US20130266767A1

US20130266767A1 - Eco-friendly foaming sheet

Info

Publication number: US20130266767A1
Application number: US13/977,507
Authority: US
Inventors: Gun Soo Chung; Youn Woo Nam; Si Young Lee
Original assignee: LG Hausys Ltd
Current assignee: LX Hausys Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-30
Filing date: 2011-12-23
Publication date: 2013-10-10
Also published as: KR101328753B1; CN102582173B; WO2012091366A3; JP2014501317A; WO2012091366A2; EP2658906A2; EP2658906B1; KR20120076718A; EP2658906A4; CN102582173A

Abstract

The present invention provides an eco-friendly foaming sheet. More particularly, the eco-friendly foaming sheet is fabricated using a biodegradable resin composition on a substrate, wherein the biodegradable resin composition is applied to the substrate sheet, a print layer is formed thereon, and the treated sheet is subjected to foaming. According to the present invention, without processes of preparing a sheet and foaming using a biodegradable resin, the biodegradable resin layer is directly applied to a substrate sheet as a subject to be used and foamed while forming a print layer, in addition, a chemical foaming agent and an eco-friendly plasticizer used together with the biodegradable resin are specifically defined to ensure desired flexibility, thereby fabricating an eco-friendly foaming sheet with high productivity.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an eco-friendly foaming sheet, more particularly, to an eco-friendly foaming sheet having flexibility fabricated by directly applying a biodegradable resin to a substrate sheet, foaming the sheet while forming a resin layer, and using a specific chemical foaming agent and/or eco-friendly plasticizer compatible with the biodegradable resin.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a resin foaming material (‘foam’) such as a polyolefin resin foam, a polyurethane resin foam, etc. exhibits excellent insulation, formability, shock-absorption, etc. as well as lightweight, thus having been widely used in industrial fields. However, although such resin foam is light in weight, a volume thereof is increased and causes difficulties in re-use thereof when upon being discarded. In particular, cross-linked foam formed by cross-linking the resin is substantially unable to be reused. Also, since the resin foam almost permanently remains even when it is buried in the ground (that is, high non-biodegradable), it is difficult to ensure a waste disposal space through incineration and/or landfill, in turn quite often polluting the environment and damaging the natural landscape.
Accordingly, biodegradable resins degraded by microorganisms in natural environments have been researched, developed, and manufactured into films and/or fibers as commercial products. In addition, extruded foams of such biodegradable resins have also been developed. For instance, non cross-linked foam using an aliphatic polyester resin has been known. However, it has been difficult to polymerize such aliphatic polyester resin through side reaction such as hydrolysis using water generated during poly-condensation. Therefore, a melt viscosity sufficient to maintain bubbles during extrusion foaming cannot be obtained, thus entailing problems in preparing foams having favorable foaming status and/or surface state.
In order to solve the above problems, for example, Korean Patent No. 2655796 proposed a method of cross-linking a resin via ionizing radiation. However, if a subject to be irradiated has a thickness of more than 1 mm, radiation does not reach the inside of the subject, which in turn causes formation of coarse and irregular bubbles in the subject during foaming. Moreover, since cross-linking requiring irradiation under a N₂atmosphere, in order to prevent deterioration of the resin has been required, it was very difficult to prepare foams having different thicknesses and satisfactory mechanical properties by a simple preparation method generally used in the art.
Meanwhile, according to Japanese Patent Publication No. SHO 46-38716, a continuous preparation method of polypropylene foam using a propylene/ethylene random copolymer was proposed. In addition, it was disclosed that using a cross-linking promoter is preferable to enable smooth and effective cross-linking reaction. Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. SHO 60-28852 proposed cross-linking and foaming of a mixture of a propylene/ethylene random copolymer and polyethylene by adding a cross-linking promoter. However, a polypropylene foam prepared according to the foregoing method cannot be reused after cross-linking. Of course, the foam is not biodegradable, in turn having difficulties in waste disposal. Moreover, other problems such as high calories for combustion, adverse effects on the environment, etc. may be entailed.
Meanwhile, a typical silk wallpaper is also called a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wallpaper which is, at present, most preferably employed and prepared by applying PVC resin to paper, so as to impart a soft and silk-like surface feel thereto.
However, since any existing silk wallpaper is fabricated using PVC resin which is made from a raw material, petroleum, cost is continuously raised due to exhaustion of petroleum resources, a large amount of energy is consumed in the manufacture thereof, and greenhouse gases such as CO₂are discharged in large quantities. In addition, for landfill disposal, a long time of 500 years or more is required for biodegradation. On the other hand, incineration disposal may generate a number of harmful materials including hormone analogs and/or toxic gases, thus causing significant environmental contamination.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Accordingly, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention is directed to provision of an eco-friendly foaming sheet which has increased flexibility and does not generate harmful materials such as hormone analogs and/or toxic gases upon disposal, while reducing the number of production processes to improve productivity.

