Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia
https://revistapolimeros.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/0104-1428.20210058
Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia
Original Article

Structural changes of polyethylene in blown films with different pro-oxidants

João Augusto Osório Brandão; Fernando Dal Pont Morisso; Edson Luiz Francisquetti; Ruth Marlene Campomanes Santana

Downloads: 0
Views: 729

Abstract

The accumulation of polymeric residues has been one of the most impacting environmental problems in recent human history, coming, above all, from disposable artefacts, such as plastic bags. Processing polyolefins with pro-oxidant additives is an alternative to favour the abiotic degradation process of macromolecules, including thermooxidation, so that the oxygenated fragments produced can be assimilated by microorganisms. The objective of this work was to evaluate the process of thermomechanical oxidative degradation of polyethylene (PE) during tubular extrusion of HDPE/LDPE films, without and with 1% of two different pro-oxidants, d2wTM and benzoin. The results of viscosimetric and MFI analyses indicated smaller chain sizes in the additivated films. The FTIR spectra and contact angles indicate a higher presence of polar functional groups in the samples with pro-oxidants. The surface morphological analysis by SEM indicated difference of PE homogeneity in the films. Benzoin, however, proved to be a better pro-oxidant than d2wTM.

Keywords

benzoin, d2wTM, polyethylene, pro-oxidants, thermooxidation

References

1 Thompson, R. C., Moore, C. J., vom Saal, F. S., & Swan, S. H. (2009). Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 2153-2166. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2009.0053. PMid:19528062.

2 Vázquez-Morillas, A., Beltrán-Villavicencio, M., Alvarez-Zeferino, J. C., Osada-Velázquez, M. H., Moreno, A., Martínez, L., & Yañez, J. M. (2016). Biodegradation and ecotoxicity of polyethylene films containing pro-oxidant additive. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 24(3), 221-229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10924-016-0765-8.

3 Silva, E. A., & Moita Neto, J. M. (2015). Environmental impacts the production of polyethylene bottles in a Teresina-PI factory. Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia, 25(No. esp.), 59-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0104-1428.1949.

4 Vasconcelos, Y. (2019). Planeta plástico. Pesquisa FAPESP, 281, 18-24. Retrieved in 2021, August 1, from https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/planeta-plastico/

5 Thompson, R. C., Swan, S. H., Moore, C. J., & vom Saal, F. S. (2009). Our plastic age. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 1973-1976. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2009.0054. PMid:19528049.

6 Silva, E. A., & Moita, J. M., No. (2016). Possibilities for environmental improvements in the polyethylene recycling process. Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia, 26(No. esp.), 49-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0104-1428.1954.

7 Koutny, M., Lemaire, J., & Delort, A.-M. (2006). Biodegradation of polyethylene films with prooxidant additives. Chemosphere, 64(8), 1243-1252. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.12.060. PMid:16487569.

8 Lucas, N., Bienaime, C., Belloy, C., Queneudec, M., Silvestre, F., & Nava-Saucedo, J.-E. (2008). Polymer biodegradation: mechanisms and estimation techniques. Chemosphere, 73(4), 429-442. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.06.064. PMid:18723204.

9 Ammala, A., Bateman, S., Dean, K., Petinakis, E., Sangwan, P., Wong, S., Yuan, Q., Yu, L., Patrick, C., & Leong, K. H. (2011). An overview of degradable and biodegradable polyolefins. Progress in Polymer Science, 36(8), 1015-1049. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2010.12.002.

10 Passos, T. M., Marconato, J. C., & Franchetti, S. M. M. (2015). Biodegradation of films of low density polyethylene (LDPE), poly(hidroxibutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV), and LDPE/PHBV (70/30) blend with Paecilomyces variotii. Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia, 25(1), 29-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0104-1428.1432.

11 Rosa, D. S., & Pantano, R., Fo. (2003). Biodegradabilidade – um ensaio com polímeros. Brazil: Moara.

12 Franchetti, S. M. M., & Marconato, J. C. (2006). Polímeros biodegradáveis - uma solução parcial para diminuir a quantidade dos resíduos plásticos. Quimica Nova, 29(4), 811-816. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422006000400031.

13 Luckachan, G. E., & Pillai, C. K. S. (2011). Biodegradable polymers - A review on recent trends and emerging perspectives. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 19(3), 637-676. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10924-011-0317-1.

14 Siracusa, V., Rocculi, P., Romani, S., & Rosa, M. D. (2008). Biodegradable polymer for food: a review. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 19(12), 634-643. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2008.07.003.

15 Ojeda, T. F. M., Dalmolin, E., Forte, M. M. C., Jacques, R. J. S., Bento, F. M., & Camargo, F. A. O. (2009). Abiotic and biotic degradation of oxo-biodegradable polyethylenes. Polymer Degradation & Stability, 94(6), 965-970. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2009.03.011.

16 Sen, S. K., & Raut, S. (2015). Microbial degradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE): a review. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 3(1), 462-473. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2015.01.003.

