2017 Volume 48 Issue 3 Pages 154-164
Films were prepared by thermal kneading of a plastic matrix with a calcium compound fi ne powder derived from scallop shells or dolomite, followed by hot-press molding. The commercial biodegradable aliphatic polyester “Terramac TP-4071” that the main component is the blend of poly(L-lactic acid) and polybutylene succinate adipate was selected as a plastic matrix. The resulting fi lms were investigated by a hydrolysis test and soil burial test for 90 d. The biodegradability of these fi lms was examined by the time-course of weight loss, total organic carbon content, and the surface morphology, observed by SEM. In addition, it revealed a difference of the addition effect of the different modifi ers. As a result, no matter which kind of the modifi ers was added, it contributed to accelerate the speed of degradation of commercial biodegradable aliphatic polyesters and to suppress the acidifi cation of soil used as the medium. However, due to the difference of the main component and the particle size of the modifi ers, the degradation rate of the composite fi lm was also found slightly difference.
