Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.72, No.10, 1283-1290, 1999
Polyblend CPP and Bionolle with PP-g-MAH as compatibilizer. II. Biodegradability
The biodegradability of Bionolle and a CPP/Bionolle blend in two biotic environments, that is, soil and a lipase-enzyme solution, were evaluated using the mechanical properties and weight-loss data. It was noted that upon soil burial the tensile strength and elongation at break of polyblends were significantly reduced, particularly after 3 months. The time of complete loss of strength as predicted from the curve-fit model was found sequentially to be 6.80, 5.03, 4.84, 11.49, and 140.25 months for Bionolle, compatibilized Bionolle, and CPP/Bionolle (25/75), (50/50), and (75/25), respectively. Meanwhile, the weight loss of polyblends during soil burial were observed to generally increase with increasing Bionolle content. Even a synergistic effect on the weight loss was shown by compatibilized Bionolle and CPP/Bionolle (25/75). Additionally, the time for complete weight loss as estimated from the curve-fit model was 12.57, 7.33, 7.01, and 13.90 months for Bionolle, compatibilized Bionolle, and CPP/Bionolle (25/75) and (50/50), respectively. From the enzymatic degradation, it was recognized that in the early stage of biodegradation both the amorphous phase and the crystalline parts were randomly attacked. It was found that the weight loss that resulted from enzymatic degradation was satisfactorily described by a generalized kinetic curve derived from a first-order reaction.