Thermoplastics are becoming an evermore-popular material to be used in the fabrication of disposable and semi-durable goods. The ability of thermoplastics to be formed into specialized fabrics, both woven and nonwoven, and films designed to meet specific performance requirements has resulted in such thermoplastic materials being incorporated into numerous medical, hygiene, and industrial applications. Research and development are ongoing to modify these thermoplastic materials to further improve or otherwise alter the resulting performance of the thermoplastic materials in the fabricated articles.
Particular focus of this research and development has been to the addition of additives to a thermoplastic polymer base, to thus tailor the performance of the thermoplastic resin. Advances in the modification of thermoplastic polymer performance are evident in exemplary performance additive patents directed to changes in hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, anti-microbial activity, barrier properties, and retention or dissipation of static charge.
While such additives have successfully modified the performance of the thermoplastic polymer, deleterious effects on the softness qualities of a resulting article are expected. The softness of an article, measured in terms of both tactile and ductile performance, is a critical aspect of the user-acceptance of such articles. A number of patents address specifically the improvement of softness in thermoplastic constructs; however, the associated chemistries are such that they are incompatible with the performance additives.
An unmet need remains for a thermoplastic additive that improves the softness of the resulting article, and yet is compatible with performance additives. Due to the criticality of perceived softness in end-use articles, there is also a need for a softness additive that can be favorably compounded with other softness improvement additives, to render thermoplastic constructs of further improved softness.