Patent ID: 6083586
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B05B,B05C,B28B,B29C,B29K,B29L,B31B,B31D,B32B,B65D,C04B,C08J,C08L,E05D,E05Y,Y02W,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A starch-bound sheet comprising:a binding matrix including starch and a cellulosic ether, wherein the binding matrix is formed by at least partially gelating the starch in water and then causing the starch to substantially harden by removing a substantial portion of the water by evaporation, wherein the combined concentration of the starch and cellulosic ether is greater than about 20% by weight of solids in the sheet;fibers substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout the binding matrix and having an average aspect ratio greater than about 10:1; andan inorganic mineral filler included in an amount up to about 80% by weight of solids in the sheet,wherein the starch-bound sheet has a thickness of less than about 1 cm and a density greater than about 0.5 g/cm.sup.3 and is sufficiently flexible so that it can be significantly mechanically deformed by at least one process selected from the group consisting of crimping, creping, stretching, bending, folding, rolling, convoluting, spiral winding, pressing, fluting, and corrugating without complete rupture of the sheet.