Composite materials biodegradation modelling

Markets already exist and are expanding for biodegradable plant derived polymers. Further growth areas include using plant fibres as fillers for production of biodegradable composite materials. The automotive industry especially is taking an interest in this area and a number of current commercially available models feature composite panels of this type. 

Modelling biodegradation of composite materials made of biodegradable polyesters and tricalcium phosphates (TCPs)... 

Pan J, Han X, Niu W and Cameron RE (2011), A model for biodegradation of composite materials made of polyesters and tricalcium phosphates. Biomaterials, 32 2248-2255. 

The discovery that several controlling factors in decay of polysaccharide -plastic composites are physico-chemical in nature (rather than environmental or biological) should make it possible to develop an accurate simulation model to define structural and biodegradable boundaries to achieve the best balance between the two conflicting requirements. This type of model would facilitate development of materials that are satisfactory by both engineering and biodegradability criteria a model of this type is currently being developed in my laboratory. 

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