Oxidation and biodegradation of polyethylene films containing pro-oxidant additives: Synergistic effects of sunlight exposure, thermal aging and fungal biodegradation

Silver effect on the biodegradation process of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene based thermoplastic elastomers compounds upon weathering exposure

“…Considering that abiotic degradation increases the mineralization process, these results are in agreement with the literature. Even at a slow oxidation rate, some chains of the polymer can be fragmented and become susceptible to access of the microorganisms (Corti et al, 2010). In a previous study, after 9 months of SEBS-TPE exposure to weathering, the polymer degradation was confirmed with the reduction of tensile properties, variation of crystallinity of material and surface modification of polymer with the appearance of oxidation bands verified by infrared spectroscopy (Tomacheski et al, 2017a).…”

“…In styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS)-based TPE matrices, the metal particles have the tendency to remain in the SEBS/oil phase (Tomacheski et al, 2016). The amorphous part of the polymer matrix is prone to oxidation; whereas the crystalline phase of the polymer is more susceptible to a molecular reorganization, such as chains fragmentation (Corti et al, 2010). Thus, the breaking of polypropylene chains and SEBS/oil permeability can influence the polymer crystallinity and finally favor the release of ions and silver nanoparticles from the polymer to the environment (Tomacheski et al, 2017a).…”

“…The ability to produce metabolites enables the hyphae of the fungus to grow even on microbial-resistant polymers surface (Lugauskas et al, 2003). Since these microbes use oxidation products as a carbon source (Corti et al, 2010) they can cope with metal-stress more effectively than bacteria (Sillen et al, 2015).…”

“…Polymers possess structures resistant to biodegradation, being less susceptible to microbial attack due to their high molecular weight, hydrophobicity, the presence of antioxidants, and lack of biodegradable functional groups such as oxygen and nitrogen (Corti et al, 2010;Russel et al, 2011). Though the plasticizers used in TPE formulations can support microbial growth (Lugauskas et al, 2003), a structure composed solely of carbon and hydrogen make polymers resistant to biodegradation (Zheng et al, 2005).…”

Effect of Metal Acetylacetonates on the Photooxidative Destruction of High Density Polyethylene

“…They further react with О 2 to produce hydroperoxides which are the main reason for the destruction of the polymer 5,6 . The last stage is the self-oxidation and breaking of the PE chain 7,8 along classic free radical reactions 9 :…”