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Polymer degradation is the reduction in the physical properties of a polymer, such as strength, caused by changes in its chemical composition. Polymers and particularly plastics are subject to degradation at all stages of their product life cycle, including during their initial processing, use, disposal into the environment and recycling. [ 1 ]
Think about what happens when plastic is incinerated — the burning releases pollutants like microplastics. They seem to be everywhere: on the land, in the air and in the sea. Microplastics are ...
Biodegradable plastic. Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. [1] Biodegradable plastics are commonly produced with renewable raw materials, micro-organisms, petrochemicals, or combinations of all three. [2]
A rotten apple after it fell from a tree. Decomposing fallen nurse log in a forest. Decomposition or rot is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars and mineral salts.
In polymers, such as plastics, thermal degradation refers to a type of polymer degradation where damaging chemical changes take place at elevated temperatures, without the simultaneous involvement of other compounds such as oxygen. [1][2] Simply put, even in the absence of air, polymers will begin to degrade if heated high enough.
Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. [a][2] It is generally assumed to be a natural process, which differentiates it from composting. Composting is a human-driven process in which biodegradation occurs under a specific set of circumstances. The process of biodegradation is threefold ...
Plastic recycling is the processing of plastic waste into other products. [ 1 ][ 2 ][ 3 ] Recycling can reduce dependence on landfill, conserve resources and protect the environment from plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. [ 4 ][ 5 ] Recycling rates lag behind those of other recoverable materials, such as aluminium, glass and paper.
In polymer chemistry photo-oxidation (sometimes: oxidative photodegradation) is the degradation of a polymer surface due to the combined action of light and oxygen. [1] It is the most significant factor in the weathering of plastics. [2] Photo-oxidation causes the polymer chains to break (chain scission), resulting in the material becoming ...