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Aging of PLA/NR electrospun fibers under the influence of UV-irradiation, water and soil environment
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Researchers tested how UV light, water, and soil exposure age and degrade biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) and natural rubber (NR) composite fibers. Higher natural rubber content accelerated degradation, important information for designing biodegradable plastic products that break down as intended without generating persistent microplastics.
Research in the field of the influence of environmental factors on composite materials based on polyesters is very relevant, as such materials are gaining more and more use in various industries and agriculture. This paper presents the results of the influence of UV-irradiation, water and soil on PLA/NR nonwoven fibers. The content of NR was 5-15 wt.%. It was found that the presence of NR over 10 wt. % inhibits photolysis. After 300 hours of irradiation, the melting point of 100% PLA decreases more significantly than in composites with NR. The IR-spectroscopy method confirmed the occurrence of the process of photooxidative degradation in fibrous samples. Biodegradation in soil proceeds more actively in PLA/NR fibrous composites than in pure PLA. Apparently, an increase in the proportion of the amorphous phase in the composites and the bioavailability of rubber contribute to this process.
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Aging Process of Biocomposites with the PLA Matrix Modified with Different Types of Cellulose
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Researchers prepared polylactic acid composites with three different cellulose-based fillers and studied how they age under UV light exposure. The study found that the type of cellulose additive plays a crucial role in how well the material resists UV degradation, with some forms improving both mechanical properties and degradation timing. These findings support the potential of biodegradable polymer composites as alternatives to conventional plastics that generate persistent microplastic waste.
Aging behavior of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics accelerated by UV/H2O2 processes
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Researchers used UV and hydrogen peroxide to simulate environmental aging of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, finding that PLA microplastics undergo significant surface and structural changes during weathering that alter their environmental behavior and persistence.
Degradation of Biodegradable Microplastics under Artificially Controlled Aging Conditions with UV Radiation
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Researchers subjected biodegradable plastics to controlled UV aging and found that they fragmented into microplastics faster than conventional plastics under simulated outdoor conditions. Biodegradable plastics are promoted as an eco-friendly alternative, but this study shows they may actually create microplastic pollution more rapidly in real-world environments. The findings raise important questions about whether biodegradable plastics are a genuine solution to plastic pollution.
Photo-Aging of Biodegradable Polylactic Acid Microplastics
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Researchers investigated the photo-aging of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, finding that UV exposure caused fragmentation that increased total particle numbers while decreasing average particle size. The study provides quantitative data on how biodegradable PLA plastics generate secondary microplastics through photoaging, a previously poorly characterized degradation pathway for this widely used industrial bioplastic.
Biodegradable plastics in the air and soil environment: Low degradation rate and high microplastics formation
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Researchers compared the degradation rates of various biodegradable plastic types in natural air and soil environments over time, finding that most degraded slowly under ambient conditions and generated substantial microplastic fragments, with non-certified biodegradable plastics showing essentially no degradation.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.