Solution to Problem

In order to accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided an eco-friendly foaming sheet fabricated using a biodegradable resin composition on a substrate sheet, wherein the biodegradable resin composition is applied to the substrate sheet, a printed layer is provided thereon, and the prepared sheet is subjected to foaming.
Hereinafter, the eco-friendly foaming sheet according to the present invention will be described in detail.
The eco-friendly foaming sheet according to the present invention may include a substrate sheet, and a biodegradable resin-containing resin layer which is provided on the substrate sheet and foamed to have unevenness thereon.
In this regard, the substrate sheet may be any one generally known and used in the art without particular limitation thereto. For instance, a substrate sheet for wallpaper employed in the manufacture of existing silk paper may be used for the wallpaper. Examples of the substrate sheet for wallpaper may include vellum paper and/or non-woven paper (e.g., polyester/pulp composite non-woven paper), without being particularly limited thereto. The substrate sheet for a wallpaper described above may have an average weight of 80 to 200 g/m². If the average weight of the substrate sheet for wallpaper is less than the above range, the wallpaper may tear or other damage may occur during use or construction. On the contrary, when the average weight exceeds the above range, some problems in construction such as heavy weight, gap, curling, or the like may be encountered.
In fact, a thickness of the substrate sheet described above may be defined depending upon applications thereof without being particularly limited thereto and, in general, may range from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.
With regard to the present invention, types (or kinds) of the biodegradable resin included in the print layer as well as the resin layer may include; polylactic acid, biodegradable poly-condensed aliphatic polyester, biodegradable poly-condensed copolymer aromatic polyester, lactone resins, biodegradable cellulose ester, polypeptide, polyvinylalcohol, starches, cellulose, chitin/chitosan, natural linear polyester resin, and so forth. More particularly, synthetic polymers including aliphatic polyesters obtained by poly-condensation of diols and dicarboxylic acid or derivatives thereof, for example; polylactic acid; polyethylene succinate obtained by poly-condensation of ethylene glycol and succinic acid or derivates thereof; polybutylene succinate obtained by poly-condensation of butanediol and succinic acid or derivatives thereof; polybutylene succinate/adipate obtained from butanediol and dicarboxylic acids, in particular, succinic acid and adipic acid or derivatives thereof; polybutylene succinate/carbonate obtained by poly-condensation of bntanediol and succinic acid and chain extension of the polycondensed material using a carbonate compound such as diethyl carbonate, may be used.
Examples of lactone resins may include a variety of methylated lactone such as; ε-caprolactone, β-propiolactone, γ-butyrolactone, δ-valerolactone, enantolactone or 4-methyl caprolactone, 2,2,4-trimethyl caprolactone, 3,3,5-trimethyl caprolactone, etc. Biodegradable aromatic copolymer polyester may include, for example: a polyethylene terephthalate/succinate copolymer; a polyethylene terephthalate/adipate copolymer; a polyethylene terephthalate/sebacate copolymer; a polyethylene terephthalate/dodecadionate copolymer; a polybutylene terephthalate/succinate copolymer; a polybutylene terephthalate/adipate copolymer; a polybutylene terephthalate/sebacate copolymer; a polybutylene terephthalate/dodecadionate copolymer; a polyhexylene terephthalate/succinate copolymer; a polyhexylene terephthalate/adipate copolymer; a polyhexylene terephthalate/sebacate copolymer; a polyhexylene terephthalate/dodecadionate copolymer, or the like. Further, biodegradable cellulose ester such as cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose sulfate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate acetate, etc. may be used. Additionally, alternative examples of the synthetic polymer may include polypeptides such as polyglutamic acid, polyasparaginic acid, polyleucine, etc., or polyvinyl alcohols.
As natural polymers, for example, alpha starch such as corn starch, wheat starch, rice starch, etc.; and/or processed starch such as acetic esterified starch acetate, methyletherified starch, etc., may be used. Also, natural polymers, for example, natural linear polyester resins such as cellulose, carrageenan, chitin/chitosan, polyhydroxyl butyrate/valerate, or the like may be used.
Copolymers of components for the biodegradable resin described above may also be used. The biodegradable resin may be used alone or as a combination of two or more thereof. Such biodegradable resins may include, for example: polylactic acid; an aliphatic polyester obtained by poly-condensation of diol and dicarboxylic acid and derivates thereof; a biodegradable copolymer aromatic polyester obtained by poly-condensation of a dicarboxylic acid component, which includes an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a derivative thereof as well as an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and a derivative thereof, and a diol component including an aliphatic diol; lactone resins, or the like.
