Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments
The purpose of this study was to assess the potential for biocomposite films to biodegrade in diverse climatic environments. Biocomposite films based on polyethylene and 30 wt.% of two lignocellulosic fillers (wood flour or flax straw) of different size fractions were prepared and studied. The devel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/13/2138 |
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| author | Anna K. Zykova Petr V. Pantyukhov Elena E. Mastalygina Christian Chaverri-Ramos Svetlana G. Nikolaeva Jose J. Saavedra-Arias Anatoly A. Popov Sam E. Wortman Matheus Poletto |
| author_facet | Anna K. Zykova Petr V. Pantyukhov Elena E. Mastalygina Christian Chaverri-Ramos Svetlana G. Nikolaeva Jose J. Saavedra-Arias Anatoly A. Popov Sam E. Wortman Matheus Poletto |
| author_sort | Anna K. Zykova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this study was to assess the potential for biocomposite films to biodegrade in diverse climatic environments. Biocomposite films based on polyethylene and 30 wt.% of two lignocellulosic fillers (wood flour or flax straw) of different size fractions were prepared and studied. The developed composite films were characterized by satisfactory mechanical properties that allows the use of these materials for various applications. The biodegradability was evaluated in soil across three environments: laboratory conditions, an open field in Russia, and an open field in Costa Rica. All the samples lost weight and tensile strength during biodegradation tests, which was associated with the physicochemical degradation of both the natural filler and the polymer matrix. The spectral density of the band at 1463 cm<sup>−1</sup> related to CH<sub>2</sub>-groups in polyethylene chains decreased in the process of soil burial, which is evidence of polymer chain breakage with formation of CH<sub>3</sub> end groups. The degradation rate of most biocomposites after 20 months of the soil assays was greatest in Costa Rica (20.8–30.9%), followed by laboratory conditions (16.0–23.3%), and lowest in Russia (13.2–22.0%). The biocomposites with flax straw were more prone to biodegradation than those with wood flour, which can be explained by the chemical composition of fillers and the shape of filler particles. As the size fraction of filler particles increased, the biodegradation rate increased. Large particles had higher bioavailability than small spherical ones, encapsulated by a polymer. The prepared biocomposites have potential as an ecofriendly replacement for traditional polyolefins, especially in warmer climates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:57:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-89d67ee0efee4da79e3992f8f3dab747 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:57:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-89d67ee0efee4da79e3992f8f3dab7472023-11-22T02:12:02ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-06-011313213810.3390/polym13132138Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three EnvironmentsAnna K. Zykova0Petr V. Pantyukhov1Elena E. Mastalygina2Christian Chaverri-Ramos3Svetlana G. Nikolaeva4Jose J. Saavedra-Arias5Anatoly A. Popov6Sam E. Wortman7Matheus Poletto8Department of Biological and Chemical Physics of Polymers, Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kosygina st. 4, 119334 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Biological and Chemical Physics of Polymers, Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kosygina st. 4, 119334 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Biological and Chemical Physics of Polymers, Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kosygina st. 4, 119334 Moscow, RussiaDepartamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Campus Omar Dengo, Universidad Nacional, Calle 9, Avenidas 0 y 1, 40101 Heredia, Costa RicaDepartamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Campus Omar Dengo, Universidad Nacional, Calle 9, Avenidas 0 y 1, 40101 Heredia, Costa RicaDepartamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Campus Omar Dengo, Universidad Nacional, Calle 9, Avenidas 0 y 1, 40101 Heredia, Costa RicaDepartment of Biological and Chemical Physics of Polymers, Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kosygina st. 4, 119334 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 279 Plant Sciences Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915, USAPostgraduate Program in Engineering of Processes and Technologies (PGEPROTEC), Exact Sciences and Engineering, Central Campus, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul 95070-560, BrazilThe purpose of this study was to assess the potential for biocomposite films to biodegrade in diverse climatic environments. Biocomposite films based on polyethylene and 30 wt.% of two lignocellulosic fillers (wood flour or flax straw) of different size fractions were prepared and studied. The developed composite films were characterized by satisfactory mechanical properties that allows the use of these materials for various applications. The biodegradability was evaluated in soil across three environments: laboratory conditions, an open field in Russia, and an open field in Costa Rica. All the samples lost weight and tensile strength during biodegradation tests, which was associated with the physicochemical degradation of both the natural filler and the polymer matrix. The spectral density of the band at 1463 cm<sup>−1</sup> related to CH<sub>2</sub>-groups in polyethylene chains decreased in the process of soil burial, which is evidence of polymer chain breakage with formation of CH<sub>3</sub> end groups. The degradation rate of most biocomposites after 20 months of the soil assays was greatest in Costa Rica (20.8–30.9%), followed by laboratory conditions (16.0–23.3%), and lowest in Russia (13.2–22.0%). The biocomposites with flax straw were more prone to biodegradation than those with wood flour, which can be explained by the chemical composition of fillers and the shape of filler particles. As the size fraction of filler particles increased, the biodegradation rate increased. Large particles had higher bioavailability than small spherical ones, encapsulated by a polymer. The prepared biocomposites have potential as an ecofriendly replacement for traditional polyolefins, especially in warmer climates.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/13/2138low-density polyethylenelignocellulosic fillerswood flourflax strawbiocompositesbiodegradation |
| spellingShingle | Anna K. Zykova Petr V. Pantyukhov Elena E. Mastalygina Christian Chaverri-Ramos Svetlana G. Nikolaeva Jose J. Saavedra-Arias Anatoly A. Popov Sam E. Wortman Matheus Poletto Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments Polymers low-density polyethylene lignocellulosic fillers wood flour flax straw biocomposites biodegradation |
| title | Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments |
| title_full | Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments |
| title_fullStr | Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments |
| title_short | Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments |
| title_sort | biocomposites of low density polyethylene plus wood flour or flax straw biodegradation kinetics across three environments |
| topic | low-density polyethylene lignocellulosic fillers wood flour flax straw biocomposites biodegradation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/13/2138 |
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