IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i6p2579-d1361185.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analysis of the Mechanical Degradability of Biodegradable Polymer-Based Bags in Different Environments

Author

Listed:
  • Martina Fileš

    (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Anja Ludaš

    (Department of Materials, Fibers and Textile Testing, Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, Prilaz baruna Filipovića 28a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Sanja Ercegović Ražić

    (Department of Materials, Fibers and Textile Testing, Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, Prilaz baruna Filipovića 28a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Sandra Hudina

    (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

Biodegradable polymer-based bags were developed as an alternative to plastic. However, their degradation in environmental conditions has not been fully investigated and is often incomplete. Here, the decomposition of three types of biodegradable bags and one type of plastic bag in different types of environments was analyzed. Polymer bags were exposed for six weeks in water, soil, air and compost, while the control groups were stored in room conditions. All types of polymer bags were sampled twice (after 3 and 6 weeks), and different parameters of changes in physical–mechanical properties were measured. The research established significant differences in changes in mechanical properties between different types of biodegradable polymer bags, with ‘white’ and ‘brown’ bags showing the best decomposition potential. As expected, the largest change in the structure and physical–mechanical properties of all types of polymer bags was recorded in compost, and the smallest in air and water.

Suggested Citation

  • Martina Fileš & Anja Ludaš & Sanja Ercegović Ražić & Sandra Hudina, 2024. "Analysis of the Mechanical Degradability of Biodegradable Polymer-Based Bags in Different Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2579-:d:1361185
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2579/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2579/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2579-:d:1361185. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.