More preferably, the resin layer may include, as a first resin, the above poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a second resin, that is, at least one selected from a group consisting of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), a butylene succinate/adipate copolymer (PBSA) and a butylene adipate/terephthalate copolymer (PBAT), in a combined form thereof. Compared to use of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) or specific biodegradable resins, respectively, biodegradability and flexibility of a wallpaper may be easily controlled, thus realizing beneficial effects. In the present invention, if the resin layer comprises a composite resin, at least one selected from a group consisting of PBS, PBSA and PBAT, as a second resin, may be included in an amount of 10 to 500 parts by weight, preferably, 15 to 500 parts by weight and, more preferably, 20 to 500 parts by weight, in relation to 100 parts by weight of a first resin, i.e., poly(lactic acid) (PLA). If a content of the second resin is less than 10 parts by weight, the resin layer becomes too hard, in turn causing curling before or after wallpapering. On the other hand, if the content of the second resin exceeds 500 parts by weight, heat resistance of the resin layer may be deteriorated causing difficulties in processing the same.
Although a ratio of the biodegradable resin to overall resin components among a resin composition is not particularly limited, at least 50%, preferably, 70% or more is preferable. When an amount of the biodegradable resin is increased, degradation becomes rapid (that is, a degradation rate is high) and shape collapsibility after degradation is increased.
Further, a thermally degradable foaming agent to execute exothermic reaction may include, for example, azo-dicarbonamide, azo-dicarboxylamide, benzenesulfonyl hydrazide, dinitrosopentamethylene tetramine, toluenesulfonyl hydrazide, azo-bis-isobutyronitrile, barium azo-dicarboxylate, bicarbonates such as sodium bi-carbonate, or the like. These components may be singly or compatibly used, and included in a ratio of 1 to 50 parts by weight and, more preferably, 4 to 25 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the resin composition. If an added amount of such a foaming agent is too small, foaming properties of the resin composition are reduced. On the contrary, if the amount is too large, strength and/or heat resistance of a foamed resin layer tend to decrease.
With decrease in a particle diameter of the foaming agent, a thermal degradation rate of the foaming agent rises, thus increasing bubble size. On the contrary, when the particle diameter of the foaming agent is increased, thermal degradation decreases, in turn reducing the bubble size. Therefore, in order to obtain bubbles having a uniform diameter, an average particle diameter may range from 3 to 30 μm, more preferably, 5 to 28 μm.
In the case where a temperature difference between a degradation temperature of the foaming agent and a melting point of the biodegradable resin is large, it is preferable to use a degradation accelerator for the foaming agent. Such a degradation accelerator is not particularly limited but, however, may include commonly known compounds, for example; zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium stearate, glycerin, urea, etc.
Further, as the eco-friendly plasticizer, citrates such as triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, trioctyl citrate, acetyl trioxyl citrate, trihexyl citrate, acetyl trihexyl citrate, butyryl trihexyl citrate, trimethyl citrate, etc., or sugar alcohols may be used in an amount of 10 to 80 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the resin composition, in order to attain suitable flexibility and to prevent bleeding of the plasticizer.
In this regard, the biodegradable resin-containing composition may further include an antioxidant, a lubricant, an inorganic filler, etc. as an additive. The antioxidant is purposed to protect against oxidation occurring during processing or in final products, and may be used in an amount of 0.5 to 5 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the biodegradable resin-containing composition.
Also, the lubricant is used to improve workability and may be used in an amount of 0.2 to 3 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the biodegradable resin-containing composition.
Alternatively, the inorganic filler is used to improve physical properties and may have an average size of 1.0 to 100 μm. In addition, the above filler may be at least one selected from talc, mica and calcium carbonate, and may be used in an amount of 30 to 300 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the biodegradable resin-containing composition.
With regard to the eco-friendly foaming wallpaper, a method of forming a biodegradable resin layer may include; mixing a resin composition which includes a biodegradable resin, a thermally degradable foaming agent and a cross-linking promoter, using any mixing device such as a single-screw extruder, a twin-screw extruder, a Banbury mixer, a kneader mixer, a mixing roll, etc., at a degradation temperature of a thermally degradable foaming agent. In this case, a melt-mixing temperature is preferably at least 10° C. lower than a degradation initiating temperature of the foaming agent. If the mixing temperature is too high, the thermally degradable foaming agent is degraded during mixing, thus not providing favorable foam. Preferable addition of the cross-linking promoter may include, for example: adding the promoter and mixing the same using a Henschel mixer, a Banbury mixer or a kneader mixer, prior to melt-mixing; introducing the promoter from a raw material inlet of an extruder; introducing the promoter from a vent inlet of an extruder having the vent, and so forth.
