Patent ID: 8008373

Claim:
A biodegradable thermoplastic polymer masterbatch composition; consisting essentially of: a melt blend including particles of at least one particulate filler uniformly dispersed in at least one biodegradable thermoplastic polymer comprising a biodegradable polylactic acid or a biodegradable polylactic acid-based polymer, a copolymer or a blend thereof; a biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic copolyester; a biodegradable aliphatic polyester; a biodegradable polyester amide polymer or copolymer; or a biodegradable cellulose ester or a derivative thereof; or any combination thereof; the amount of said at least one biodegradable thermoplastic polymer ranging from about 25% to about 50% by weight and the amount of said at least one particulate filler ranging from about 50% to about 75% by weight, said percent by weight being based upon the total amount by weight of said at least one biodegradable polymer and said at least one particulate filler; said at least one particulate filler having a mean particle diameter of from about 0.5 micron to about 40 microns wherein at least about 75% by weight of the particles have a mean particle diameter of from about 0.5 to about 20 microns, and wherein said biodegradable thermoplastic polymer masterbatch composition optionally has less than about 1% by weight of a volatile corrosion inhibitor therein based upon the total weight of said at least one biodegradable thermoplastic polymer and said at least one particulate filler.