Journal
MATERIALS RESEARCH-IBERO-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MATERIALS
Volume 14, Issue 4, Pages 442-448Publisher
UNIV FED SAO CARLOS, DEPT ENGENHARIA MATERIALS
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-14392011005000080
Keywords
polypropylene; bioriented polypropylene; degradation; landfill
Categories
Funding
- CNPq
- FAPERGS
- University of Caxias do Sul (UCS)
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Polymers are vastly employed for numerous purposes in different industrial segments and generate soaring quantities of discarding in the environment. This research analyzed the degradability/biodegradability of polypropylene films (PP) and Bioriented polypropylene (BOPP) polymers after 11 months interred in the Sao Giacomo landfill in Caxias do Sul. Comparing the buried PP film to a sample of virgin PP, two peaks of degrading activity appeared at the TG curve as well as structure modification typified by occurrence of new absorption bands at FTIR, which can be credited to changes in crystallinity. Thermal analysis carried out on the buried PP and BOPP showed decreases in the percentage of crystallinity due to chain scission. The major reduction was observed in the PP, since its crystallinity is a consequence of polymerization instead of chain orientation processes, as in BOPP. Cracks and erosion of the polymer surface were detected in both PP and BOPP, indicating degrading processes by microorganisms.
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