title: Assessment of the interrelation between photooxidation and biodegradation of selected polyesters after artificial weathering.
abstract: Three commercially available biodegradable polymers, two different aromatic-aliphatic copolyesters and polylactic acid, intended for the fabrication of agricultural mulching films, in addition to other applications, were subjected to a series of tests with the aim of studying the relationship between their photooxidation and biodegradation. Photooxidation resulted in the rearrangement of polymeric chains, in the case of both copolyesters the events led to polymeric chain crosslinking and the formation of insoluble polymeric gel. The tendency was significantly more pronounced for the copolyester with the higher content of the aromatic constituent. As regards polylactic acid photochemical reactions were not accompanied by crosslinking but instead provoked chain scissions. A biodegradation experiment showed that, despite marked structural changes, the extent of photooxidation was not the decisive factor, which significantly modified the rate of biodegradation in all three materials investigated. The specific surface area of the sample specimens was shown to be more important.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TGM Sqr. 5555, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stloukal
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verney
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Commereuc
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rychly
authors.forename: Lyda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matisova-Rychlá
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pis
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutny
mesh_terms: D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D012987:Soil