Types of Biodegradable Polymers.pptx

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1. Types of Biodegradable Polymers Dr.D.Syam Babu

2. Introduction Rise of environmental pollution by synthetic polymers in developing countries have reached dangerous levels. Plastics produced from petroleum resources are not biodegradable. Because they defy microbial degradation , they end up in the landfills and damage the environment. Totop that off, oil prices have increased remarkably.

3. Classification of the biodegradable polymers

4. Evolvement of Bio-Based Polymers

5. Bio-Based Polymers Bio-based polymers are materials which are produced from renewable resources.

6. There are three principal ways to produce bio-based polymers using renewable resources Using natural bio-based polymers with partial modification to meet the requirements ( eg , starch) Producing bio-based monomers by fermentation/conventional chemistry followed by polymerization ( eg , PLA, PBS , and PE) Producing bio-based polymers directly by bacteria ( eg,PHAs ).

7. Bio-based polymers are broadly divided into two main categories: Starch-based polymers. Cellulose-based polymers.

8. Starch-Based Polymers Starch is primarily made up of two polysaccharides Amylose , a mostly linear α-D ( 1,4’ )- glucan and branched amylopectin, having the same backbone structure as amylose but with many α-1,6’ -linked branch points as shown in Fig The starch chains has a lot hydroxyl groups , two secondary hydroxyl groups at C-2 and C-3 of each glucose residue, as well as one primary hydroxyl group at C-6 when it is not linked. The available hydroxyl groups on the starch chains can be oxidized and reduced, and can help in the formation of hydrogen bonds, ethers, and esters Starch comprises of 10-20 % amylose and 80-90 % amylopectin depending on the source

9. Characteristics of starch-based polymers Some of the market drivers of starch-based polymers are: Lower cost materials than some other types of biodegradable polymers such as synthetic co-polyesters and PLA because of relatively cheap agricultural feedstock and simpler manufacturing process. Environmental-friendly than synthetic biopolymers; Starch blends have better physical and mechanical properties than pure plant based polymers.

10. Starch-based polymers are used in Applications which are used in natural environment such as agricultural and fishery materials. A pplications where reuse of the product is difficult and composting organic waste is effective. A pplications with specific features, where functionality and performance can also be completely separated from the main function.

11. Starch-based polymers are typically classified into four types: Thermoplastic starch (TPS) Starchsynthetic aliphatic polyester blends StarchPBS /PBSA polyester blends StarchPVOH blend

12. 1. Thermoplastic Starch TPS is similar to other polymers with linear and branched structures, molar mass, glass transition temperature, crystallinity, and melting temperature . However , in the presence of a plasticizer such as water, glycerin , sorbitol high temperatures ( 90 180 C ) and shearing, it melts and fluidizes , enabling its use in injection, extrusion, and blowing equipment such as those for synthetic plastics.

13. 2. Starch Synthetic Aliphatic Polyester Blends High-quality sheets and films for packaging are often made from blends of biodegradable synthetic aliphatic polyesters and starch. It is typical that approximately 50% of synthetic polyester is replaced with natural polymers, such as starch. Polyesters are also modified by incorporating different functional groups such as hydroxy , amine, and carbonyl that are capable of reacting with natural starch polymers.

14. When starch is blended with degradable polyesters such as PCL, the resulting blend is fully biodegradable. This has become focus of biodegradable polymer development. Typically , up to 45% of starch is blended with degradable PCL. Although, the blend is fully biodegradable , it is not strong enough for most applications. The melting temperature is relatively low around 60 C and it gets soft at temperatures above 40 C . Because of these drawbacks, starch PCL has limited applications .

15. 3. StarchPBS /PBSA Polyester Blends One of the major starch-based synthetic aliphatic polyester blends are starch PBS/PBSA polyester blends . PBS and polybutylene succinate adi pate (PBSA) are synthesized from 1,4-butanediol and succinic and/or adipic acid at 215 225 C under high vacuum. The resulting average molecular weight of 40 kg/ mol is not sufficient. In order to increase molecular weight to the desired level, a small amount of unsaturated carboxylic acid is added under addition polymerization initiated by peroxides.

16. StarchPBS /PBSA blends disintegrate in compost after 6 weeks. Some of their applications includes films for compostable trash bags, paper lamination, magnetic cards, sheets for thermoforming, extrusion forming , monofilament for fishing lines, woven nets, and ropes.

17. 4. Starch PVOH Blends Blending starch with biodegradable polyester results in phase separation and poor interfacial properties. Because PVOH degrades at high temperature when processed by melt processing, starch PVOH blend uses solution casting to produce films. However, low efficiency and high processing cost makes solution casting economically not viable and hence not the process of choice.

18. Mechanical properties of starch PVOH blends are directly impacted by the amount of the plasticizers added. Higher concentration of plasti cizer drastically improves mechanical properties and reduces waterabsorbance . In the case of citric acid, mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break are improved drastically with increase in the citric acid concentration.

19. Thank you