Addition polymers, resistance biodegradation

Alkylpolyglucosides (APGs) are highly biodegradable surfactants [1344]. The addition of APGs, even at very low concentrations, to a polymer mud can drastically reduce the fluid loss even at high temperatures. Moreover, both fluid rheology and temperature resistance are improved. 

Lee and Wang [80] investigated the effects of lysine-based diisocyanate (LDI) as a coupling agent on the properties of biocomposites from PLA, poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and bamboo fiber (BF). They observed that the tensile properties, water resistance, and interfacial adhesion of both PLA/BF and PBS/BF composites were improved by the addition of LDI, but thermal flow [81] was hindered due to cross-linking between polymer matrix and BF. Enzymatic biodegradability of... 

Commercial poly(butadiene), which is mainly the 1,4 isomer, is also used to improve the impact resistance of polystyrene (Chapter 1). Polydienes also increase the rate of physical disintegration of polyblend containing them. The addition of a styrene-butadiene block copolymer e.g. SBS, page 9 et seq.) to polyethylene also accelerates the peroxidation of the latter. However, this system also requires a polymer-soluble transition metal ion catalyst e.g. an iron or manganese carboxylate) to increase the rate of photooxidation in the environment by the reactions shown in Scheme 5.3. The products formed by breakdown of alkoxyl radicals (PO ) (Scheme 3.4) are then rapidly biodegradable in compost (page 107 et seq.). 

Adding to this, there may be alternative polymer combinations - the matrix does not have to be PLLA. In fact, there may even be biodegradable polymer combinations for MFC in which, for example, PLLA is the reinforcing component surrounded by a ductile matrix. Furthermore, additional drawing steps could be added to maximize the orientation of the reinforcing polymer as well as decrease fibril diameters. A very interesting overlap of MFCs and particulate composites provides even more potential for Improvement and scope for future work because, as mentioned before, nanoparticles could be used to modify the reinforcing polymer s thermal properties to enhance creep resistance. 

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