Process for making a pellet

Abstract

The invention comprises a shaping process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition. The resin composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally further additives. The plasticiser comprises a component which is solid at room temperature. The process is run at a temperature above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting/plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.

1 . A shaping process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, plasticiser and optionally further additives, the plasticiser comprising a component which is solid at room temperature, wherein the process is run at a temperature above the melting point of the plasticiser and below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.  
   
   
       2 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the process comprises pressing, extrusion, calendaring or compaction.  
   
   
       3 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 5.  
   
   
       4 . A process according to  claim 2 , wherein the shaping process comprises extrusion.  
   
   
       5 . A process according to  claim 4 , wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 110° C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.  
   
   
       6 . A process according to  claim 4 , wherein the temperature of material within the extruder is at least 40° C.  
   
   
       7 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle size of the raw materials used is below 2000 μm.  
   
   
       8 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasticiser comprises a carbohydrate.  
   
   
       9 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein the carbohydrate is selected from gluconic acids, amino sugars, sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt.  
   
   
       10 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein the carbohydrate is selected from sorbitol, glucitol, mannitol, galactitol, dulcitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomaltutose and isomalt.  
   
   
       11 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is water-soluble or water dispersible.  
   
   
       12 . A process according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises PVOH or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises poly(vinylpyrollidone), poly(acrylic acid), poly(maleic acid), a cellulose derivative, poly(glycolide), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactides), poly (lactic acid) and copolymers thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A process according to  claim 12 , wherein the pellets are for use in injection moulding processes.  
   
   
       15 . An injection molding process for manufacturing water soluble pouches containing a detergent formulation for use in an automatic washing machine or an automatic dishwasher according to  claim 12 .  
   
   
       16 . A process according to  claim 3 , wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 10%.  
   
   
       17 . A process according to  claim 16 , wherein the plasticiser is present in the composition in at least 15%.  
   
   
       18 . A process according to  claim 5 , wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 15° C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.  
   
   
       19 . A process according to  claim 18 , wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 30° C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.  
   
   
       20 . A process according to  claim 18 , wherein the temperature of the material within the extruder does not exceed a temperature which is 45° C., below the melting or plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at any time.