Layering‐Triggered Delayering with Exfoliated High‐Aspect Ratio Layered Silicate for Enhanced Gas Barrier, Mechanical Properties, and Degradability of Biodegradable Polymers
Abstract Research on biodegradable polymers with the intention of fast, complete degradation in industrial compost (i‐compost) for organic recyclability is paramount to identifying solutions to the problem of excessive plastic waste originating specifically from packaging. Conventional biodegradable...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Global Challenges |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202000030 |
| _version_ | 1797257126661324800 |
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| author | Jian Zhu Anil Kumar Pin Hu Christoph Habel Josef Breu Seema Agarwal |
| author_facet | Jian Zhu Anil Kumar Pin Hu Christoph Habel Josef Breu Seema Agarwal |
| author_sort | Jian Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Research on biodegradable polymers with the intention of fast, complete degradation in industrial compost (i‐compost) for organic recyclability is paramount to identifying solutions to the problem of excessive plastic waste originating specifically from packaging. Conventional biodegradable polymers, such as polylactide (PLA), are far from optimum for this application due to the poor gas barrier properties and slow degradation. In the paper, a new concept (triggered degradation by delayering) is shown in which exfoliated, self‐assembled sodium‐hectorite (Hec) arranged in a layer‐by‐layer manner alternating with electrospun hot‐pressed PLA provides strong gas barrier properties at high humidity and simultaneously accelerates the degradation of PLA, as tested in an enzymatic solution and i‐compost. A thin composite film (thickness 56 µm) shows a tensile strength and modulus 58 and 2000 MPa, respectively, whereas oxygen permeability is as low as 0.0064 cm3 cm m−2 day−1 bar−1. Furthermore, the delayering of the composite film by swelling of Hec layer led to accelerated degradation of PLA, as shown in detail by enzymatic and compost degradation. Since such concepts for enhanced degradability are urgently needed for sustainable utilization of biodegradable polymers in plastic waste management, the present work is an important step ahead. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:32:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b1673932744460195c62913f1e071c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-6646 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:32:41Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Challenges |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b1673932744460195c62913f1e071c82024-03-19T16:40:31ZengWileyGlobal Challenges2056-66462020-09-0149n/an/a10.1002/gch2.202000030Layering‐Triggered Delayering with Exfoliated High‐Aspect Ratio Layered Silicate for Enhanced Gas Barrier, Mechanical Properties, and Degradability of Biodegradable PolymersJian Zhu0Anil Kumar1Pin Hu2Christoph Habel3Josef Breu4Seema Agarwal5Macromolecular Chemistry II Bavarian Polymer Institute University of Bayreuth Universitätsstraße 30 Bayreuth 95440 GermanyMacromolecular Chemistry II Bavarian Polymer Institute University of Bayreuth Universitätsstraße 30 Bayreuth 95440 GermanyMacromolecular Chemistry II Bavarian Polymer Institute University of Bayreuth Universitätsstraße 30 Bayreuth 95440 GermanyBavarian Polymer Institute and Inorganic Chemistry University of Bayreuth Universitätsstraße 30 Bayreuth 95440 GermanyBavarian Polymer Institute and Inorganic Chemistry University of Bayreuth Universitätsstraße 30 Bayreuth 95440 GermanyMacromolecular Chemistry II Bavarian Polymer Institute University of Bayreuth Universitätsstraße 30 Bayreuth 95440 GermanyAbstract Research on biodegradable polymers with the intention of fast, complete degradation in industrial compost (i‐compost) for organic recyclability is paramount to identifying solutions to the problem of excessive plastic waste originating specifically from packaging. Conventional biodegradable polymers, such as polylactide (PLA), are far from optimum for this application due to the poor gas barrier properties and slow degradation. In the paper, a new concept (triggered degradation by delayering) is shown in which exfoliated, self‐assembled sodium‐hectorite (Hec) arranged in a layer‐by‐layer manner alternating with electrospun hot‐pressed PLA provides strong gas barrier properties at high humidity and simultaneously accelerates the degradation of PLA, as tested in an enzymatic solution and i‐compost. A thin composite film (thickness 56 µm) shows a tensile strength and modulus 58 and 2000 MPa, respectively, whereas oxygen permeability is as low as 0.0064 cm3 cm m−2 day−1 bar−1. Furthermore, the delayering of the composite film by swelling of Hec layer led to accelerated degradation of PLA, as shown in detail by enzymatic and compost degradation. Since such concepts for enhanced degradability are urgently needed for sustainable utilization of biodegradable polymers in plastic waste management, the present work is an important step ahead.https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202000030biodegradable polymersgas barriernanocompositespolylactide plastic waste management |
| spellingShingle | Jian Zhu Anil Kumar Pin Hu Christoph Habel Josef Breu Seema Agarwal Layering‐Triggered Delayering with Exfoliated High‐Aspect Ratio Layered Silicate for Enhanced Gas Barrier, Mechanical Properties, and Degradability of Biodegradable Polymers Global Challenges biodegradable polymers gas barrier nanocomposites polylactide plastic waste management |
| title | Layering‐Triggered Delayering with Exfoliated High‐Aspect Ratio Layered Silicate for Enhanced Gas Barrier, Mechanical Properties, and Degradability of Biodegradable Polymers |
| title_full | Layering‐Triggered Delayering with Exfoliated High‐Aspect Ratio Layered Silicate for Enhanced Gas Barrier, Mechanical Properties, and Degradability of Biodegradable Polymers |
| title_fullStr | Layering‐Triggered Delayering with Exfoliated High‐Aspect Ratio Layered Silicate for Enhanced Gas Barrier, Mechanical Properties, and Degradability of Biodegradable Polymers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Layering‐Triggered Delayering with Exfoliated High‐Aspect Ratio Layered Silicate for Enhanced Gas Barrier, Mechanical Properties, and Degradability of Biodegradable Polymers |
| title_short | Layering‐Triggered Delayering with Exfoliated High‐Aspect Ratio Layered Silicate for Enhanced Gas Barrier, Mechanical Properties, and Degradability of Biodegradable Polymers |
| title_sort | layering triggered delayering with exfoliated high aspect ratio layered silicate for enhanced gas barrier mechanical properties and degradability of biodegradable polymers |
| topic | biodegradable polymers gas barrier nanocomposites polylactide plastic waste management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202000030 |
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