Plastic Degradation:

Polymer degradation is a change in the properties tensile strength, color, shape, of a polymer or
polymer-based product under the influence of one or more environmental factors such as heat, light
or chemicals such as acids, alkalis and some salts. These changes are usually undesirable, such as
cracking and chemical disintegration of products or, more rarely, desirable, as in biodegradation, or
deliberately lowering the molecular weight of a polymer for recycling.

Polymeric molecules are very large (on the molecular scale), and their unique and useful properties
are mainly a result of their size. Any loss in chain length lowers tensile strength and is a primary
cause of premature cracking.

Types of Polymer Degradation:

There are two main types of plastics degradation being researched at present: physical and
chemical, and both are closely inter-connected. Physical degradation can involve environmental
stress cracking and plasticizer migration and loss.

Chemical reactions include oxidation and hydrolysis, and are a problem particularly affecting the
cellulose esters (cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate), which emit acidic degradation products. If
not removed, these catalyze further reactions and eventually cause serious crazing and total
destruction of the object. Here we discussed about the chemical degradation of polymers.

Oxidation:
The polymers are susceptible to attack by atmospheric oxygen, especially at elevated temperatures
encountered during processing to shape. Many process methods such as extrusion and injection
molding involve pumping molten polymer into tools, and the high temperatures needed for melting
may result in oxidation unless precautions are taken.

Oxidation is usually relatively easy to detect owing to the strong absorption by the carbonyl group in
the spectrum of polyolefin. Polypropylene has a relatively simple spectrum with few peaks at the
carbonyl position (like polyethylene). Oxidation tends to start at tertiary carbon atoms because the
free radicals formed here are more stable and longer lasting, making them more susceptible to
attack by oxygen. The carbonyl group can be further oxidized to break the chain, this weakens the
material by lowering its molecular weight, and cracks start to grow in the regions affected.

Photo induced degradation:

Most polymers can be degraded by photolysis to give lower molecular weight molecules.
Electromagnetic waves with the energy of visible light or higher, such as ultraviolet light, X-rays and
gamma rays are usually involved in such reactions.

Thermal degradation:
Chain-growth polymers like poly (methyl methacrylate) can be degraded by thermolysis at high
temperatures to give monomers, oils, gases and water.
 Biological degradation:
Biodegradable plastics can be biologically degraded by microorganisms to give lower molecular
weight molecules. To degrade properly biodegradable polymers not just left in a landfill site where
degradation is very difficult due to the lack of oxygen and moisture but in some open environment.

OXO-DEGRADABLE POLYMERS
Polymers processed from petroleum take decades to decay and cause significant environmental
problems, including pollution and hazards to wildlife. Designers and scientists have emphasised
the need to develop ‘plastics’, that degrade / decomposed, quickly and harmlessly in the
environment. This has lead to the development of bio-degradable polymers, including oxo-
degradable polymers.

Oxo-degradable polymers / plastics are processed from oil, although they degrade over several months in soil
and landfills, due to the action of oxygen and micro-organisms. They are regularly used by the packaging
industry and promoted as environmentally friendly. Polyethylene is frequently the basis of oxo-degradable
plastcs.

They are processed from petroleum based polymers and contain additives such as metal salts (bio-batch).
When ‘dumped’ in a landfill site and covered with soil, the additives encourage the molecular structure of the
‘plastic’ to change into a food source, for micro-organisms. They bio-degrade into carbon dioxide and water.
This is called an abiotic process (degradation by oxidation).

The addition of only one percent of bio-batch,will transform the polymers listed below, into biodegradable
polymers.

POLYTHENE (PE)
POLYPROPYLENE (PP)
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)
POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET, PETE)
POLYSTYRENE (PS)
LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE)
HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE)

Oxo-degradable plastics do not degrade entirely, as they leave behind a non-toxic, harmless powder.
Therefore, it is sometimes argued, that oxo-degradable plastics are not completely environmentally friendly.
As they are derived from petroleum based polymers, they are not completely renewable. However, they can
be recycled, even when ‘mixed’ with ordinary plastics and they do not require separate collections. Oxo-
degradable polymers, have a lower environmental impact, compared to normal petroleum based plastics.
 PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF OXO-DEGRADABLE POLYMERS

Oxo-degradable polymers have a range of practical applications (see below), including degradable bags for
medical use. They have been tested over time and have been found to be safe for food packaging.

