Applications, plastics agricultural materials

Plastic materials are the dominant materials used in applications from agriculture, to electronics, to medical devices to packaging. Starting from a mere 1.65 x 10 tons in 1950 they reached 280 x 10 tons in 2011 and continue to show explosive growth as populous countries like India and China become more industriaUzed and consume more plastic materials. 

Cole et al. [55] investigated the degradability of corn starch based PE and modeled the role of biodegradation by a (scalar) percolation theory. Based on these researches Archer Daniels-Midland (ADM) Company developed a technology to make starch-based plastics. These materials were proposed for applications such as agricultural mulch and disposable packaging. 

In most of agricultural practices implying applications of polymeric materials, recovery of plastics is not economically feasible, viable, controllable or attractive, and the plastics remain often as litter. The characteristics of strength and durability designed into plastics in order to meet end-use requirements, coupled with the problems associated with their post-consume disposal, played a significant role in offering new alternative options to plastics recycle and landfilling practice. Particular efforts were... 

Maleic anhydride CAS. 108-3I-6. til, maleic acid [CAS 110-16-7]. (2), and I umarie acid [CAS 110-17-81. i3) are multifunctional chemical intermediates that lind applications in nearly every Held id industrial chemistry. Each molecule contains two acid carbonyl groups and a double bond in the u. position. Maleic anhydride and maleic acid are important raw materials used in the manufacture of phthalic-type alkyd and polyester resins, surface coatings, lubricant additives, plasticizers. copolymers, and agricultural chemicals [see Alkyd Resins Polymers, and Lubricant). Both chemicals derive their common names from naturally occurring malic acid. 

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