Mechanistic implications of plastic degradation

Singh, Baljit; Sharma, Nisha

doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2007.11.008

Cited by 1,195 publications

(701 citation statements)

References 191 publications

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“…Figure 10 shows the difference in surface topology as observed by SEM of typical degraded and non-degraded polypropylene microbond samples after testing. The degraded sample had a rough and pitted surface, which is a common phenomenon referred to as 'chalking' in polymer degradation [44]. The non-degraded sample had a smooth surface with visible spherulite boundaries formed during crystallisation.…”

Section: The Effect Of Matrix Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The usability of recycled carbon fibres in short fibre thermoplastics: interfacial properties

et al. 2016

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The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of combining discontinuous recycled carbon fibres with polypropylene, to produce a low-cost, high specific stiffness material for high-volume applications. The inherent low affinity of carbon fibre and polypropylene motivated a detailed study of the surface characteristics of carbon fibre and interfacial behaviour between the two materials, using the microbond test. The effects of removing the sizing from the fibres, as well as introducing a maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene coupling agent, were extensively investigated. Polypropylene was found to degrade when prepared under atmospheric conditions; therefore, it was necessary to form droplets under nitrogen. Removal of the sizing from the fibre using pyrolysis and solvolysis techniques altered the surface morphology of the fibre and increased the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) by 4 and 33 %, respectively. A more significant improvement in the fibre-matrix adhesion was achieved by adding a maleic anhydride coupling agent at 2 wt%, which increased the IFSS by 320 %.

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Section: The Effect Of Matrix Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The usability of recycled carbon fibres in short fibre thermoplastics: interfacial properties

et al. 2016

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“…In 2012, 280 million tons of plastics were produced globally with less than a half end up into landfills or recycled and the rest may still be in use or otherwise be discarded into the environment (Rochman et al 2013a). In the environment, larger plastic items can slowly breakdown into small pieces via physical, chemical, and biological processes (O'Brine and Thompson 2010;Singh and Sharma 2008). Plastic debris can be transported into oceans with current and accumulate in marine habitats (Browne et al 2011;Sadri and Thompson 2014;Thompson et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to polyethylene debris

Zhang

Huang

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

333

106

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Presence of plastic debris in marine and freshwater ecosystems is increasingly reported. Previous research suggested plastic debris had a strong affiliation for many pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals. In this study, the sorption behavior of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), including carbamazepine (CBZ), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC), triclosan (TCS), and 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), to polyethylene (PE) debris (250 to 280 μm) was investigated. The estimated linear sorption coefficients (K d ) are 191.4, 311.5, 5140, and 53,225 L/kg for CBZ, EE2, TCS, and 4MBC, and are related to their hydrophobicities. Increase of salinity from 0.05 to 3.5 % did not affect the sorption of 4MBC, CBZ, and EE2 but enhanced the sorption of TCS, likely due to the salting-out effect. Increase of dissolved organic matter (DOM) content using Aldrich humic acid (HA) as a proxy reduced the sorption of 4MBC, EE2, and TCS, all of which show a relatively strong affiliation to HA. Results from this work suggest that microplastics may play an important role in the fate and transport of PPCPs, especially for those hydrophobic ones.

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“…In these polymers, the degradation mechanism includes the photo or thermal oxidation (abiotic process) followed by biological degradation. The abiotic phase can be induced by thermal, photolytic, chemical, catalytic and mechanical degradation processes (Singh and Sharma 2008). The second step takes place only if the abiotically degraded plastic faces proper conditions for microbial growth (Kumanayaka et al 2010) Biodeterioration and biodegradation of HDPE, LDPE, PP, and polycarbonate (PC) without additives exposed to sea water have been shown before (Artham et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation of Conventional and Oxodegradable High Density Polyethylene in Tropical Aqueous and Outdoor Environments

Villamizar

Vázquez‐Morillas

2018

Rev. Int. Contam. Ambie.

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Polyethylene is widely used in packaging due to its chemical stability, lightness, impermeability and low cost. However, these properties become questionable when it is discarded. Oxodegradable plastics, which degrade by an abiotic-biotic process, have been promoted as a solution to the pollution caused by plastics. This research assesses the degradability of conventional and oxodegradable high density polyethylene in marine, freshwater, and outdoor tropical environments. Samples of these plastics, with and without previous abiotic degradation, were exposed to direct weathering in the Caribbean Sea and the Magdalena River, in Colombia. Their degradation was evaluated during six months by the formation of carbonyl groups, a decrease in elongation at break and visual evidence of deterioration. We found faster degradation for outdoor, followed by marine and freshwater conditions, evidencing that UV and temperature are the most relevant promoters of degradation, especially for oxodegradable plastics, as evidenced by the increase in carbonyl index. In aqueous environments, all specimens showed the formation of biofilm and in some cases cracks and fragmentation, especially in oxidized oxodegradable high density polyethylene specimens in the marine environment. Even if oxodegradables plastics, and in a lesser degree conventional ones, began their degradation process, they did not achieve complete disintegration or mineralization, due to lack of environmental conditions that can only be guaranteed in carefully monitored waste management systems.Palabras clave: contaminación por plásticos, microplásticos, ambientes acuáticos, fotooxidación RESUMENEl polietileno se utiliza ampliamente en el envasado debido a su estabilidad química, ligereza, impermeabilidad y bajo costo. Sin embargo, estas propiedades son cuestionables cuando se desecha. Los plásticos oxodegradables, que se degradan por un proceso abiótico-biótico, se han promovido como solución. Esta investigación evalúa la capacidad de descomposición del polietileno convencional de alta densidad y el oxodegradable en ambientes tropicales marinos, de agua dulce y a la intemperie. Las C.A. Arias-Villamizar and A. Vázquez-Morillas 138 muestras de polietileno convencional y oxodegradable, con y sin degradación abiótica previa, se expusieron en directo a la intemperie, en el mar Caribe y en el río Magdalena, en Colombia. Se evaluó su degradación durante seis meses por la formación de grupos carbonilo, la disminución del porcentaje de elongación a la ruptura y mediante evidencias visuales de deterioro. Se encontró degradación más rápida para las condiciones al aire libre, lo que demuestra que la radiación UV y el perfil de temperatura son los promotores más pertinentes de la degradación, especialmente en plásticos oxodegradables, como se evidencia por el aumento en el índice de carbonilo. En sistemas acuosos, todas las probetas exhibieron biopelícula, en algunos casos se encontraron grietas y se observó fragmentación. Especialmente se encontró este comportamiento en l...

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Mechanistic implications of plastic degradation

Cited by 1,195 publications

References 191 publications

The usability of recycled carbon fibres in short fibre thermoplastics: interfacial properties

The usability of recycled carbon fibres in short fibre thermoplastics: interfacial properties

Sorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to polyethylene debris

Degradation of Conventional and Oxodegradable High Density Polyethylene in Tropical Aqueous and Outdoor Environments

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