Titre du document / Document title

Evaluation of the rate of abiotic degradation of biodegradable polyethylene in various environments

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

JAKUBOWICZ Ignacy ⁽¹⁾ ; YARAHMADI Nazdaneh ⁽¹⁾ ; PETERSEN Henrik ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, Box 857, 501 15 BarÅs, SUEDE

Résumé / Abstract

The rate of abiotic degradation of polyethylene (PE) films containing a manganese pro-degradant has been studied in various environments at 60 and 70 °C. The degradation was monitored from the change in molecular weight and the elongation at break after exposure to dry and humid air. It was observed that moisture had a strong accelerating effect on the rate of thermo-oxidation of PE films. However, despite the humidity level in the compost environment being similar to that in humid air, the rate of degradation in compost was much slower. It is proposed that ammonia and/or hydrogen peroxide generated by microorganisms in the compost can be responsible for the deactivating effect, as aqueous solutions of these compounds significantly retard the rate of degradation.

Revue / Journal Title

Polymer degradation and stability   ISSN 0141-3910   CODEN PDSTDW 

Source / Source

2006, vol. 91, n^o7, pp. 1556-1562 [7 page(s) (article)] (17 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Elsevier Science, Oxford, ROYAUME-UNI  (1979) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Thermal ageing ; Olefin polymer ; Experimental study ; Manganese Stearate ; Reaction accelerator ; Kinetics ; Exposure time ; Humidity effect ; Artificial ageing ; Composting ; Biodegradation ; Aqueous medium ; Thermooxidative degradation ; Polyethylene ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Prooxydant ; Vieillissement hygrothermique ; Vieillissement thermique ; Oléfine polymère ; Etude expérimentale ; Manganèse Stéarate ; Accélérateur réaction ; Cinétique ; Temps exposition ; Action humidité ; Vieillissement accéléré ; Compostage ; Dégradation biologique ; Milieu aqueux ; Dégradation thermooxydante ; Ethylène polymère ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Envejecimiento térmico ; Olefina polímero ; Estudio experimental ; Manganeso Estearato ; Acelerador reacción ; Cinética ; Tiempo exposición ; Acción humedad ; Envejecimiento acelerado ; Compostaje ; Degradación biológica ; Medio acuoso ; Degradación termooxidante ; Etileno polímero ;

Mots-clés d'auteur / Author Keywords

Degradable polyethylene ; Thermo-oxidation ; Pro-degradant ; Molecular weight ; Biodegradation ; Mineralization ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 18819, 35400014270582.0170