JEFF HE’S A HARDMAN AND OXO-DEGRADABLE PRODUCTS

What Are Oxo-biodegradable Additives
What Are Oxo-biodegradable Additives
If your customers look at any shelf in their local store or pharmacy, they will see your
products wrapped or bottled in plastic, or made of plastic in order to keep them from
becoming contaminated and safely achieve a longer shelf life. Your drugs, vitamins, or other
items will also be shipped in protective plastic, whether it be bubble wrap, shrink wrap, or
pallet wrap, so that they arrive at their destination shelves undamaged. This requires a great
amount of plastics, so there is the need to reduce the negative impact that they have on the
environment.
There is of course the understanding within your company and among your customers that
discarded conventional plastic packaging will remain in the environment for prolonged
periods of time. If plastics don't find their ways to landfills or recycling centers, they will
simply end up in the environment where they damage wildlife and leave unsightly areas of
litter.
 It is a well-known fact that plastics are made as a by-product of the refining process. It makes
good environmental and economic sense to reuse these by-products rather than to dispose of
the packaging, using increasingly scarce land and water resources. Yet, the practice goes on.
There is now an approach to introduce additives into the plastics polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that will actually
accelerate the degradation of these plastics in the environment. These are known as oxo-
biodegradable additives.
What are Oxo-biodegradable Additives?
Oxo-biodegradable additives are catalytic materials that are incorporated into normally
traditional polyolefines. Here, the idea is to alter their degradation behavior. They will
undergo a two-step process: an oxidative process that is kicked off by catalytic additives that
is then followed by biodegradation.
The process enables the bottle and other items to fragment and degrade from light, heat,
mechanical stress, and moisture.
Overall, the technology adds transition metals of cobalt (Co) at 33 ppm, magnesium (Mg), or manganese
(Mn), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), or nickel (Ni) into the polymer. These metal ions are susceptible to light, heat,
moisture, and mechanical stress and as such, weaken the tensile strength of the polymer chain.

The final result is an oxo-biodegradable plastic that can degrade -- its molecular weight has
been reduced -- into smaller and smaller pieces due to the actions of bacteria and fungi in the
soil or disposal environment. The end product actually enters the environment more quickly
than twigs, grass, straw, or leaves. The material is also reduced further into water, carbon
dioxide, and the cell biomass.
In particular, oxo-biodegradable additives are being used in PET pre-forms and plastic bottles
within the pharmaceutical industry.
The Status of Cobalt
Is there any concern about using cobalt?
It depends on where you're located. In Canada, cobalt is a regulated material. In other
countries, it is considered a heavy metal, a light metal, or a metal ion. In any case, it is being
safely used for this process.
Oxo-biodegradable Packaging Additive End Uses
Oxo-biodegradable additives are increasingly becoming available for wide uses within your
industry, especially within the pharmaceutical and medical ones. Among them are:
 rigid products like your drug and vitamin bottles, caps, and closures
 blister packaging
 plastic aprons for hospital garment protection
 carrier bags for hospital medications
 carrier bags for pharmacies
 labels
 bubble wrap for shipping your products
 shrink wrap and pallet wrap for your shipping
Benefits of Oxo-biodegradable Additives
The newly-formed product will no longer have visual effects on the land or bodies of water.
It will also not cause damage to wildlife, block drains, or contaminate recycling streams.
There is no long term damage at all as it has disappeared completely. In fact:
 no methane gas is given off
 no plastic fragments appear in the soil
 it is low-cost
 ecotoxity tests show positive results for plant growth, organism survival for things such as
earthworms and daphnia, and seed germination
 the additive represents only less than three percent of the product
 the products can be made with the same machines and workforce as ordinary plastic
 your packaging suppliers can still use the factories that supply them with their plastic
products as previously
 oxo-biodegradable additives have been certified as being safe for long term contact with any
food types at temperatures up to 40°C
 oxo-biodegradable additives have been used in the agricultural industry for many years
without any incidences of biotoxicity or reduced soil fertility
 the UK Food Standard Agency's Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals conducted an
assessment on trace elements. This showed that transition metals used in oxo-biodegradable
additives are actually trace elements required for necessary healthy human and plant growth
The Oxo-biodegradable Additive Outlook
The development of oxo-biodegradable additive technology is just one part of the global
solution to the problem of reducing the major amounts of plastics discarded into the open
environment. It is fast becoming one that is addressing wildlife damage along with littering
on land and in bodies of water.
While the development of oxo-biodegradable plastics is not an encompassing solution to
major litter, environmental concerns, or related issues, it is one component of a multifaceted
solution to today's highly complex problem.
Questions about degradable plastic
What ingredients do you use to make degradable bags?
We use an oxo-biodegradable adivitive. The adivitive is blended into our plastic during the
extrusion process.

Are oxo-biodegradable plastic bags recyclable?

Yes, oxo-biodegradable plastic bags are recyclable provided they have not degraded
substantially.

What happens to oxo-biodegradable plastic in a landfill?

Microorganisms present in a landfill will aid in the degradation process provided sufficient
oxygen is present.

Do oxo-biodegradable plastic bags contain cornstarch?

No, the oxo-biodegradable adivitive we use is a major advance over cornstarch based
degradable adivitives.
Degradable plastic using cornstarch based adivitives possess many undesirable properties.
Specifically, plastic incorporating cornstarch based adivitives cannot be recycled and
contaminate the recycling process. They may also emit methane when degrading. Oxo-
biodegradable plastics can be recycled along with regular plastic and do not emit methane.

Do oxo-biodegradable plastic bags feel different?

No, you will not notice a difference between oxo-biodegradable and regular plastic bags.

Are oxo-biodegradable bags as durable as regular plastic?

Yes, during their useful life oxo-biodegradable plastic bags are the same as regular plastic
bags. You will not notice a difference until the bag has been exposed to UV light or heat for
prolonged periods of time.

What is the shelf life for your degradable plastic bags?

It takes about 2 years of exposure to one or more degradation promoters (sunlight, heat,
microorganisms) for our bags to degrade. If the bags are kept inside they will receive minimal
or no exposure and will last much longer. It’s likely they will remain usable for 5+ years if
stored inside. You can think of them like paper bags. You don’t see a paper bag degrade in
your house, but when they become litter they degrade at a much faster rate.

Will oxo-biodegradation emit methane?

No, unlike other degradation processes oxo-biodegradation will not emit methane.

Why does it take 2 years for the bags to degrade?

Oxo-biodegradable plastic degrades due to exposure to the elements (sunlight, heat, and
microorgranisms). Two years is an estimation based on the average conditions. The actual
amount of time required to degrade a bag will be longer or shorter depending on the amount
of exposure.
We believe this is an optimal situation. Oxo-biogradable plastic bags degrade fastest in the
exact situation we want them to: when they become litter.

Do you have any scientific literature to support your claims?

Yes, we have a collection of literature on oxo-biodegradable plastic.

What is oxo-biodegradable plastic?

Oxo-biodegradable plastic is made by blending a pro-degradent adivitive into the plastic
during the extrusion process. The adivitive causes the molecular structure of plastic to
break down when exposed to heat or sunlight. The plastic will eventually be in a state
where it can be digested by microorganisms. At this point, the plastic will degrade at a
faster rate until it has fully degraded into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass.

Oxo-biodegradable plastic, is often referred to as “degradable” plastic, since it does not

require a biological process to degrade. Microorganisms will speed up the degradation
process, but they’re not required. This gives oxo-biodegradation a distinct advantage over
prior methods for degrading plastic.

The degradation time varies depending on the amount of exposure to degradation

promoters (sunlight, heat, and microorganisms). This is an optimal situation for
consumers. Oxo-biodegradable plastic degrades quickest in the exact situation we want it
to: when it becomes litter. If the plastic is used properly it will last many years, but once
it becomes litter it could degrade in under 12 months.
 In a landfill oxo-biodegradable plastic will degrade quickly if oxygen is available to assist
the degradation process. However, unlike other types of degradable plastic, oxo-
biodegradable plastic will not release methane as it degrades. This is another advantage
over prior forms of biodegradable plastic.

Benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic

 There is no difference in print quality, texture, or strength between regular and oxo-
biodegradable plastic.
 Oxo-biodegradable plastic has a long shelf-life. It will last for many years if stored indoors.
 Oxo-biodegradable plastic is recyclable. Other forms of degradable plastic are not.
 Oxo-biodegradable plastic will degrade in a landfill and the degradation process does not
release methane.
 Degradable plastic is an insurance policy against litter.