The biodegradable resin mixture obtained by mixing may be extruded on a T-die through a single-screw extruder or a twin-screw extruder, and discharged in a sheet form over a wallpaper substrate sheet, in turn being adhered thereto. During application, applying a predetermined amount of tension to the supplied substrate sheet for the wallpaper may maintain even and flat surface conditions, thereby enabling more effective application. In this regard, a method of applying tension to the substrate sheet is not particularly limited, and an apparatus such as an edge point control (‘EPC’) unit may be used.
Meanwhile, a thickness of the resin layer may range from 0.01 mm to 50 mm, more preferably, from 0.02 mm to 40 mm and, most preferably, from 0.05 mm to 30 mm. If the thickness of the resin layer is less than 0.01 mm, gas leakage from the surface of the resin layer in expansion molding is significant and causes difficulties in forming uniform foam. On the contrary, if the thickness exceeds 50 mm, the resin layer exhibits high rigidity and, occasionally, may adversely influence winding properties in continuous manufacture.
By extruding such a resin layer via T-die processing to manufacture a product as described, an alternative adhesive for adhering the resin layer to the resin applied to the surface of the substrate is not needed and uniform difference in thickness and planarity may be obtained, thus being preferable.
Next, a print layer may be provide on the resin layer and, using the chemical foaming agent described above, chemical foaming may be executed to form unevenness, so as to improve surface planarity and allow easy embossing, thus being preferable. In this case, an embossing patterned layer may be further provided above the print layer since the print layer has flexibility. As a result, an eco-friendly foaming sheet may be fabricated.
Here, a method of forming the embossing patterned layer is not particularly limited but may include, for example: rolling the print layer using a patterned roller; or, after adding a foaming agent to the print layer, foaming and gelling according to conventional methods.
The foregoing embossing method is not particularly limited but may be any conventional method including, for example, a rolling process using an embossing patterned roll.
In the case where a roll is used to form embossing patterns, the roll may be a press roller or a steel roller. Uniformly controlling pressure in right and left sides of the roller during rolling may be important to minimize deviation (or difference) in right and left thicknesses of a product, however, the present invention is not particularly restricted thereto.
Briefly, a method for fabrication of an eco-friendly foaming sheet having the structure described above may include: first, applying a resin composition containing a biodegradable resin to a substrate sheet as a subject to be used, to form a resin layer; then, providing a print layer thereon; and foaming the prepared sheet, thereby fabricating the eco-friendly foaming sheet.
As described above, the resin composition containing the biodegradable resin may comprise a biodegradable resin, a chemical foaming agent and an eco-friendly plasticizer.
Additionally, the resin layer may be applied in a T-die mode and a method for forming a print layer is not particularly limited. For instance, the printing layer may be formed by any conventional printing method such as gravure printing, transfer printing, digital printing or rotary printing.
According to the present invention, foaming may be performed by chemical foaming and, more particularly, exothermic reaction occurs using a chemical foaming agent at a foaming temperature of 120 to 250° C., to form foam cells having a foaming ratio of 100 to 200% while generating nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc., thereby attaining flexibility. Moreover, the foaming resin layer of the present invention may have an average bubble diameter of more than 50 μm.
Meanwhile, with regard to foaming, the foaming method may include use of CO₂, foaming using UV irradiation, a foaming method wherein a foaming agent is added to a resin, followed by gelling the resin, or the like. In the present invention, considering workability of the print layer and heat resistance of a wallpaper, chemical foaming is preferably used.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention described above, without processes of preparing a sheet and foaming using a biodegradable resin, the biodegradable resin layer is directly applied to a substrate sheet as a subject to be used and foamed while forming a print layer, in addition, a chemical foaming agent and an eco-friendly plasticizer used together with the biodegradable resin are specifically defined to ensure desired flexibility, thereby fabricating an eco-friendly foaming sheet with high productivity.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following examples, however, the scope of which the present invention is not particularly limited to such examples.

