Exposición a intemperie de bolsas de polietileno con aditivos oxodegradantes

Abstract

This work was carried out to determine, through measurements of the weight and mechanical properties, the degree of degradation of samples of polyethylene bags with different prodegrading additives, when exposed to the weathering conditions on a panel with different inclinations, in different seasons. Due to the treatment, there was a decrease in the values of the tensile properties, with respect to untreated controls. The final weight of the exposed samples could only be determined in the autumn-winter periods, in which there was an increase compatible with uptake of molecular oxygen. The changes in the measured variables depended on the oxodegrading additive, the time of year (climatic conditions), and the inclination of the panel. The results obtained indicate that the plastics have been significantly oxodegraded under the applied conditions, which could favor a subsequent biotic degradation, with the participation of microorganisms, process that will be studied.