A degradable additive is mixed in to the polythene film blend during the manufacturing process. The lifespan of the bag is determined by the amount of additive used and the environmental conditions the bag is kept in, as the degradation process begins when bags are exposed to oxygen, light, heat or stress. Degradable carrier bags, biodegradable plastic bags can be printed up to 14 colours on 2 sides.
What are degradable and biodegradable plastics?
Degradable and biodegradable plastics are defined by ASTM D883-99 as follows:
Degradable Plastic: A plastic designed to undergo a significant change in its chemical structure under specific environmental conditions resulting in a loss of some properties that may vary as measured by standard test methods appropriate to the plastic and the application in a period of time that determines its classification.
Biodegradable Plastic: A degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally-occurring micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae.
What is oxo-biodegradable?
Oxo-biodegradable is a two-stage process in which a plastic is first converted by reaction with oxygen to molecular fragments that are water- wettable. Secondly, these smaller oxidized molecules are biodegraded and converted into carbon dioxide, water and biomass, by microorganisms.
What are the main types of biodegradable plastics and how do they differ?
There are 2 main types of biodegradable plastics: Oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable. Both will first undergo chemical degradation by oxidation and hydrolysis for oxo- and hydro-biodegradable plastics respectively. This results in their physical disintegration and a drastic reduction in their molecular weights. These smaller, lower molecular weight fragments are then amenable to biodegradation.
Hydro-biodegradable plastics tend to degrade and biodegrade somewhat more quickly than oxo-biodegradable ones but the end result is the same – both are converted to carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Oxo-biodegradable plastics are generally less expensive, possess better physical properties and are easier to process on current plastics processing equipment than hydro-biodegradable plastics.
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