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Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
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Modern Biodegradable Plastics-Processing and Properties: Part I.

Janusz Sikora1, Łukasz Majewski1, Andrzej Puszka2

  • 1Department of Technology and Polymer Processing, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 36, 20-618 Lublin, Poland.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 30, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Biodegradable plastics like polylactic acid (PLA) and starch-based plastics were characterized via blown film extrusion. These biodegradable films exhibited higher extrusion rates and mass flow rates than low-density polyethylene (LDPE), but lower thermal stability.

Keywords:
DSCMFRPLATPSbiodegradabilityextrusionpolymer processingstarch

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Engineering
  • Sustainable Materials

Background:

  • The increasing demand for sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics necessitates a thorough understanding of biodegradable materials.
  • Characterizing the processability and properties of biodegradable plastics is crucial for their viable commercial application.
  • Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) serves as a benchmark for comparison with novel biodegradable plastics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the blown film extrusion process for three biodegradable plastics: potato starch-based plastic (TPS-P), corn starch-based plastic (TPS-C), and polylactic acid (PLA).
  • To compare the selected properties of these biodegradable plastics with LDPE.
  • To evaluate the influence of extrusion parameters on film properties and material behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Blown film extrusion was employed to produce plastic films from LDPE, TPS-P, TPS-C, and PLA under varied processing temperatures and screw speeds.
  • Geometric parameters (thickness, width), melt flow rate (MFR), blow-up ratio, draw-down ratio, mass flow rate, and exit velocity were measured.
  • Thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and chemical structure analysis were conducted for comprehensive material characterization.

Main Results:

  • Biodegradable films demonstrated higher extrusion rates and mass flow rates compared to LDPE.
  • The lowest thermal stability was observed in TPS-C and TPS-P films.
  • Chemical analysis revealed the presence of polyethylene in all tested biodegradable plastic formulations.

Conclusions:

  • Biodegradable plastics, including PLA and starch-based variants, can be processed via blown film extrusion, often at higher throughputs than LDPE.
  • While offering potential environmental benefits, the thermal stability of starch-based plastics requires further investigation for specific applications.
  • The presence of polyethylene in the tested biodegradable plastics suggests potential challenges in achieving complete biodegradability or necessitates careful formulation management.