BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC MATERIAL AND A METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE

摘要

A method of manufacturing a biodegradable plastics material comprising the following steps: (a) mixing a stabiliser with a partially hydrolysed, water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) co-polymer; (b) adding a plasticiser to the mixture of stabiliser and PVA; and (c) mixing the PVA, plasticiser and stabiliser at a temperature in the range of between 106 to 140 DEG C whereby the resultant material can readily be worked by known processes and is suitable for the manufacture of water soluble and biodegradable articles, optionally, after the mixing stage, the method includes the steps of compounding and pelletising the resultant product to produce a useable, commercial pellet wherein the compounding is carried out at a temperature in the range 195 - 225 DEG C. The method includes processing the plastics material further by blow moulding, cast extrusion, injection moulding or any other suitable type of process currently in use. The invention also discloses an article produced by the above method.