WEATHERING OF STARCH POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITE FILMS IN THE MARINE-ENVIRONMENT

Polyethylene and starch-polyethylene composite films were exposed outd oors in the strawline of a marsh and in sea water on flow-through seat ables in the laboratory. The deterioration of these films following ex posure was measured by determining changes in tensile properties, weig ht loss, starch loss, and carbonyl content of the sheet plastic films. Low rates of deterioration were observed for control and starch-polye thylene composite films submerged in sea water. In contrast, both star ch-polyethylene composite and control polyethylene films rapidly deter iorated during exposure in the strawline of a marsh. Differences in th e observed rate of deterioration of the films placed in the exposure s ites is attributed primarily to photodegradation of the films placed i n the strawline of a marsh.