the oxygen gas-permeability of the starch foils vapor-treated with silicon oxide is somewhat poorer than that of the three-layer foil, which is possibly due to a non-optimal coating of the starch foil. In itself, the value should agree approximately with that of the three-layer foil which has a starch intermediate layer.

Discussion cf the Water-Permeability 00078.WP5 As reference, there is to be considered here the value of the polyethylene foil since, as is known, polyethylene represents an excellent moisture barrier. It is then also found that only the three-layer foil in accordance with the Sixth Example, which has a starch intermediate layer, has the same excellent value as pure polyethylene.

As compared with this, the water-vapor permeability of the starch foils coated with aluminum or silicon oxide is considerably poorer, but, to be sure, still considerably better than cellulose hydrate and cellulose acetate.

From the values in Table 11, it is clear what foil construction is to be preferred for what use. To be sure, it should also be pointed out that starch foils coated with aluminum or silicon oxide have the advantage over the three-layer foil with polyethylene that they are biologically comrnpletely and rapidly degradable, since aluminum is converted upon disposal to aluminum oxide and silicon oxide to sand.

The advantage of the starch foils coated with silicon oxide is that they are transparent.

The aspects of the invention shown in Figs, 1 to 11 and Examples 1 to 8 refer, in each case, to examples which can be varied or modified in numerous ways. It is essential in all cases here that the starch used be substantially completely thermoplastically processable and no longer have any crystalline regions.

00078.WP5

Claims

1. A single-layer or multiple-layer foil having substantially reduced gas- permeability, wherein at least one layer of said foil at least partially comprises substantially thermoplastically processable starch.

2. A foil according to claim 1, wherein said at least one layer comprises a polymer blend which is obtained by mixing said thermoplastically processable starch with a polyolefin.

3. A foil according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said at least one layer comprises a polymer blend, which is obtained by mixing thermoplastically processable starch with polyethylene and/or polypropylene.

4. A foil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is also moisture- insensitive, said thermoplastically processable starch has a water content of less than and is mixed with at least one hydrophobic polymer and/or said starch is cross- linked onto the surface of said at least one layer.

5. A foil according to claim 4 wherein said at least one layer is covered by one or more further layers which are substantially moisture-insensitive.

6. A foil according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising on both sides of said at least one layer a polyolefin and/or a polymer blend of thermoplastically processable starch with a polyolefin.

7. A foil according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which further comprises an intermediate layer comprising a phase mediator or adherence promotor.

8. A foil according to claim 7, wherein said phase mediatior or adherance promotor is a block copolymer.

9. A foil according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the foil has, at least on one side, an aluminum or a silicon-oxide coating. A foil according to claim 9 wherein said coating is silicon-monoxide.

11. A foil according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the foil has, on at least one side, a siloxane coating which is cross-linked, at least in part, with itself and/or with the thermoplastically processable starch.

12. A foil according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the thermoplastically processable starch further comprises borax, Mg 2 ions, Ca 2 ions, other polyvalent cations or mixtures of any two or more thereof.

13. A single-layer or multiple-layer foil having substantially reduced gas- permeability, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.

14. A method of producing a single-layer or multiple-layer foil according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising slot extruding or blowing the thermoplastically processable starch or a polymer blend thereof. A method according to claim 14, wherein the foil is prepared by slot backing S or blow co-extrusion of at least three layers, at least one layer being covered on both ^TS -18- sides by a further layer comprising a polyolefin and/or a blend thereof with thermoplastically processable starch.

16. A method according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said thermoplastically processable starch is blended with polyethylene and/or polypropylene.

17. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the foil is treated on its surface with a UV source or an electron beam so that the starch is at least partially cross-linked.

18. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the foil is coated on at least on one side with a siloxane monomer followed by treatment with an electron beam to cross-link the siloxane with itself and, in part, with the starch on the surface of the foil.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said siloxane monomer is an alkyl siloxane. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein aluminum or a silicon oxide is deposited on at least one side of said foil by vapor deposition in a high vacuum.

21. A method of producing a single-layer or multiple-layer foil having substantially reduced gas-permeability, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.

22. A single-layer or multiple-layer foil having substantially reduced gas- permeability whenever produced by the method of any one of claims 14 to 21.

