Evaluation of Strength Properties of Polypropylene-Based Polymers in Simulated Landfill and Oven Conditions
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 4
Abstract
Polymeric films and fibers are used extensively in industrial and personal products. Many of these products are intended to be disposable and, after initial use, are disposed in landfills that are increasingly expensive and limited. Proprietary additives are being promoted to enhance the biodegradation of polypropylene (PP) and related materials. A test was run on samples of diapers containing PP in simulated landfills and in convection ovens over a period of 52 weeks. Samples in the oven treatment lost all strength properties in less than 27 weeks. Back sheet and cuff samples in the landfill lost insignificant () strength under landfill conditions over 52 weeks. Statistics show significant differences () in strength and sample percent elongation during testing for time, temperature, and time-temperature interactions for both the oven and landfill tests. The study led to the conclusion that the polypropylene additive was efficacious for programmable destruction in an oxidative environment but not efficacious in an anaerobic environment.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writers gratefully acknowledge the efforts of Dr. Nathan Melear in managing the simulated landfills and for Mary Sue Brewer for managing the ovens and for efforts in sample preparation and testing. The work would not have been possible without excellent coordination between these individuals. ABS Industria, Garcia, Mexico, supplied diapers and conducted specialized molecular weight analyses. The writers also acknowledge the assistance of Dr. James Knopp, North Carolina State University, in interpreting the molecular weight data.
References
Arnaud, R., et al. (1994). “Photooxidation and biodegradation of commercial photodegradable polyethylenes.” Polym. Degrad. Stab., 46(1), 211–224.
ASTM. (1994). “Standard practice for exposing plastics to a simulated active landfill environment.” D5525, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (1999). “Standard test method for determining molecular weight distribution and molecular weight averages of polyolefins by high temperature gel permeation chromatography.” D6474, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2002). “Standard test method for tensile properties of thin plastic sheeting.” D882, West Conshohocken, PA.
Pohland, F. G., Cross, W. H., and King, L. W. (1993). “Codisposal of disposable diapers with shredded municipal refuse in simulated landfills.” Water Sci. Technol., 27(2), 209–223.
Scott, G. (1997). “Abiotic control of polymer biodegradation.” Trends Polym. Sci., 5(11), 361–368.
Singh, B., and Sharma, N. (2008). “Mechanistic implications of plastic degradation.” Polym. Degrad. Stab., 93(3), 561–584.
Wiles, D. M., Cermak, B. E., Gho, J. G., and Hare, C. W. J. (1998). “Controlled-lifetime, environmentally degradable plastics based on conventional polyethylenes.” EnviroNews, 6(6), 1–7.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 4 • April 2011
Pages: 291 - 296
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 15, 2009
Accepted: Sep 13, 2010
Published online: Sep 15, 2010
Published in print: Apr 1, 2011
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.