Multicomponent fibers comprising starch and biodegradable polymers

Abstract

The present invention discloses environmentally degradable multicomponent fibers. The configuration of the multicomponent fibers may be side-by-side, sheath-core, segmented pie, islands-in-the-sea, or any combination of configurations. Each component of the fiber will comprise destructurized starch and/or a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer. The present invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the environmentally degradable multicomponent fibers. The nonwoven webs may also contain other synthetic or natural fibers blended with the multicomponent fibers of the present invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber having a configuration selected from the group consisting of sheath-core, islands-in-the-sea, ribbon, segmented pie, side-by-side, and combination thereof; wherein each component of the environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber comprises a material selected from group consisting of destructurized starch, biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of less than 500,000 g/mol, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber of  claim 1  wherein one component comprises: 
 a. destructurized starch,  
 b. a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of less than about 500,000, and  
 c. a plasticizer.  
 
     
     
         3 . The environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber of  claim 1  wherein one component comprises destructurized starch and a second component comprises a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of less than about 500,000 g/mol.  
     
     
         4 . The environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber of  claim 1  wherein the fiber has a diameter of less than 200 micrometers.  
     
     
         5 . The environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is splittable.  
     
     
         6 . The environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber of  claim 1  wherein the fiber is thermally bondable.  
     
     
         7 . A nonwoven web comprising the environmentally degradable multicomponent fibers of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . A nonwoven web wherein the environmentally degradable multicomponent fibers of  claim 6  are blended with other synthetic or natural fibers and bonded together.  
     
     
         9 . A disposable article comprising the nonwoven web of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . An nonwoven web comprising environmentally degradable multicomponent fibers having a configuration selected from the group consisting of sheath-core, islands-in-the-sea, ribbon, segmented pie, side-by-side, and combination thereof; wherein each component of the environmentally degradable multicomponent fiber comprises a material selected from group consisting of destructurized starch, biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of less than 500,000 g/mol, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A nonwoven web wherein the environmentally degradable multicomponent fibers of  claim 10  are blended with other synthetic or natural fibers and bonded together.  
     
     
         12 . A disposable article comprising the nonwoven webs of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         13 . An environmentally degradable bicomponent fiber having a sheath-core configuration wherein the sheath comprises destructurized starch and a plasticizer and the core comprises a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of less than 500,000 g/mol.  
     
     
         14 . An environmentally degradable bicomponent fiber having a sheath-core configuration wherein the sheath comprises a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight of less than 500,000 g/mol and the core comprises destructurized starch and a plasticizer.