Because the problem of plastic pollution has attracted increasing attention, biodegradable plastics have become a focus of R&D and manufacturing. So what is biodegradable plastic? This post will take you on a journey to explore the world of biodegradable plastics.
What are biodegradable plastics?
Biodegradable plastic can degrade into carbon dioxide, water, methane and other mineralized inorganic salts and new biomass by bacteria or other microorganisms under specific conditions, such as heat, light, oxygen, etc. Biodegradable plastics are usually made of grain, potatoes, and wheat starch. Today, the popular biodegradable plastics are as follows:
- PLA(polylactic acid)
PLA is a new type of biodegradable material made from starch derived from renewable plant resources. Polylactic acid is often used to process various plastic products, fast food lunch boxes, non-woven fabrics, and so on.
- PBAT(polybutylene adipate terephthalate)
PBAT is a copolymer of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, which combines the excellent degradation properties of aliphatic polyesters and the good mechanical properties of aromatic polyesters. Therefore, PBAT has the characteristics of soft texture, strong ductility, and short degradation period, becoming one of the most commonly used plastic processing materials.
- PHA(polyhydroxy fatty acid ester)
PHA is a kind of aliphatic copolyester with different structures synthesized by microorganisms through the fermentation of various carbon sources.
- PBS(polybutylene succinate)
PBS is a biodegradable polyester that is attracting more and more attention because of its excellent mechanical properties and processability. It can be processed by injection molding, blow molding, film blowing, blister molding, lamination, foaming, spinning, and other molding methods.
- PGA(polyglycolic acid)
It is a highly crystalline aliphatic polymer that degrades naturally and bio, with the final degradation products being water and carbon dioxide. It can be used for injection molding and spinning.
- PCL(polycaprolactone)
PCL is a degradable polymer with a low melting point, which is synthesized from polyester biosynthesis and has good hydrophobicity and heat resistance. PCL can be used to manufacture food packaging, 3D printing, agricultural coating, etc.
These biodegradable plastics have different characteristics and can meet the different production needs of manufacturers.
What are biodegradable plastics made of?
Biodegradable plastics are made of traditional plastic and starch. The used starch is mainly corn starch, tapioca flour, or plant fiber. According to the source of raw materials, biodegradable plastic can be divided into bio-based biodegradable bags and petrochemical-based biodegradable bags.
- Bio-based biodegradable plastic
Bio-based biodegradable plastic can be obtained by several methods. Firstly, the simplest way to produce biodegradable plastic is to process natural materials directly, such as thermoplastic starch, cellulose, polysaccharides, etc. Bio-based biodegradable plastic can be synthesized by microbial fermentation and chemical synthesis or directly by microorganisms.
In addition, they can be obtained by blending the above materials or blending these materials with other chemically synthesized biodegradable plastics.
- Petrochemical-based biodegradable plastic
Petrochemical-based biodegradable plastics are obtained by polymerization of petrochemical monomers by chemical synthesis, the most common of which are PBAT and PCL.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable plastics?
Biodegradable plastic shows outstanding advantages over traditional plastic.
- Reduce environmental pollution
Biodegradable plastic is produced with plant-based material and can degrade in a natural environment or under specific environmental conditions, which is environmentally friendly.
- Reduce the harm to human health
Importantly, biodegradable plastics don’t contain toxic material. By using eco-friendly and biodegradable plastic products in our daily lives, we have a secure and sustainable living space.
- Reduce energy consumption
Traditional plastics need to consume a lot of non-renewable resources such as oil, while biodegradable plastics need material resources such as cornstarch and cellulose, reducing the dependence on oil.
- Versatility
Biodegradable plastics are used in various fields, such as packaging, construction, agriculture, medical care, etc. The market potential for biodegradable plastics is huge and will certainly be used in other areas in the future.
Though biodegradable plastics have substantial benefits for us, they also have some shortcomings.
- High production cost
The raw materials used for the production of biodegradable plastics are more expensive than those of traditional plastics. As a result, the cost of production goes up, leading to the finished products being more expensive than traditional plastic products.
- Depending on environmental conditions to degrade
Biodegradable plastics need a specific condition. If they are not exposed to certain heat, light, and microorganisms, they would be difficult to degrade in a short period.
Applications of biodegradable plastic
Biodegradable plastic covers an extensive range of applications, including:
- Packing
This is one of the most widely used areas of biodegradable plastics. These plastic products are widely used to pack food, clothes, and other necessities. Thanks to the feature of strong, durable, and degradable, biodegradable packing products help to minimize environmental pollution.
- Medical care
The medical industry is an important field for the application of biodegradable materials. At present, biodegradable plastics are mostly used as surgical sutures, fracture fixation devices, organ repair, artificial skin, tissue, and cell engineering. The use of biodegradable sutures can save patients the pain of removing stitches, and the use of built-in biodegradable repair devices can reduce the risk of rejection and infection.
- Construction
Biodegradable plastics are used in the production of building materials such as plastic sheets and bricks. The use of these building materials helps to reduce environmental pollution.
- Agriculture
Currently, many farm tools are made of biodegradable plastics. Agricultural ground film is arguably one of the most promising markets for biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable mulch can become one of the choices to replace the traditional PE mulch, which, like ordinary mulch, has the effect of increasing temperature, retaining water and moisture, and reducing the amount of agricultural fertilizer and water. At the same time, the biodegradable film can degrade itself, without the farmer’s time and effort to recycle.
At present, biodegradable plastics have entered the market. More and more people are using biodegradable plastics to create a green planet. We call on you to participate in this green campaign.
