title: Design of biodegradable PCL/PI films as a joining tape for grafting plant.
abstract: In this study, novel eco-friendly blends based on environmental-friendly polymers and compatibilizers, such as poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL), cis-1,4-polyisoprene (PI), soybean lecithin (SOLE) and acrylated-epoxidized soybean oil (AESO), have been prepared in order to suggest a biodegradable joining tool used for plant grafting in agriculture, which will be competitive from the environment and economic points of view against conventional nonbiodegradable tools. PCL/PI blends, in which the portion of PCL was 75 and 50, were mixed with a compatibilizer by a melt-blending technique. The resulting blends were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy and also their mechanical properties were determined. Afterwards, the blend films were buried in the soil. Remarkable level of weight loss was achieved in 6 weeks, ∼46%. The results showed that the addition of SOLE helped to improve the compatibility between PCL and PI due to its amphipathic property, and, besides, accelerated the weight loss of the films in soil, increasing microorganism growth on the film.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biological Functions and Engineering , Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology , Kitakyushu , Fukuoka , Japan.
authors.forename: Kubra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eksiler
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biological Functions and Engineering , Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology , Kitakyushu , Fukuoka , Japan.|b Eco-Town Collaborative R&D Center for the Environment and Recycling, Kyushu Institute of Technology , Kitakyushu , Fukuoka , Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Andou
authors.affiliation: c NARO Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.affiliation: c NARO Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshinaga
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biological Functions and Engineering , Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology , Kitakyushu , Fukuoka , Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirai
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012987:Soil; C016240:polycaprolactone
keywords: Polymer blend; biomass; compatibilizer; grafting plant; miscibility