Biodegradable Irrigation Pipe

Irrigation pipes are conventionally made from non biodegradable petroleum-based plastics such as poly(ethylene) or poly(propylene) (PP). As a result, conventional irrigation pipes that are discarded are generally not readily recycled into the environment and add to pollution stress of the environment. In addition, because petroleum is a non-renewable raw material, it is expected that raw material costs for producing irrigation pipes from petroleum-based plastics will increase (7). 

However, recently a biodegradable irrigation pipe formed from a renewable material has been described (7). The biodegradable irrigation pipe is formed having a pipe wall with a plurality of layers. The layers may be fabricated from a core layer sandwiched between inner and outer protective layers. 

The core layer provides body and mechanical strength to the irrigation pipe and is formed from a biodegradable material, which degrades relatively quickly when exposed to degrading elements 

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T. Yankovitz and A. Schweitzer, Biodegradable irrigation pipe, US Patent 7 862 873, assigned to Netafim, Ltd. (Tel Aviv, IL), January 4,... 

Several applications based on biodegradable plastics that end up directly in soil after their useful life are under development and experiencing rapid market growth. Examples are mulch films, strings, hooks and clips, slow release pheromone dispensers and drip irrigation pipes. Furthermore, mature industrial compost, obtained from a feedstock that includes biodegradable polymers, also ends up in soil because of its application as a soil improver. 

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