Papers by Keyword: Biodegradable

Abstract: The growing demand for sustainable packaging materials has driven research toward the development of biodegradable polymer-based films with enhanced functional properties. This study aims to characterize the biodegradation properties of PVA/AKD/ZnO using soil burial method. PVA/AKD/ZnO films were prepared by solvent casting method at concentrations of 10 w/v %, 3 wt%, and 1 wt%, respectively. The films were subjected to soil burial degradation for 15, 30, 45, and 60 days, and their degradation behavior was monitored over time. The surface morphology, chemcial interactions, and thermal properties was determined by comparing the initial and post-degradation sample behavior. The outcomes of this study are anticipated to support the development of biodegradable materials for active food packaging applications.

Abstract: There is an urgent necessity to develop affordable, eco-friendly, and biodegradable materials to combat bacterial threats using innovative techniques and combinations. Fused Deposition Modeling is the most efficient and economical method for creating complex bi-metallic composites, which have demonstrated extraordinary antibacterial properties against common strains. This study investigates the antibacterial efficacy of two sets of biodegradable bi-materials consisting of PLA/Copper, one time by incorporating PLA/Stainless Steel and the other time PLA/Aluminum. The findings revealed that both sets exhibited outstanding antibacterial effectiveness within a concise period of less than ten minutes. Consequently, 3D-printed polymeric composites infused with metallic particles hold promise for various applications, including construction, biomedical applications, food packaging, and tissue engineering. Moreover, these composite materials offer sustainable solutions for public spaces and hospitals, where surface contact is frequent, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment.

Abstract: Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is an environmentally friendly material that can be used as a replacement for petroleum-based plastics in the production of disposable cutlery. However, the application of TPS is limited by its mechanical properties, low melting points, high water solubility, and inability to maintain structural integrity during usage. This research aimed to coat the surface of TPS with biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), to address these limitations. PLA solution was prepared by using a binary solvent system, comprising of acetone and dimethylformamide (Ac/DMF) to avoid the use of chlorinated solvent. Water contact angle measurements indicated that the PLA-coated TPS exhibited the improved water resistance compared to the uncoated TPS. Adhesion tests, conducted in accordance with ASTM D3359-17, revealed that the PLA coating adhered well to TPS, achieving adhesion levels of 4B-5B. Furthermore, degradation tests demonstrated that the PLA-coated TPS degraded within the range of 17-25% after 90 days. The degradation performance was comparable to the uncoated TPS, indicating that the PLA coating did not retard the biodegradability of TPS.

Abstract: Plastic is an important necessity with the characteristics of being light, strong, relatively cheap, and durable. However, plastic cannot decompose in a short time so that it becomes a pollutant. The using of Poly lactic acid (PLA) is an alternative to synthetic plastics substitute such as Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) because it is degradable. However, PLA is brittle, so it requires a plasticizer in the form of additives, namely Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200 and fillers in the form of clay and CaCO₃ to improve the mechanical properties of PLA which is brittle and has poor toughness. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adding additives to mechanical properties of PLA. The method used is solvent blending using chloroform as a solvent, stirring at 200 rpm for 6 hours at 30 . The research was conducted through testing the effect of the ratio of filler addition on the condition that the ratio of PLA/Additives was constant, i.e., 70%PLA/30% Additives. The resulting film is white and slightly transparent and has a smooth surface. The effect of adding additives in the form of plasticizers and fillers was tested through Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) analysis to determine the value of tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation break. The best result was obtained at a ratio of 25%CaCO₃/Clay, which was increasing elongation at break 7.62%. It also indicated with best decreased percentage value of Young’s modulus, and highest crystallinity index of 39.86%. The worst value is obtained in variant of 50%CaCO₃/Clay that indicated with lowest tensile strength and decreased of % elongation at break. From this study, the best variant was recommended as a laminating plastic, that does not require high tensile strength for application.

Abstract: A novel Zn biodegradable composite was produced by direct extrusion of Zn powders at room temperature. The powders were efficiently consolidated to a high relative density, and the composite reached a UTS higher than 120 MPa and elongation of almost 70%. Microstructural observations showed ultra-fine Zn grains decorated by well-dispersed ZnO clusters at the grain boundaries. The degradation behavior of the composite and an as-cast Zn reference accessed by immersion tests in HBSS for both materials were similar and gave an equivalent corrosion rate. Additional static immersion tests in DMEM + 5% FSB showed a similar corrosion rate (0.015 mm/y), but SEM analysis of the corroded surface suggested that the degradation process of each as-cast or DE consolidated composite differs. MTT assays with extracts of both as-cast and extruded composites showed similar cytotoxicity, which was dependent on the dilution of the extracts. It was concluded that the proposed methodology brings the potential for an interesting solution to produce a sound Zn-ZnO composite with good biocompatibility, satisfactory corrosion rate, and high yield strength.

