US Patent 7595363 Toughened poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) compositions

Disclosed are toughened poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) resin compositions comprising poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid), such as polylactic acid, and an impact modifier comprising an ethylene copolymer made from monomers (a) ethylene; (b) one or more olefins of the formula CH2═C(R1)CO2R2, where R1 is hydrogen or an alkyl group with 2-8 carbon atoms and R2 is an alkyl group with 1-8 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, or butyl; and (c) one or more olefins of the formula CH2═C(R3)CO2R4, where R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1-6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, and R4 is glycidyl. The ethylene copolymer may further be made from carbon monoxide monomers. The compositions may further comprise one or more ethylene/acrylate and/or ethylene/vinyl ester polymers, ionomers, and cationic agents.