Biodegradable Plastics – Do they really work?
There is a lot of talk these days about biodegradable plastics, renewable resources, carbon footprints and the like. It’s interesting that as companies look at the feasibility of biodegradable plastics they also look at how it affects the other aspects of the ecology. If it takes more energy and produces more negative effects on nature we have to be able to justify the efforts. Today’s bioplastics technology is catagorized several ways. There are pure bio polymers that are based on polylactides (fermented bacteria), cellulose ( naturally occuring wood product), lignin (a macromolecular by-product of paper), biopolymer blends (combination of bio sources) and finally polymer blends which utilize biomaterials and petroleum products.
Bioplastic products are further classified by either compostable or true biodegradable. Compostable bioplastics degrade by at least 90% within 6 months by natural environmental conditions; i.e. temperature, humidity and pH. This degradation occurs through typical composting breakdowns and the result is by-products such as water, carbon dioxide, methane and humus. Some biodegradable polymers will break down through naturally occuring micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi. Today, most of the bioplastics that fall into this category are packaging films and consumables but that is changing. More and more bioplastics are being developed with higher engineering potential. Materials that can withstand loads, can be extruded into shapes and molded or machined into finished parts for things as diverse as musical instruments to display panels in store fronts. It is also available in stock shapes such as rod, sheet, tube and custom profiles. Tri Star Plastics is working closely with bio-partners to develop more and more options in this interesting new world of bio-plastics. For more information on this technology, contact our Technical Department at www.tstar.com or send us a return blog! More interesting things on the way!
Tags: bio-plastics, biodegradable plastics, compostable plastics, eco-plastics
