Degradable mulch films for agricultural purposes

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Date

2012

Author

Sisli, Zekiye

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The plastic mulch films, which are mostly made from LDPE, are used in order to increase the yields and to prevent the weed growth by covering the top of the soil by leaves or straw in nature. After a period, the mulch films turn into unmanageable quantities of soiled plastic films, which cause an environmental problem. Using degradable mulch films for agricultural purposes can be a solution for the environmental problems caused by the plastic mulch films. In this study, to introduce biodegradability to mulch films, a natural biopolymer starch was used. Before blending, starch was transformed into thermoplastic starch in order to make the starch processable. The need, to provide adhesion and interaction between thermoplastic starch and LDPE, citric and stearic acid were considered as compatibilizers. To accelerate the degradation of the LDPE matrix, three pro-oxidants cobalt(II) acetylacetonate, iron(III) stearate and manganase(II) stearate were used. The films prepared were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy; their thermal and mechanical properties were analyzed and buried under soil. The films recovered from soil after 76 days were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, their weight loss were measured and their thermal and mechanical properties were analyzed. Studies showed that the use of cobalt(II) acetylacetonate gave improved results in terms of the mechanical properties and thermal stabilities of the films. Additionally, it is observed that the use of citric acid as a compatibilizer improved the thermal stabilities of starch in the films. Lastly, it is observed that the mechanical properties of the films were affected by the interactions between compatibilizers and pro-oxidants.

Subject Keywords

Polyethylene., Starch., Plastics.

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12615022/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/21929

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Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis

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Citation Formats

Z. Sisli, “Degradable mulch films for agricultural purposes,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2012.