Abstract: The aim of this experimental investigation is to assess the antibacterial resistance of a biodegradable Polylactic acid (PLA) based composite material enriched with non-copper metallic particles, notably Stainless Steel, and Aluminum as alternatives to copper. The composite materials were processed using additive manufacturing technology using commercial fused deposition modeling printers to produce samples for antibacterial testing. The antibacterial materials were assessed according to international standards to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy at different time intervals. It has been disclosed that the biodegradable PLA composite enhanced with Stainless Steel or Aluminum demonstrated an excellent resistance against distinct kinds of bacteria through the observed significant reduction in the bacteria levels.

Abstract: The production and consumption of non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics had an enormous increase in the past few years. Majority of these are used for food packaging. Biodegradable plastics receive much more attraction because they undergo complete degradation without forming any toxic compounds. Nowadays spoilage of food is the main concern faced by food industry. As microbial activity on food surface is the main reason for food spoilage, the integration of antimicrobial agents in biodegradable polymers or the use of biopolymers with inherent antimicrobial property could improve its shelf life. Current review summarizes major findings in the field of antimicrobial polymers, polymer/antimicrobial inorganic composites and polymer/essential oil blends for food packaging applications. India is home to large number of plants having antimicrobial properties. This review also highlights different methods for synthesis of efficient antimicrobial polymer films from these plants in a cost-effective way.

Abstract: A Micro forming was primarily developed in order to view the usage and significance of micro metal forming technology. It is implemented for the manufacturing and production of micro metallic devices like micro pump, micro gears (Polyoxymethylene polymer), Biodegradable implants (Polylactic acid) etc. The die assembly is provided with a DLC (Diamond like coating) coating during work study to resolved small size dimensional accuracy issue and enhanced tribological properties. Various High Energy Metal Forming processes (HERF) is discussed like ultrasonic vibration, explosive forming, magnetic forming, electro hydraulic forming, ultrasonic vibration and heating process for enhancement in formability and accuracy to the product of micro scale dimension. The detailed review of Micro forming and its applications in various fields that utilized the various high energy processes is discussed in this paper. Keywords: Biodegradable, Tribological Properties, HERF (High Energy Rate forming), Formability.

Abstract: The application of short-term packaging plastics that are biodegradable and possess the same or even greater mechanical properties as regular synthetic plastics is on the rise. These plastics, when disposed, are acted upon by microorganisms that are present naturally in soil and primarily release water and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In this study bioplastics was created using banana peel starch and LDPE coupled with plasticizers such as palm oil and glycerol, mechanical properties of the newly created bioplastic were studied. Furthermore, the characterization of the starch particles derived from renewable source were carried out using EDX and SEM. The biodegradation studies using glycerol as a plasticizer showed that 95%-LDPE breakdown occurred by 4.27% after 7 days, 17.7% after 14 days, and finally 25.77% after 28 days. However, when Palm Oil was used as a plasticizer, 95% -LDPE degradation occurred at 1.16% after 7 days, 2.57% after 14 days, and 5.15% after 28 days. This indicated that glycerol-plasticized LDPE-Starch sheets degraded at a quicker pace than palm oil-plasticized LDPE-Starch sheets. Finally, this study revealed that glycerol-plasticized LDPE-Starch sheets have better physiochemical properties (compressive and tensile stress) than palm oil-plasticized LDPE-Starch sheets. Keywords: Biodegradable; Plastic Sheet; Polyethylene (LDPE); Banana; Starch;

Abstract: Polybutylene succinate (PBS) with bentonite was investigated for its rheological, thermal and water absorption properties. The bentonite (BTN) was modified with soybean oil (SBO) and lard oil (LO) (2:98 clay: oil % by weight) by mechanical stirring and ultrasonication. The composites were prepared using an internal mixer and processed by compression molding. Under the bentonite modification conditions, XRD showed that the bentonite layers were penetrated with edible oils into the small layers and the enhancement of d-spacing between the BTN-layers in the composites. A small platelet-like structure of the modified bentonite composites was observed by SEM micrographs. The increase in MFI of untreated bentonite displayed the viscosity of PBS involving the moisture and water molecules decreased the frictional force. In addition, the viscosity of composites between PBS and treated bentonite with LO represented in an increase of the MFI value. Regarding the thermal properties, the presence of bentonite could act as a nucleating agent for PBS at low content (1-2%). Moreover, the treated with edible oils of bentonite could increase the percentage crystallinity of PBS at higher bentonite content. The presence of bentonite tends to increase the water absorption behavior of PBS/bentonite composites.