23. A polymer blend, comprising a polyolefin and thermoplastically processable starch for use in a foil according to any one of claims 1 to 13, obtainable by mixing a polyolefin with a maximum of 70wt. based on the total weight of the mixture, of thermoplastically processable starch having a water content of less than 3.5wt.

24. A polymer blend according to claim 23 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene. A polymer blend according to claim 23 or claim 24 obtainable by mixing a polyolefin with 30 to 70wt. of said thermoplastically processable starch together with a phase mediator, which is a block copolymer.

26. A method of producing a polymer blend according to any one of claims 23 to wherein said polyolefin is processed with 30 to 70wt. of said starch in a kneader or extruder within a temperature range of 150 to 200 0 C, depending on the melting range of the polyolefin selected.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said temperature is 1500 to 200 0 C.

28. A method according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein a phase mediator comprising a block copolymer is further added.

29. A thermoplastically processable starch for use in a foil according to any one of claims 1 to 13 obtainable by mixing starch and/or a derivative thereof with at least -19- of an addition substance comprising glycerol, an amino alcohol, DMSO, N- methylacetamide, urea or mixtures of any two or more thereof and at least partially removing any of the naturally bound moisture in the starch. A thermoplastically processable starch according to claim 29, wherein the water content is less than 3.5wt.

31. A thermoplastically processable starch according to claim 29 or claim wherein said water content is less than lwt.

32. A method of producing thermoplastically processable starch according to any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein the starch and/or derivative thereof and addition substance is mixed with 0.25 to 0.5kWhr/kg of mechanical energy of starch/addition substance mixture, the mixture being heated at least to a temperature to form a homogeneous composition.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said starch and/or derivative thereof is mixed with 25 to 45wt. of said addition substance.

34. A method according to claim 32 or claim 33, wherein said starch is mixed with 25 to 40wt. of an amino alcohol, and depending on the addition substance and amount of said addition substance, processed in a temperature range of 60 0 C to 120 0 C within an extruder or kneader with a deformation energy of 0.3 to 0.36kWhr/kg of starch-aminoethanol mixture so as to form a homogeneous composition, the natural moisture of the starch being substantially withdrawn either before the mixing with the amino alcohol by drying or during the mixing with the amino alcohol by degasification. A method according to claim 33, wherein said starch is mixed with 32 to 38wt. of said amino alcohol.

36. A method according to claim 33 or claim 34, wherein said amino alcohol is aminoethanol, aminopropanol, trishydroxylethylaminomethane or a mixture thereof.

37. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 36, wherein the starch and/or derivative thereof is mixed with 30 to 45wt. of glycerol and, depending on the amount of addition substance, processed in a temperature range of 120 0 C to 180 0 C in an extruder or kneader with the feeding of a deformation energy of 0.3 to 0.36kWhr/kg of starch/glycerol mixture to form a homogeneous composition, the natural moisture of the starch or of the starch derivative being substantially withdrawn in known manner upon the mixing.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein said starch or derivative thereof is mixed with 34 to 40wt. of glycerol.

39. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 38, wherein up to 20wt. of the addition substance is replaced by borox, magnesium sulfate or calcium carbonate. A method according to claim 39, wherein about 10% of said addition substance is replaced.

41. A method of preparing a thermoplastically processable starch, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.

42. A thermoplastically processable starch whenever prepared by the process of any one of claims 32 to 41.

43. A polymer blend whenever prepared by the method of any one of claims 26 to 28.

44. A film or foil comprising a polymer blend according to any one of claims 23 to 25 or 43. A shaped body produced by injection molding or extrusion of a polymer blend according to any one of claims 23 to 25 or 43. Dated 22 March, 1993 Ivan Tomka Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON T r rl Legends of Figures Fig. 6 x axis: fraction of volume y axis: water activity Fig. 8 y axis: Fig. 9 y axis: Fig. y axis: relative elongation at yield point modulus of elasticity stress-strain (Mna) x axis: relative elongation Table 11 Composition 02 gas- ermeability water permeability of the foil [cmi/s x c m Hg] [g/day x m 2 PVDC PVC PE/starch/PE PE AL/starch/AL (AL=2x400nm) AL/starch/AL (AL=2x500nm) SiOx/starch/SiOx (SiOx =2x400nm) Cellulose hydrate Cellulose acetate

00078.WP5