Abstract: Disclosed are soluble extractives prepared from non-woody plants of the genus Hesperaloe and processes for preparing the same. The extracts preferably comprise at least one saponin. In certain instances, the process includes providing biomass derived from non-woody plants of the genus Hesperaloe, milling the biomass, washing the biomass with a solvent to yield a crude extract and optionally further purifying the crude extract by filtration to remove water insoluble compositions such as fibers, fines, epidermal debris and lipids. Preferably, the composition extracted from Hesperaloe comprises 25(27)-dehydrofucreastatin, 5(6),25(27)-disdehydroyuccaloiside C, 5(6)-disdehydroyuccaloiside, C, furcreastatin, yuccaloiside, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet-pressed, wet-laid tissue product that is soft and durable. The tissue product includes regenerated cellulose fibers providing 25% or less of the total weight of the wet-laid tissue product. The tissue product can include a DSF value of greater than 1.22. The DSF value is defined by the equation: DSF=(Durability Value/TS7 Softness value)/number of plies of the wet-pressed, wet-laid tissue product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet-laid tissue product comprising regenerated cellulose fibers that can provide 25% or less of the total weight of the wet-laid tissue product. The regenerated cellulose fibers can have a denier of less than 0.9 and a fiber length of less than 6.0 mm. The wet-laid tissue product can provide improvements in softness at a given strength.

Abstract: A color-changing polymeric material is provided. The material is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer, colorant, microinclusion additive, and nanoinclusion additive, wherein the microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive are dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is formed in the polymeric material when subjected to a deformational strain in a solid state. The polymeric material exhibits a first color prior to being subjected to the deformational strain and a second color after being subjected to the deformational strain, the first color being different than the second color.

Abstract: A polymeric material that includes a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer and a siloxane component is provided. The siloxane component contains an ultrahigh molecular weight siloxane polymer that is dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined within the thermoplastic composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.

Abstract: A polyolefin packaging film is provided. The polyolefin film is formed by a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

Abstract: A polymeric material that includes a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer and a siloxane component is provided. The siloxane component contains an ultrahigh molecular weight siloxane polymer that is dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined within the thermoplastic composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.

Abstract: A film includes a polymer composition, the polymer composition including a polymer, an organoclay, a primary amide slip agent, and a secondary amide slip agent different from the primary amide slip agent. The film can have static and kinetic coefficients of friction less than 0.25 as measured using ASTM D1894. The primary amide slip agent can be a primary erucamide slip agent. The film can be a multi-layered film.

Abstract: A thermoformed article that is formed from a polymeric sheet having a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 100 millimeters is provided. The polymeric sheet contains a thermoplastic composition that includes a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. A microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive are dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains, and a porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less.

Abstract: A color-changing polymeric material is provided. The material is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer, colorant, microinclusion additive, and nanoinclusion additive, wherein the microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive are dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is formed in the polymeric material when subjected to a deformational strain in a solid state. The polymeric material exhibits a first color prior to being subjected to the deformational strain and a second color after being subjected to the deformational strain, the first color being different than the second color.

Abstract: A containerboard packaging material includes at least one linerboard layer including tree-based pulp material and at least one fluted medium layer including tree-free pulp material, wherein the tree-free pulp material is present in the medium layer in an amount of from about 5% to about 100%. The medium layer pulp material can be tree-free pulp material. The tree-free pulp material can be wheat straw pulp and red algae pulp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a containerboard packaging material comprising at least one non-wood alternative pulp material wherein said non-wood alternative pulp material is present in an amount of from about 5% to about 100% and wherein said material replaces at least a portion of conventional fiber materials.

Abstract: A film that contains a core layer positioned adjacent to an outer layer is provided. The core layer contains a relatively high percentage of thermoplastic biopolymers that are both biodegradable and renewable. Despite being biodegradable and renewable, many biopolymers tend to be relatively stiff in nature. The present inventors have discovered, however, that through selective control over the components in the core and outer layers, a film can be readily formed having good mechanical properties. Among other things, this is accomplished by blending the biopolymer in the core layer with a polyolefin. A polyolefin is also employed in the outer layer. In addition to providing functionality to the film (e.g., heat sealing, printing, etc.), the polyolefin-containing outer layer also helps counteract the stiffness of the biopolymer in the core layer, and helps improve processability, stiffness, and ductility.

Abstract: A thermoformed article that is formed from a polymeric sheet having a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 100 millimeters is provided. The polymeric sheet contains a thermoplastic composition that includes a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. A microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive are dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains, and a porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less.

Abstract: A polyolefin packaging film is provided. The polyolefin film is formed by a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

Abstract: A containerboard packaging material includes at least one linerboard layer including tree-based pulp material and at least one fluted medium layer including tree-free pulp material, wherein the tree-free pulp material is present in the medium layer in an amount of from about 5% to about 100%. The medium layer pulp material can be tree-free pulp material. The tree-free pulp material can be wheat straw pulp and red algae pulp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a containerboard packaging material comprising at least one non-wood alternative pulp material wherein said non-wood alternative pulp material is present in an amount of from about 5% to about 100% and wherein said material replaces at least a portion of conventional fiber materials.

Abstract: A film that contains a core layer positioned adjacent to an outer layer is provided. The core layer contains a relatively high percentage of thermoplastic biopolymers that are both biodegradable and renewable. Despite being biodegradable and renewable, many biopolymers tend to be relatively stiff in nature. The present inventors have discovered, however, that through selective control over the components in the core and outer layers, a film can be readily formed having good mechanical properties. Among other things, this is accomplished by blending the biopolymer in the core layer with a polyolefin. A polyolefin is also employed in the outer layer. In addition to providing functionality to the film (e.g., heat sealing, printing, etc.), the polyolefin-containing outer layer also helps counteract the stiffness of the biopolymer in the core layer, and helps improve processability, stiffness, and ductility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple layer polymeric film comprising at least three layers wherein at least two layers comprise at least one polyolefin and a third layer comprises from about 5% to about 45% of a thermoplastic starch, from about 55% to about 95% of at least one polyolefin, and from about 0.5% to about 10% of a compatibilizer, wherein said compatibilizer is selected from the group consisting of a graft copolymer, a block copolymer, and a random copolymer of non-polar monomers and polar monomers. Also presented is a packaging material or a consumer product comprising a portion made of the multiple layer polymeric film that may be used to create an absorbent article such as diapers, pantiliners, feminine pads, adult incontinence products, wipes, tissues, and the like.