Abstract: The invention relates to a biodegradable plastic having increased biodegradation speed. Said plastic comprises a) finely distributed particle of a biodegradable, water-soluble, organic component, and b) finely distributed particles of a water-soluble, inorganic component promoting the growth of microorganisms and comprising N, P, and/or S. Said plastic is particularly based on cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate. Preferable components A are water-soluble saccharides and/or water-soluble organic acids. Said particularly advantageous biodegradable plastic is particularly available in the form of fibers, films, injection molded items, granulate beads, and containers. Controlled-release biocides and/or fertilizers can also be included in the molded part, wherein the molded part is degraded faster in the environment as said ingredients are released. The accelerated biodegradation is based on a synergistic interaction of the components indicated.

Abstract: A process for producing a cellulose ester film that is produced by a melt casting method using no solvent at film formation, and that attains reduction of bright spot foreign matter, excelling in planarity, and that attains reduction of staining, excelling in dimensional stability. It is also intended to provide such a cellulose ester film, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display unit. There is provided a process for producing a cellulose ester film, characterized by forming into a film a material containing a cellulose ester and an ester compound of 1 to 7.5 distribution coefficient obtained by condensation of a polyhydric alcohol and an organic acid of the general formula: (1) according to a melt casting method.

Abstract: This invention relates a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate and processes to produce the cellulose solution. Another aspect of this invention relates to shaped articles prepared from a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. Another embodiment of this invention relates to compositions comprising derivatives of cellulose prepared from a cellulose solution comprising at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. Another embodiment of this invention relates to compositions comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters prepared from a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. In another embodiment of the invention, the cellulose esters of the present invention are used as protective and compensation films for liquid crystalline displays.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biodegradable plastic having increased biodegradation speed. Said plastic comprises a) finely distributed particle of a biodegradable, water-soluble, organic component, and b) finely distributed particles of a water-soluble, inorganic component promoting the growth of microorganisms and comprising N, P, and/or S. Said plastic is particularly based on cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate. Preferable components A are water-soluble saccharides and/or water-soluble organic acids. Said particularly advantageous biodegradable plastic is particularly available in the form of fibers, films, injection molded items, granulate beads, and containers. Controlled-release biocides and/or fertilizers can also be included in the molded part, wherein the molded part is degraded faster in the environment as said ingredients are released. The accelerated biodegradation is based on a synergistic interaction of the components indicated.

Abstract: A reactive silicon dioxide compound, wherein the formula of the reactive silicon dioxide compound is shown as Formula (I): where each R is a reactive group shown as Formula (II) or Formula (III), independently: and where R1, R2 and R3 include H or CH3, independently, n1 is an integer of about 1-6 and n2 is an integer of about 0-4. An optical protective film containing the reactive silicon dioxide compound is also provided.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have low intrinsic birefringence. These films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). These films are useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films and in molded optical parts, such as lenses. The resins of the present inventions can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, which is uncharacteristic of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods of melt casting films while minimizing birefringence. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to films made from the cellulose esters described herein further comprising a plasticizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparations and uses of cellulose esters with a high degree of substitution of hydroxyl groups (also called high DSOH cellulose esters) as substrates and/or negative C-plate optical compensation films in LCD applications.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a cellulose ester film which can reduce a manufacturing burden and a facility burden caused by drying and recovering of a solvent used in the production process, a manufacturing method of the cellulose ester film and an optical film, and to specifically provide a polarizing plate employing the optical film as an excellent polarizing plate protective film exhibiting reduced fluctuation of retardation property in the width direction and a liquid crystal display employing the polarizing plate. Also disclosed is a cellulose ester film containing at least one compound having a phenol structure and a phosphite ester structure in a molecule.

Abstract: A composite barrier membrane coated on a substrate and membrane is formed by phase inversion technique utilizing a water-insoluble wax and a water-insoluble polymer dissolved in a solvent. The barrier membrane coated upon the substrate is used to control transmembrane transport of a liquid and a gas. The substrate can be a starch based food package material, a protein based food package materials, a natural fabric, a synthetic fabric, or a paper product.