Environmental degradability of polycaprolactone under natural conditions

The aim of this work was an estimation of susceptibility of biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) to environmental degradation in different natural environments. The commercial poly(e-caprolactone) film, the trade name “CAPA 680”, was degraded in the compost, pond, open and harbour area of the Baltic Sea. Characteristic parameters of all natural environments were monitored during the incubation of polymer samples and their influence on degradation of PCL was discussed. Susceptibility of PCL to degradation in natural environments was evaluated based on changes of weight, crystallinity and polymer surface morphology. The rate of environmental degradation of PCL depended on the incubation place, environmental conditions and decreased in order: compost>harbour area of the Baltic Sea>open area of the Baltic Sea>pond.

[1]  Guy César,et al.  Accelerated ageing of polylactide in aqueous environments: Comparative study between distilled water and seawater , 2014 .

[2]  C. Way,et al.  Biodegradability Characterization of Polymer Nanocomposites , 2012 .

[3]  N. Karak.  Vegetable Oil-Based Polymers: Properties, Processing and Applications , 2012 .

[4]  J. Kovarova,et al.  Biodegradable polyester nanocomposites: The effect of structure on mechanical and degradation behavior , 2011 .

[5]  G. Camino,et al.  Biodegradation trend of poly(ε-caprolactone) and nanocomposites , 2010 .

[6]  K. Burg,et al.  In situ copolyesters containing poly(L-lactide) and poly(hydroxyalkanoate) units. , 2007, Biomacromolecules.

[7]  I. Steinka,et al.  Wpływ modyfikacji poli(ε-kaprolaktonu) na jego biodegradację w warunkach naturalnych , 2002 .

[8]  Q. Guo,et al.  Crystallization kinetics of poly(ε-caprolactone) in miscible thermosetting polymer blends of epoxy resin and poly(ε-caprolactone) , 2001 .

[9]  E. Martuscelli,et al.  Preparation and characterisation of compatibilised polycaprolactone/starch composites , 2000 .

[10]  A. Albertsson,et al.  Degradation of enhanced environmentally degradable polyethylene in biological aqueous media: mechanisms during the first stages , 1994 .

[11]  M. Rutkowska,et al.  Enzymatyczna i hydrolityczna degradacja poli(e-kaprolaktonu) w warunkach naturalnych , 2006 .

[12]  H. Tsuji,et al.  Environmental degradation of biodegradable polyesters 1. Poly(ε-caprolactone), poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate], and poly(L-lactide) films in controlled static seawater , 2002 .

[13]  S. Karlsson,et al.  Biodegradation of modified poly[epsilon-caprolactone] in different environments , 2002 .