Effect of electron beam radiation on the performance of biodegradable Bionolle-jute composite

To study the radiation effect on the physical, thermal, mechanical and degr adable properties of biodegradable polymer Bionolle (chemosynthetic polyest er poly(1,4-butylene succinate)), Bionolle films prepared by compression mo lding process and were irradiated with electron beam (EB) radiation of diff erent doses. Gel content was found to increase with increase of radiation d ose. Tensile strength of Bionolle was enhanced when Bionolle film was expos ed under 20 kGy radiation. The Loss of tensile strength of both unirradiate d and irradiated Bionolle is 70% and 8% due to thermal aging at 70 degrees C for 30 days. Both irradiated and unirradiated films of Bionolle were subj ected to different degradation test in compost (soil burial), enzyme and st orage degradation both in outdoor and indoors conditions. The loss of weigh t due to soil (compost) degradation test decreased with increase of radiati on dose. The loss of weights of irradiated samples were found to be very le ss within the first three months of compost degradation. After 120 days, te nsile strength of the Bionolle films irradiated at 20 kGy and 100 kGy were 68 MPa and 40 MPa, respectively, compared to the value (30 MPa of the unirr adiated Bionolle samples. Loss of tensile strength of irradiated Bionolle d ue to storage degradation like in roof, ground and indoors was minimum comp ared to unirradiated Bionolle. The weight loss due to enzymatic degradation was found to be decreased with increase of radiation dose. The tensile str ength of jute reinforced Bionolle composites (23 wt.% jute content) irradia ted at 20 kGy was found to be higher (22%) than that of an unirradiated com posite.