US4045418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Copolymers of D,L-lactide and epsilon caprolactone
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
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Filing: 1975-01-28
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1995-01-28
Abstract
Abstract Copolymers which can be fabricated into films, fibers and structural shapes are prepared by copolymerizing an optically inactive lactide, i.e., D,L-lactide, and epsilon caprolactone in the presence of a tin ester of a carboxylic acid. A copolymer prepared from 85 parts by weight of D,L-lactide and 15 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone is a thermoplastic elastomer. A copolymer prepared from 90 parts by weight of D,L-lactide and 10 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone is a rigid, clear, thermoplastic solid.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard G. Sinclair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:58
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G63/00; C08G63/02; C08G63/06; C08G63/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A thermally stable copolymer of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said copolymer being obtained by heating a mixture of L,L-lactide having a melting point above 100° C. and epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200° C. in the presence of a catalyst, said mixture comprising about 60 to about 95 per cent by weight of D,L-lactide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A thermally stable copolymer of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said copolymer being obtained by heating a mixture of L,L-lactide having a melting point above 100° C. and epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200° C. in the presence of a catalyst, said mixture comprising about 60 to about 95 per cent by weight of D,L-lactide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermally stable copolymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mixture comprises about 75 to about 90 percent by weight of D,L-lactide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A thermoplastic elastomer of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said elastomer being obtained by heating 85 parts by weight of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100° C. and 15 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200° C. in the presence of a tin ester of a carboxylic acid containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A thermoplastic elastomer of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said elastomer being obtained by heating 85 parts by weight of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100° C. and 15 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200° C. in the presence of a tin ester of a carboxylic acid containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermoplastic elastomer in accordance with claim 3 wherein the D,L-lactide and epsilon caprolactone are heated at about 125° to about 130° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A rigid, clear, thermoplastic solid of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said solid being obtained by heating 90 parts by weight of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100° C. and 10 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting pont of D,L-lactide and below 200° C. in the presence of a tin ester of a carboxylic acid containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A rigid, clear, thermoplastic solid of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said solid being obtained by heating 90 parts by weight of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100° C. and 10 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting pont of D,L-lactide and below 200° C. in the presence of a tin ester of a carboxylic acid containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rigid, clear, thermoplastic solid in accordance with claim 5 wherein the D,L-lactide and epsilon caprolactone are heated at about 105° to about 110° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thermally stable copolymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein said catalyst is a tin ester of a carboxylic acid containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A terpolymer of an optically inactive lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolactone, said terpolymer being obtained by heating a mixture of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100° C., glycolide and epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200° C. in the presence of about 0.001 to about 2 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the D,L-lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolatone, of catalyst, said mixture comprising about 60 to about 95 percent by weight of D,L-lactide and about 5 to about 40 percent by weight of glycolide and epsilon caprolactone, the weight ratio of glycolide:epsilon caprolactone being within the range of 1:9 to 9:1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
112 words
A terpolymer of an optically inactive lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolactone, said terpolymer being obtained by heating a mixture of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100° C., glycolide and epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200° C. in the presence of about 0.001 to about 2 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the D,L-lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolatone, of catalyst, said mixture comprising about 60 to about 95 percent by weight of D,L-lactide and about 5 to about 40 percent by weight of glycolide and epsilon caprolactone, the weight ratio of glycolide:epsilon caprolactone being within the range of 1:9 to 9:1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A terpolymer in accordance with claim 8 wherein the D,L-lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolactone are heated at about 100° to about 160° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A terpolymer in accordance with claim 9 wherein said mixture of D,L-lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolactone comprises about 75 percent by weight of D,L-lactide and about 25 percent by weight of glycolide and epsilon caprolactone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A terpolymer in accordance with claim 10 wherein the D,L-lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolactone are heated at about 118° to 138° C. and the weight ratio of glycolide:epsilon caprolactone is 3:2.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A terpolymer in accordance with claim 8 in which said catalyst is a tin ester of a carboxylic acid containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |