STUDY OF DEGRADABLE THERMOSETS

The problem of plastic waste disposal is getting more serious. Especia lly thermosers are difficult to recycle because their cross-linked nat ure means also they show insolubility and inability to soften on heati ng. We are searching for the thermosets which can be easily degraded a s scrap, This study was undertaken to investigate whether containing b iodegradable polymers helped raise the degradability of thermosets. As a result of our study, it was found that unsaturated polyester resins (UP) containing polycaprolactone (PCL) showed degradability in the mi xture of NaOH aq. and ethanol at room temperature. In this mixture,est er bonds solvolyzed in UP as well as in PCL. And we supposed that exis tance of PCL in crystalline phase contributed to the degradability of blends. In conclusion the results suggested that thermosets/biodegrada bIe polymer blends showed great degradability as well as conventional characteristics.