| abstract |
A water-dispersible injection-moldable resin blend includes 20 wt.% to 80 wt.% thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or a styrenic block copolymer (SBC); and 80 wt.% to 20 wt.% modified poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), wherein the modified PVOH is unmodified PVOH blended with glycerin. A flushable tampon applicator includes a grip region generally adjacent the outer end of the barrel, wherein the grip region of the barrel includes a water-dispersible injection-moldable resin blend including 20 wt.% to 80 wt.% thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or a styrenic block copolymer (SBC), and 80 wt.% to 20 wt.% modified poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), wherein the modified PVOH is unmodified PVOH blended with glycerin. |