Process for making a foamed polysaccharide aqueous-based...

Compositions: coating or plastic – Coating or plastic compositions – Pore forming

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C106S210100, C106S215200, C106S215300, C106S215400, C521S065000, C521S084100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06280514

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates a novel process for producing a foamed polysaccharide aqueous-based adhesive. The foamed polysaccharide aqueous-based adhesive provides a natural-based alternative to foamed synthetic adhesives.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Foamed adhesives show improved economics and performance over adhesives which are not foamed. Since foamed adhesives do not penetrate porous surfaces to the same extent as non-foamed adhesives, the open time increases and the tendency for pre-cure decreases. In addition, at any given film thickness, a foamed adhesive contains less water than an unfoamed adhesive. Less water in the adhesive leads to little or no grain raise, and improved non-curl. Foamed adhesives also have the ability to hold out on a substrate surface to a greater extent than unfoamed adhesives, resulting in less wasted adhesive.
Synthetic resin-based foamable adhesives are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,918 describes a foamed adhesive of an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,174 describes a method for producing a foam having increased stability, by using a composition having both a long-chain organic cation-forming compound, and a long-chain organic anion-forming compound. Foams produced from synthetic polymers and natural rubber emulsions are described.
JP 57143370 describes an aqueous adhesive in which air bubbles are mixed with a synthetic polymer or starch by mechanical stirring or chemical reaction. No surfactant is described. JP 62064877 describes a foamed aqueous adhesive having a foam stabilizer surfactant. The adhesive polymer is listed as either a water soluble resin (starch, cellulose derivatives, gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol) or a water dispersible synthetic resin. All of the examples are directed to synthetic resins.
While methods have been proposed for the foaming of any polymer adhesive, both synthetic and natural, success has been demonstrated only with synthetic polymers. Foamed polysaccharide-based adhesives tend to be unstable and dissipate within a few minutes. There has been a long-felt need to find a process for foaming a natural (polysaccharide-based) aqueous polymer adhesive which would provide a highly stable, consistent foam. Surprisingly, the process of the present invention produces a highly stable and consistent aqueous foamed adhesive. The high stability and consistency of the foam allow its use in manufacturing applications requiring extended usage times. The foamable water-based adhesive produced by the process of the present invention offers a natural-based alternative to synthetic-based foamable adhesives currently on the market.
The problem with foamed dextrin or starch based adhesives is that the foam produced is unstable and dissipates within minutes. The addition of a filler allows for foam generated to remain consistent and stable for several hours, which is necessary in many cases to allow for extended usage time in many applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing a stable, consistent aqueous polysaccharide-based foamed adhesive. Specifically the invention provides a process comprising:
a) combining:
1) a polysaccharide;
2) a foam generator;
3) water to produce a foamable adhesive composition; and
b) applying energy to produce a foamed adhesive.
Another object of the invention is a foamed adhesive produced by the process described above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The process of the present invention involves applying energy to a foamable, polysaccharide-based adhesive composition which is the combination of a polysaccharide, foam generator and water, to produce a foam.
Polysaccharides are known in the art as natural-based adhesives. Polysaccharides useful in the invention include starch, dextrin, cellulose, gums or combinations thereof. Particularly useful are the starches and dextrins including native, converted or derivatized. Such starches include those derived from any plant source including corn, potato, wheat, rice, sago, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum and high amylose starch such as high amylose corn, i.e. starch having at least 45% amylose content by weight. Starch flours may also be used. Also included are the conversion products derived from any of the former bases, such as, for example, dextrins prepared by hydrolytic action of acid and/or heat; fluidity or thin boiling starches prepared by enzyme conversion or mild acid hydrolysis; oxidized starches prepared by treatment with oxidants such as sodium hypochlorite; and derivatized or modified starches such as cationic, anionic, amphoteric, non-ionic, crosslinked and hydroxypropyl starches. Other useful polysaccharides are cellulose materials such as carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and gums such as guar, xanthan, pectin and carrageenan.
The polysaccharides in the process of the present invention are used at from about 3 to about 90 percent by weight, preferably from 30 to 70 percent by weight and most preferably from 30 to 50 percent by weight, based on the foamable composition as a whole.
Modified polysaccharides are especially useful in the present invention. Modified starches include, but are not limited to, those modified with an alkyl succinic anhydride. Preferred are octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) and dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA) modified starches or dextrins. It has been found that the use of such modified starches and dextrins increases the level of foam in the foamable adhesives.
A foam generator is also present in the foamable composition produced by the process of the present invention. Foam generators include surface-active agents. Examples of surface-active agents include anionic, cationic, amphoteric, or nonionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof. Suitable anionic surfactants include, alkyl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, sulfates of hydroxylalkanols, alkyl and alkylaryl disulfonates, sulfonated fatty acids, sulfates and phosphates of polyethoxylated alkanols and alkylphenols, and esters of sulfosuccinic acid. Suitable cationic surfactants include, alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, and alkyl quaternary phosphonium salts. Suitable non-ionic surfactants include the addition products of 5 to 50 moles of ethylene oxide adducted to straight-chain and branched-chain alkanols having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, alkylphenols, higher fatty acids, higher fatty acid amines, primary or secondary higher alkyl amines, and block copolymers of propylene oxide with ethylene oxide, and mixtures thereof.
The foam generator of the present invention is used at a level of from 0.05 to 20 percent by weight, and preferably at from 0.2 to 2 percent by weight, based on the foamable composition as a whole.
The foamable composition contains from 10 to 97 percent by weight of water. Preferably the composition contains from 25 to 50 percent by weight of water.
The foamable composition of the present invention may optionally contain one or more fillers. Fillers useful in the present invention include those fillers known in the art as adhesives fillers. Such fillers include bentonite, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, clay, mica, nut shell flours, silica, talc, uncooked starches, and wood flour. Fillers are useful in a range of up to 50 percent by weight of the foamable composition, and most preferably from 5 to 20 percent by weight.
In addition to fillers, other additives typical of adhesive compositions can be added to the foamable composition. Said additives include, but are not limited to, plasticizers, acids, waxes, catalysts, humectants, stabilizers, rheology modifers, synthetic resins, tackifiers, defoamers, polyvinyl alcohol, preservatives, crosslinkers such as borax or boric acid, bases such as sodium hydroxide, dyes, pigments, and other additives commonly used in the art.
Humectants for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to calcium chloride, diethylene glycol, glycerine, hexylene glycol, propylene glycol, magnesium chloride, sodium nitrate, s

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Process for making a foamed polysaccharide aqueous-based... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Process for making a foamed polysaccharide aqueous-based..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Process for making a foamed polysaccharide aqueous-based... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2467377

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.