MODIFIED POLYLACTIDE COMPOSITIONS, WATER-RESPONSIVE, BIODEGRADABLE FILMS AND FIBERS COMPRISING POLYLACTIDE AND POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL) AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME

摘要

The present invention discloses water-responsive films and fibers. More particularly, the present invention includes films and fibers comprising blends of a polyvinyl alcohol and a polylactide and methods of making such films and fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes films and fibers comprising a blend of polyvinyl alcohol and modified polylactide and a method of modifying a polylactide. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a hydrolytically modified, biodegradable polymer and a method of hydrolytically modifying a biodegradable polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of grafting polar groups onto polylactides and modified polylatide compositions produced by the method. The modified compositions, blends, films and fibers are useful as components in flushable and degradable articles.