Number: 421/36/97
Title: Studies on Biodegradable
Poly(e-caprolactone)
Task Group
Chairmen: M.
Mochizuki and T.
Hayashi
Members: K.
Nakayama and T.
Masuda
Completion Date: 2002 - project
completed
Objective:
Environmental pollution brought about by plastic wastes have become
a global problem. One of the solutions to the problem of plastic
wastes management includes applications of biodegradable thermoplastics
which degrade in soil, sea or lake water, activated sludge, or compost
after their service life is over. Poly(e-caprolactone)
(PCL) is one of aliphatic polyesters that is a relatively inexpensive
synthetic polymer currently available and is truly biodegradable
under microbial attack. PCL is a partially crystalline polymer that
has a moderately low melting point of 60 degree C. This polymer
can be used to prepare a tough and high strength fiber through melt
spinning. It presents new unique application potentials as nonwovens
of disposable diapers, a compost bag of yard wastes, filter of garbage
or sludge, roadside anti-erosion sheet, or fishing lines. Firstly,
the relationship between structure and properties of PCL fibers
with various draw ratios will be investigated in this study. Next,
the environmental degradation behaviour of PCL fibers in soil or
in water will be studied. And finally, the effects of morphology
on enzymatic degradation of PCL fibers will be discussed in detail.
Progress:
Published Reports: