| abstract |
Methods of forming biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters suitable for use in fibers are provided. In one embodiment, for example, an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester is melt blended with an alcohol to initiate a polyalcolysis reaction, which produces a copolyester having one or more hydroxyalkyl or alkyl end groups. By selectively adjusting the alcoholic conditions (eg alcohol and copolymer concentration, catalyst, temperature, etc.), modified aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters having a lower molecular weight than the starting aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters can be achieved. These lower molecular weight polymers also combine higher melt flow indices and lower apparent viscosity, which are useful in a wide range of fiber forming applications (eg, meltblown of nonwoven webs).n n n n Biodegradable, aliphatic-aromatic copolyester, nonwoven web, alcoholic degradation |