Developing Biodegradable Mulch Films from Starch-Based Polymers
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English Slovak |
| ISSN: | ISSN 0038-9056 |
| Online Access: | http://www.viks.sk/chk/star_8_01_362_367.doc |
| Abstract: | Summaries. This paper examines the development of starch-based plastics for use as biodegradable mulch film. A variety of starch-based polymers are blended with high performance biodegradable polyester polymers in order to determine the applicability of films to be processed on a film blowing line and to perform well in mulch film field trials. The process of material formulation, film blowing processing and scale-up and performance properties are highlighted for a successful material. Insights into future developments of starch-derived biodegradable polymers are given. Conclusions. This work showed that via careful formulation development, processing understanding and final property measurements and trials, a successful starch-based biodegradable polymer blend mulch film was produced. Extension of this work to product packaging (product requirement extension: clarity - i.e., no carbon black formation) and bread bags (product requirement extension: clarity, water vapour transmission resistance) is being undertaken. The development of biodegradable plastics has always been impaired by the inherent degradability and the high cost of most biodegradable polymers. The use of low cost biodegradable plastics, blending technologies and direction of research to niche markets that do not just compete with the conventional polymers raw costs (the mulch film application for example, has to compete with polyethylene raw material and processing costs plus the disposal cos) is providing a good direction. In the future large companies (ex Novamont, Italy; Cargill-Dow, USA) will drive the price of high performance biodegradable polymers down further due to large production facilities, novel processing methods and economies of scale. Also recent novel developments, such as reactive blending enabling higher percentages of low cost ingredients to be used with no detriment to product properties [22] and use of nano composites based on clays to control aging properties in starch-nanocomposite products [23], will further widen biodegradable polymer applications. Both the economies of scale and material advances will enable biodegradable polymers to move from successful, but niche markets into large widespread applications. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | ISSN 0038-9056 |
