Current Status of Methods Used In Degradation of Polymers: A Review

Abstract

Abstract. Degradation of different polymers now a day is the most crucial thing to carry out. It possesses threats to human health as well as to the environment. Different polymers like PVA, PVC, and PP with high density and low density are one of the most consumed by population and also their degradation is a bit difficult. For this many people have started working on effective methods of degradation of these polymers. This can be done by thermal degradation and pyrolysis which requires high temperature, bio degradation using starch, bacteria etc and photo degradation. Traditional gravimetric and respirometric techniques are the methods currently used in testing. They fit readily for degradable polymeric materials usually. Also they are well suited for biodegradable components with polymer blends. But the recent polymer generation is comparatively resistant to bio degradation of polymers hence they cannot be used here. The polymer matrices are readily present in the plasticizers boosting the strength of polymeric material hence in addition; there is the mechanism of degradation. The information on various methods discussed in this review is planned to illustrate a best fit of methods for those who are interested in testing the degradation of polymers under different environmental conditions and selection of appropriate technique for specific combination of mixture of polymer and catalysts which helps to degrade the polymeric material.

Introduction, Past and Present Scenarios of Plastic Degradation

“…Plastic degradation techniques are classified according to their causing factors. These methods are photo, thermo-oxidative, mechano-chemical, catalytic, chemical and biological degradation [30,64] (Fig. 4).…”

“…reasonably hydrophilic for the access of water. Biodegradable polymers including esters and ester derivative polymers are favorable for this purpose [21,64]. Microorganisms and enzymes play a very important role for biodegradation process of polymer.…”

“…Several polymers are susceptible to the microorganism and degrade in a natural way. In this book chapter a brief discussion about the problems originating from the plastic waste, their uses and lifespan in the ambient environment, present approach to deal with the plastic waste and various degradation and up-cycling approaches is presented [29,30,37].…”

Microencapsulation of Photochromic Solution with Polyurea by Interfacial Polymerization

“…Since most microcapsules are designed with polymers as shells, which decompose easily when exposed to UV light [35], the microcapsule of photochromic material may suffer aging and decomposition during their use. Moreover, the photochromic materials also suffer from photooxidation during their color-changing under UV light irradiation.…”

Effect of Cellulosic Waste Derived Filler on the Biodegradation and Thermal Properties of HDPE and PLA Composites

“…Degradation is a typical phenomenon of polymer materials leading to fragmentation and significant changes in the structure of the material characterized by the loss of some properties (e.g., mechanical properties, viscosity, molecular weight) [1,2]. Degradation can occur in different ways such as thermal degradation, photo degradation, oxidative degradation, mechanical degradation, hydrolysis reaction with water (hydrolytic degradation) and action of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or algae (biodegradation) [3][4][5].…”