STUDIES ON THE DEGRADABLE POLYETHYLENES - USE OF COATED PHOTODEGRADANTS WITH BIOPOLYMERS

Three degradable polymer materials such as starch-polyethylene (PE) bi nary blends, PE containing starch and a photoactivator, and PE contain ing starch and a photoactivator which was coated with gelatin were pre pared and their degrees of photodegradation and/ or photodegradation a fter biodegradation were investigated. The addition of the gelatin-coa ted ferric salt in PE extended the induction period of degradation and accelerated photodegradation after the removal of coating material by biodegradation. This result suggested that the degradation rate of PE could be controlled if more powerful photoactivators and/or coating m aterial are developed and their contents are optimized. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.