Additives, oxo-biodegradable, polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, compostable, biodegradable, antioxidant, biodegradation study, packaging, shopping bags, refuse sacks, film, liners, shrink wrap, micro-organisms, bacteria, aerobic, anaerobic, oxidation, masterbatch, water soluble, transition metals, biomass, water soluble, ecologically benign.
Oxo-biodegradable plastics (OBPs) additives are catalytic materials incorporated into typically traditional polyolefins to alter their degradation behavior. These plastics undergo a two step degradation; an oxidative process that is promoted by the included catalytic additives, followed by biodegradation.Conventional polyolefin materials react with atmospheric oxygen to create peroxides.
Resin manufacturers usually add small amounts of antioxidant to these materials to prevent this reaction from occurring, especially during processing when the resin is hot and molten.This peroxide decomposition however is normally a slow reaction and is rate determining in the degradation of these materials.