Degradation study of polypropylene (PP) and bioriented polypropylene (BOPP) in the environment

Materials Research

Carina Longo¹  Michele Savaris¹  Mára Zeni¹  Rosmary Nichele Brandalise¹  Ana Maria Coulon Grisa¹ 

[1] ,Universidade de Caxias do Sul Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia Caxias do Sul RS ,Brasil

关键词: polypropylene;    bioriented polypropylene;    degradation;    landfill;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1516-14392011005000080

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Polymers are vastly employed for numerous purposes in different industrial segments and generate soaring quantities of discarding in the environment. This research analyzed the degradability/biodegradability of polypropylene films (PP) and Bioriented polypropylene (BOPP) polymers after 11 months interred in the São Giácomo landfill in Caxias do Sul. Comparing the buried PP film to a sample of virgin PP, two peaks of degrading activity appeared at the TG curve as well as structure modification typified by occurrence of new absorption bands at FTIR, which can be credited to changes in crystallinity. Thermal analysis carried out on the buried PP and BOPP showed decreases in the percentage of crystallinity due to chain scission. The major reduction was observed in the PP, since its crystallinity is a consequence of polymerization instead of chain orientation processes, as in BOPP. Cracks and erosion of the polymer surface were detected in both PP and BOPP, indicating degrading processes by microorganisms.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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