Composite material including a thermoplastic polymer, a pest food material and a pesticide

Abstract

Composite materials that are palatable to a wood-destroying pest species and also pesticidal to the pest species can be used in pest control devices and can be used as wood substitutes for structural components, which are resistant to destruction by wood-destroying pests. The composite materials include a thermoplastic polymer, a food material for the pest and a pesticide. The composite material is formed by mixing a thermoplastic polymer, wood fragments or other cellulosic materials and a quantity of pesticide, and thereafter creating a molten material within a mixer, compounder, extruder or the like. The molten material is extruded or molded to form the desired shape.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A composite material for use in pest control, the composite material comprising:
 a plastic structural matrix that comprises cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB);   a cellulosic food material that is palatable to a pest; and   a pesticide that is toxic to the pest.   
     
     
         27 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the CAB is selected from the group consisting of CAB having a degree of polymerization from about 50 units to about 400 units, CAB having a degree of polymerization from about 100 units to about 300 units, CAB having a degree of polymerization of about 160 units, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the CAB comprises (a) a mixture of CAB having from about 50 monomer units to about 75 monomer units and CAB having from about 150 to about 300 monomer units, (b) a mixture of CAB having about 60 monomer units and CAB having about 300 monomer units, or (c) a mixture of CAB having about 64 monomer units and CAB having about 160 monomer units. 
     
     
         29 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the CAB comprises a mixture of CAB having a molecular weight of about 16,000 and CAB having a molecular weight of about 40,000. 
     
     
         30 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the plastic structural matrix further comprises at least one additional thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         31 . The composite material of  claim 30  wherein the at least one additional thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, polylactic acid, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the plastic structural matrix comprises from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the composite material. 
     
     
         33 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the cellulosic food material is selected from the group consisting of alpha cellulose, beta cellulose, gamma cellulose, preferred texture cellulose (PTC), wood, wood chips, wood fibers, sawdust, cardboard, paper, microcrystalline cellulose, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the cellulosic food material comprises a purified cellulose. 
     
     
         35 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the pest comprises a cellulose-consuming organism. 
     
     
         36 . The composite material of  claim 26  wherein the pest is selected from the group consisting of termites, carpenter ants, carpenter wasps, and a combination thereof.