17 Santos, A. S. F., Freire, F. H. O., Costa, B. L. N., & Manrich, S. (2012). Sacolas plásticas: destinações sustentáveis e alternativas de substituição.Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia, 22(3), 228-237. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-14282012005000036.

18 Chiellini, E., Corti, A., D’Antone, S., & Baciu, R. (2006). Oxo-biodegradable carbon backbone polymers – Oxidative degradation of polyethylene under accelerated test conditions. Polymer Degradation & Stability, 91(11), 2739-2747. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2006.03.022.

19 Liu, X., Gao, C., Sangwan, P., Yu, L., & Tong, Z. (2014). Accelerating the degradation of polyolefins through additives and blending. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 131(18), 9001-9015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.40750.

20 Reddy, M. M., Gupta, R. K., Gupta, R. K., Bhattacharya, S. N., & Parthasarathy, R. (2008). Abiotic oxidation studies of oxo-biodegradable polyethylene. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 16(1), 27-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10924-008-0081-z.

21 Roy, P. K., Surekha, P., Raman, R., & Rajagopal, C. (2009). Investigating the role of metal oxidation state on the degradation behavior of LDPE. Polymer Degradation & Stability, 94(7), 1033-1039. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2009.04.025.

22 Jakubowicz, I. (2003). Evaluation of degradability of biodegradable polyethylene (PE). Polymer Degradation & Stability, 80(1), 39-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0141-3910(02)00380-4.

23 Corti, A., Muniyasamy, S., Vitali, M., Imam, S. H., & Chiellini, E. (2010). Oxidation and biodegradation of polyethylene films containing pro-oxidant additives: synergistic effects of sunlight exposure, thermal aging and fungal biodegradation. Polymer Degradation & Stability, 95(6), 1106-1114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.02.018.

24 Vogt, N. B., & Kleppe, E. A. (2009). Oxo-biodegradable polyolefins show continued and increased thermal oxidative degradation after exposure to light. Polymer Degradation & Stability, 94(4), 659-663. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2009.01.002.

25 Babetto, A. S., Agnelli, J. A. M., & Bettini, S. H. P. (2015). Evaluation of the pro-degradant systems in the thermooxidative degradation of HDPE. Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia, 25(No. esp.), 68-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0104-1428.2022.

26 Montagna, L. S., Catto, A. L., Forte, M. M. C., Chiellini, E., Corti, A., Morelli, A., & Santana, R. M. C. (2015). Comparative assessment of degradation in aqueous medium of polypropylene films doped with transition metal free (experimental) and transition metal containing (commercial) pro-oxidant/pro-degradant additives after exposure to controlled UV radiation. Polymer Degradation & Stability, 120, 186-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.06.019.

27 Rosa, T. P. S. (2019). Polietileno modificado com pró-degradante orgânico para aplicação em embalagens flexíveis (Master’s Thesis). Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre.

28 Brandup, J., Immergut, E. H., & Grulke, E. A. (2009). Polymer Handbook. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley-Interscience Publication.

29 Gulmine, J. V., Janissek, P. R., Heise, H. M., & Akcelrud, L. (2002). Polyethylene characterization by FTIR. Polymer Testing, 21(5), 557-563. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0142-9418(01)00124-6.

30 Sugimoto, M., Shimada, A., Kudoh, H., Tamura, K., & Seguchi, T. (2013). Product analysis for polyethylene degradation by radiation and thermal ageing. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 82, 69-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2012.08.009.

31 Albertsson, A.-C., Erlandsson, B., Hakkarainen, M., & Karlsson, S. (1998). Molecular weight changes and polymeric matrix changes correlated with the formation of degradation products in biodegradable polyethylene. Journal of Environmental Polymer Degradation, 6(4), 187-195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1021873631162.

32 Khajehpour-Tadavani, S., Nejabat, G.-R., & Mortazavi, S. M. M. (2018). Oxo-biodegradability of high-density polyethylene films containing limited amount of isotactic polypropylene. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 135(6), 45843. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.45843.

33 Agnelli, J. A. M., & Chinelatto, M. A. (1992). Degradação de polipropileno: aspectos teóricos e recentes avanços em sua estabilização. Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia, 2(3), 27-31. Retrieved in 2021, August 1, from https://revistapolimeros.org.br/journal/polimeros/article/588371317f8c9d0a0c8b4792

34 Gardette, M., Perthue, A., Gardette, J.-L., Janecska, T., Földes, E., Pukanszky, B., & Therias, S. (2013). Photo and thermal-oxidation of polyethylene: comparison of mechanisms and influence of unsaturation content. Polymer Degradation & Stability, 98(11), 2383-2390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2013.07.017.

35 Muthukumar, T., Aravinthan, A., & Mukesh, D. (2010). Effect of environment on the degradation of starch and pro-oxidant blended polyolefins. Polymer Degradation & Stability, 95(10), 1988-1993. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.07.017.
 

61eaed90a953954a4e70e512 polimeros Articles
Links & Downloads

Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia

Share this page
Page Sections