Accelerated degradation studies of starch-filled polyethylene films

Degradable polymers for the future

“…The incorporation of additional pro-degradant additives provides potential for degradation by abiotic mechanisms such as photo-and thermo-oxidation. Extensive degradation studies on starch-filled polyethylene with and without pro-oxidants have been performed by Albertsson et al [22].…”

Plant polymers for biodegradable plastics: Cellulose, starch and polyhydroxyalkanoates

“…Claims to improve the biodegradability of the synthetic polymer by starch addition could not be verified when standards for biodegradation were developed, for example by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) [33,5,29,47,97]. Even the biodegradation of starch itself is reduced, probably because of its inaccessibility to enzymes [87]. Degradation of blends of starch with synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene, made according to the Griffin technology could be observed when autoxidants such as unsaturated fatty acids and trace amounts of metal ions (Fe, Cu, Mn) catalyzing oxidative degradation are added to the blend [2].…”

Accelerated and environmental weathering studies on polyethylene-starch blend films

“…TSC-VO-10 films were made from a compounded mixture of starch, PE, and 0.1% of sunflower oil. 8,15,16 Compounding in the cases of TSC-10 and TSC-VO-10 and extrusion of all the films were carried out at 120°C.…”