ХИМИЯ И ХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИИ/

5.Фундаментальные проблемы создания новых материалов и технологий.

Diana Fedorova

Publishing and Printing Institute, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine

BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS FOR THE PACKAGING INDUSTRY

Traditionally, plastics are made of synthetic polymers that have a structure that can’t be found in nature, therefore they are not biodegradable. Based on the latest achievements in understanding the relationship between the structure of the polymer, its properties and natural processes, new materials have been developed, which in their properties are not inferior to ordinary plastics, but which are biodegradable.

Biodegradable polymers, especially those made from biological raw materials make up a very small share of the world market of plastics. According to the conclusion of a recent report on degraded materials biological basis, issued by the Institute of Perspective Technological Studies of the European Commission, the percentage of polymer materials on the market in Europe amounted to 1.2% in 2010 and less than 5% to 2020.

The main applications of biodegradable plastics include packaging of food products. Containers, films and foam materials made from such polymers, used for meat package, dairy products, baked goods and other products. Another common application is the most disposable bottles and cups for water, milk, juice and other beverages, plates, bowls and trays. Another market for such materials is the production of bags for collection and composting of food waste and packages for supermarkets, developing the use of these polymers for agricultural films market.

Biodegradable polymers characteristics: permeability; inert; non-toxicity; biocompatibility; tensile strength; mechanical strength; controlled rate of degradation. In opposite to most plastic, biodegradable polymers can be cleaved under ambient conditions using bacteria or fungus. The polymer is biodegradable if all its mass decomposes in the soil or water for about six months. As usual, the products of decomposition are carbon dioxide and water.

A main factor affecting polymer resistance to biodegradation is the size of its molecules. Biodegradable polymers can be obtained from renewable sources such as corn sugar allocation, or they can be obtained from petrochemical raw materials. Polymers can be used alone or in combination with other plastic resins and additives.

The modified starch can be manufactured on the same equipment as conventional plastic, it can be painted and it can be applied to printing using all conventional technologies. This material is static in nature. Physical properties of modified starch are generally inferior properties of resins obtained by petrochemical what it is competing - polyethylene of low and high pressure and polypropylene. Yet starch already found application in some markets. Among the applications of modified starch, food trays, which are produced by the method of hot forming; agricultural film; styrofoam packing materials; cutlery made using the casting method; mesh for vegetables and fruits made using the extrusion method.

Now developed two directions of biodegradable materials: hydro-degraded and oxy degraded. Bacteria are an additional processing used to create a different type of biodegradable plastics. The development of biodegradable materials is the main direction of the development of advanced technologies. Their application in daily use will help to minimize pollution of the environment. A distinctive feature of biodegradable materials is the ability to quickly decompose under normal conditions under the influence of the environment (oxygen air, temperature, water, UV, etc.) to low molecular weight compounds that are consumed by microorganisms.

References

1. A. Ashwin Kumar, K. Karthick, K. P. Arumugam (2011). «Properties of Biodegradable Polymers and Degradation for Sustainable Development». International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications. 2 (3), 164–167.

2. L. Avérous, E. Pollet (2012). Environmental Silicate Nano-Biocomposites, Green Energy and Technology. London: 3. 443.