Patent ID: 9085688
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: C08J,C08L,C09D

Abstract:
1. A method for producing an aqueous polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) emulsion from a biobased, biodegradable PHA polymer, copolymer or blend thereof, comprising the steps of: melting the PHA polymer, copolymer or blend thereof to form a molten PHA polymer, copolymer or blend thereof; lowering the temperature of the molten PHA polymer, copolymer or blend thereof to about 20° C. to about 50° C. below the melting temperature (Tm) of the highest melting polymer component of the PHA polymer, copolymer or blend thereof to obtain a lower-temperature PHA polymer, copolymer or blend thereof; combining the lower-temperature PHA polymer, copolymer or blend thereof and an aqueous colloid stabilizer solution heated to about 60° C. to about 90° C. under high distributive mixing thereby forming a water-in-PHA emulsion; lowering the temperature of the water-in-PHA emulsion by about 20° C. to about 50° C; and adding water and optionally one or more polymeric dispersants or surfactants producing an aqueous PHA emulsion having a ratio of colloid stabilizer to PHA polymer of 0.1 to 8 parts to 100 parts by dry weight PHA polymer.