Polysaccharide derivatives and structures employing same

Abstract

Polysaccharide derivatives, more particularly heteropolysaccharide derivatives, especially hemicellulose derivatives, methods for making same and structures employing same are provided.

1 . A thermoplastic polysaccharide derivative that exhibits a contact angle of less than about 60° as determined by the Contact Angle Test Method. 
     
     
         2 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide derivative comprises a heteropolysaccharide derivative. 
     
     
         3 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 2  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative comprises a hemicellulose derivative. 
     
     
         4 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 3  wherein the hemicellulose derivative comprises a xylan derivative. 
     
     
         5 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 1  wherein polysaccharide derivative exhibits a degree of polymerization of greater than 310. 
     
     
         6 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide derivative exhibits a degree of substitution of less than 1.0. 
     
     
         7 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide derivative comprises a non-aromatic moiety derived from a fatty acid. 
     
     
         8 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 7  wherein the fatty acid comprises a C 4 -C 24  fatty acid. 
     
     
         9 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 8  wherein the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of: hexanoic, octanoic, decanoic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, palmioleic, oleic, ricinoleic, linoleic, eicosenoic and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide derivative comprises a polyethylene glycol moiety. 
     
     
         11 . The polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide derivative comprises an acetate moiety. 
     
     
         12 . A heteropolysaccharide derivative comprising a non-aromatic moiety wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative exhibits a contact angle of less than about 150° as determined by the Contact Angle Test Method. 
     
     
         13 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative comprises a hemicellulose derivative. 
     
     
         14 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative exhibits a degree of polymerization of greater than 310. 
     
     
         15 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative exhibits a degree of substitution of less than 1.0. 
     
     
         16 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the non-aromatic moiety is derived from a fatty acid. 
     
     
         17 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative comprises a polyethylene glycol moiety. 
     
     
         18 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative comprises an acetate moiety. 
     
     
         19 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative exhibits a contact angle of from about 15° to about 60° as determined by the Contact Angle Test Method. 
     
     
         20 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative exhibits a contact angle of from about 20° to about 45° as determined by the Contact Angle Test Method. 
     
     
         21 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative exhibits a contact angle of from about 70° to about 120° as determined by the Contact Angle Test Method. 
     
     
         22 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 12  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative exhibits a contact angle of from about 75° to about 100° as determined by the Contact Angle Test Method. 
     
     
         23 . A heteropolysaccharide derivative that exhibits a degree of polymerization of greater than 310. 
     
     
         24 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 23  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative exhibits a degree of substitution of less than 1.0. 
     
     
         25 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 23  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative comprises at least one monomer comprising a moiety derived from a fatty acid. 
     
     
         26 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 23  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative comprises a polyethylene glycol moiety. 
     
     
         27 . The heteropolysaccharide derivative according to  claim 23  wherein the heteropolysaccharide derivative comprises an acetate moiety. 
     
     
         28 . A process for making a thermoplastic polysaccharide derivative, the process comprising the step of substituting one or more hydroxyl moieties present on one or more monomer units within a polysaccharide with a non-hydroxyl moiety to form a thermoplastic polysaccharide derivative according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         29 . A non-naturally occurring fiber comprising greater than 10% by weight on a dry fiber basis of a heteropolysaccharide derivative. 
     
     
         30 . A fibrous structure comprising a non-naturally occurring fiber according to  claim 29 .