Mode for the Invention

Example 1

4 parts by weight of azo-dicaroboxylamide as a foaming agent, 2 parts by weight of methacryl as a cross-linking promoter, 10 parts by weight of citrate, i.e., acetyltributyl citrate (ATBC) as an eco-friendly plasticizer, 100 parts by weight of an organic filler (Talc) and 2 parts by weight of a cross-linking promoter, relative to 100 parts by weight of polylactic acid (PLA) were mixed using a mixer to prepare a composition, and the composition was applied to a substrate sheet for a wallpaper having an average weight of 100 g/m²by T-die extrusion to form a resin layer, thus preparing an eco-friendly foaming sheet.
Next, a print layer was formed on the eco-friendly foaming sheet using PLA resin through gravure printing, followed by foaming in an oven and forming an embossed layer using an embossing roll, thereby fabricating a biodegradable wallpaper having workability and heat resistance.

Comparative Example 1

Using a composition including; 100 parts by weight of a composite resin containing poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poybutylene adipate/terephthalate copolymer (PBAT) (ratio by weight; PLA:PBAT=9:1), 10 parts by weight of nano-mineral, and other additives such as a stabilizer, a resin layer was prepared by T-die extrusion. Then, the prepared resin layer was combined with a substrate sheet for a wallpaper having an average weight of 100 g/m², using an adhesive, thus forming an eco-friendly foaming sheet.
Next, a print layer was formed on the eco-friendly foaming sheet using PLA resin through gravure printing, followed by forming an embossed layer using an embossing roll while pre-heating, thereby fabricating a biodegradable wallpaper having workability and heat resistance.

Comparative Example 2

The same experiment as described in Example 1 was repeated except that a resin layer was not foamed.

Example 2

The same experiment as described in Example 1 was repeated to prepare an eco-friendly foaming sheet and fabricate a biodegradable wallpaper except that a composite resin comprising poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polybutylene adipate/terephthalate copolymer (PBAT) in a relative ratio by weight of 7:3 (PLA:PBAT) was used.
Items for Measurement of Physical Properties
Stiffness (assessment of flexibility): after preparing a specimen having a size of 100×600 mm, the specimen was bent to allow both ends thereof to contact each other. Here, splitting or bending extent of the specimen was measured.
Excellent ⊚—smoothly bent without splitting
Moderate ◯—forcibly bent without splitting
Poor x—splitting of the resin layer at a bent site
Lamination: when a sheet and a paper are detached (or delaminated) from each other, interlayer adhesion was measured based on attachment extent of the paper to the sheet.
Excellent ⊚—delamination between a paper and another paper.
Moderate ◯—partial delamination between a sheet and a paper.
Poor x—delamination between a sheet and a paper.
Embossing property: depth of roll emboss and restoration thereof were measured.
Embossing ⊚—possible emboss depth of up to 0.8 mm without restoration.
Embossing ◯—possible emboss depth of up to 0.5 mm with partial restoration.
Embossing x—almost restored after embossing.
Heat resistance: after clearly cutting a foamed resin layer to an angle of 15 cm, the cut piece was left in an oven at 80° C. for 60 minutes. After 60 minutes, the test piece was removed from the oven and cooled to room temperature for about 30 to 60 minutes. Dimensions of the obtained sample were measured and a variation in dimensions was calculated as a percentage by an equation below. Afterwards, results thereof were assessed according to the following determination standards.
Heat resistance ⊚—variation in dimensions within 3%.
Heat resistance ◯—variation in dimensions within 5%.
Heat resistance x—variation in dimensions exceeding 5%.
Variation in heating dimension (%)=[a length of a sample before placing it in an oven a length of the sample after taking the same out of the oven/the length of the sample before placing it in the oven]×100
Foaming ratio: By observing a cross-section of a product using a microscope, thicknesses before and after foaming were measured, respectively.
Foaming ratio ⊚—the thickness after foaming is 200% or more, compared to the thickness before foaming.
Foaming ratio ◯—the thickness after foaming ranges from 100 to 200%, compared to the thickness before foaming.
Foaming ratio x—the thickness is not varied after foaming.
Variation in heating dimension (%)=[a length of a sample before placing it in an oven a length of the sample after taking the same out of the oven/the length of the sample before placing it in the oven]×100
Average bubble diameter: By observing a cross-section of a product using a microscope, bubble diameter was measured.
Average bubble diameter ⊚—50 μm or more
Average bubble diameter ◯—30 to 50 μm
Average bubble diameter x—less than 30 μm

