Click here to download Types of Degradable Plastic

• Degradable can be classified in two ways:
  
  
  --> According to the way that they degrade, for example whether they require the actions of microorgaisms (i.e. are biodegradable), or whether they require heat, ultraviolet light,mechanical stress or water in order to break down.
  
  
  --> According to the materials manufactured from for example whether they are made from natural polymers,synthetic polymers or from a blend of a conventional polymer with an additive to facilitate degradation.
  
  
• There are five different types of degradable polymers.
  
  1. Biodegradable Polymers : are those that are capable of undegoing decomposition into carbon dioxide,methene,water,inorganic compounds or biomass in which the predominant mechanism is the enzymatic action of micro-organisms that can be measured by standardized tests in a specified time,reflecting available disposal conditions.
  
  2. Compostable Polymers : are those that are degradable under composting conditions.To meet this definition they must break down under the action of microorganisms(bacteria,fungi,algae) achieve total mineralization (conversion into carbon dioxide , methene,water,inorganic compounds or biomass under aerobic conditions) and the mineralization rate must be high and compatible with the composting process.
  
  3.Oxo-Biodegradable Polymers : are those that undergo controlled degradation through the incorporation of 'prodegradant' additives (additives that can trigger and accelerate the degradation process).These polymers undergo accelerated oxidative define degradation initiated by natural daylight , heat and/or mechanical stress, and embrittle in the enviroment and erode under the influence of weathering.
  
  4.Photodegradable Polymers : are those that break down through the action of ultraviolet(UV) light,which degrades the chemical bond or link in the polymer or chemical structure of the plastic.This process can be assisted by the presence of UV sensitive additives additives in the polymer.
  
  5.Water - Soluble Polymers : are those that dissolve in water within a designated temperature range and then biodegrade in contact with microorganisms.
  
  (The composition of degradable bags also varies with the main categories)
  
  6.Thermoplastic Starch Based Polymers : made with at least 90% stach from renewable resources such as corn,potato,tapioca or wheat.
  
  7.Polyesters : manufactured from hydrocarbons(oil or gas).All polysters degrade eventually with degradation rates ranging from weeks for aliphatic polysters(e.g. polyhydroxyalkanoates) to decades for aromatic polysters(e.g. PET).
  
  8.Starch - Polyster blends that: mix thermoplastic starch with polysters made from hydrocarbons.

             

MULTI-DEGRADABLE ADDITIVE WITH "NENO"TECHNOLOGY

• SELAN Multi-Degradable additive would degrade finished products completely to carbon dioxide and water in any environment. Physical and mechanical properties of SELAN Multi-Degradable additives are equivalent to those of conventional, while fine processibility is also achieved. Lower cost of production means SELAN Multi-Degradable additive. It is priced economical with conventional plastics.Good printing quality and strong coloring ability. Film products possess favorable thermal sealing ability. Superior degradability performance.
  
  --> Biodegradable Biodegradable plastics are a new generation of polymers emerging on the market. Biodegradable plastics have an expanding range of potential applications, and driven by the growing use of plastics in packaging and the perception that biodegradable plastics are 'environmentally friendly'; their use is predicted to increase. The technology of biodegradable plastics nowadays can be based on starch or petroleum resins.

  --> Any organic substance capable of being broken down by micro-organisms in the presence of oxygen (aerobic) to carbon dioxide, water, biomass and mineral salts or any other elements those are present. Alternatively, any organic substance able to be broken down without the presence of oxygen (anaerobic) to carbon dioxide, methane, water and biomass.
  
  --> Compostable Organic matter capable of being broken down by aerobic and anaerobic means to form compost.
  
  -->Photodegradable Plastic A plastic capable of degradation by ultraviolet radiation degrading the chemical bond or link in the polymer or chemical structure of a plastic.
  
  -->Oxo-BiodegradablePlastic A catalyst-based, multi-stage degradable plastic which breaks down first by oxidation and later by bacteria.
  

  Starch based polymers are very expensive to manufacture, and technically complex (very difficult to process). In addition, the majority of the end products lack clarity, wet (hydrophilic) and tensile strength. Due to their high price, processability and variable product quality, the use of these degradable and biodegradable polymers has been very limited. One of the real drawbacks to starch based plastics is that bags have minimum wet strength and have to be about twice as thick (and twice as heavy) to have similar tensile strength as commodity plastic. This makes the starch-based product more expensive and less efficient to manufacture, Compare with starch based polymers, petroleum based polymers are much easier to process and have better physical performance. But both photo-degradable and biodegradable technology has problems, especially the SPEED AND PLACE of degradation public wants commodity plastic to degrade fast after use.