TABLE 1

			Comparative	Comparative
Items	Example 1	Example 2	Example 1	Example 2

Stiffness	⊚	◯	X	⊚
Lamination	⊚	◯	X	⊚
Embossing	⊚	◯	◯	◯
properties
Heat resistance	◯	◯	X	◯
Foaming ratio	◯	◯	◯	X
Average bubble	⊚	◯	◯	X
diameter

As shown in TABLE 1, it can be seen that the inventive examples 1 and 2 exhibit flexibility ensured while foaming. However, comparative examples 1 and 2 demonstrate deteriorated flexibility and surface fracture in the embossing process.
Although a few exemplary and preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An eco-friendly foaming sheet fabricated using a biodegradable resin composition on a substrate sheet, wherein the biodegradable resin composition is applied to the substrate sheet to form a resin layer, a print layer is provided on the formed resin layer, and the treated sheet is subjected to foaming.

2. The foaming sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resin layer is formed by T-die extrusion coating of the biodegradable resin composition on the substrate sheet.

3. The foaming sheet according to claim 2, wherein the resin layer is formed to satisfy a thickness ranging from 0.01 to 50 mm.

4. The foaming sheet according to claim 1, wherein the biodegradable resin composition includes a biodegradable resin, a chemical foaming agent and an eco-friendly plasticizer.

5. The foaming sheet according to claim 1, wherein the substrate sheet is a vellum paper or non-woven fabric having an average weight of 80 to 200 g/m²and a thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

6. The foaming sheet according to claim 4, wherein the biodegradable resin is at least one selected from a group consisting of; polylactic acid, polycondensed aliphatic biodegradable polyester, polycondensed copolymer aromatic biodegradable polyester, lactone resins, biodegradable cellulose ester, polypeptides, polyvinylalcohol, starches, cellulose, chitin/chitosan and natural linear polyester resins.

7. The foaming sheet according to claim 6, wherein the biodegradable resin is a composite resin containing polylactic acid as a first resin, as well as at least one resin selected from a group consisting of poly(butylene succinate), polybutylene succinate/adipate copolymers, polybutylene adipate/terephthalate copolymers and ethylvinyl acetate, as a second resin.

8. The foaming sheet according to claim 7, wherein the composite resin includes at least one second resin selected from a group consisting of polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate/adipate copolymers, polybutylene adipate/terephthalate copolymers and ethylvinyl acetate in an amount of 120 to 500 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the first resin.

9. The foaming sheet according to claim 4, wherein a biodegradable component including the biodegradable resin is 70% or more, relative to a total weight of the biodegradable resin composition.

10. The foaming sheet according to claim 4, wherein the chemical foaming agent is at least one selected from azo-dicarboxylamide, benzenesulfonyl hydrazide, dinitroso pentamethylene tetramine, toluenesulfonyl hydrazide, azo-bis isobutyronitrile, barium azo-dicarboxylate and sodium bicarbonate, and is used in an amount of 1 to 10 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the biodegradable resin composition.

11. The foaming sheet according to claim 4, wherein the eco-friendly plasticizer is a citrate or sugar alcohol-based plasticizer and is used in an amount of 10 to 80 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the biodegradable resin composition.

12. The foaming sheet according to claim 1, wherein the foaming is executed in a chemical foaming mode at a temperature ranging from 120 to 250° C.

13. The foaming sheet according to claim 1, further comprising an embossed layer over the print layer.

14. The foaming sheet according to claim 1, wherein the print layer is prepared using the biodegradable resin by gravure printing, transfer printing, digital printing or rotary printing, and formed along unevenness of the resin layer in the foaming sheet.