A collection of common terms for degradable plastics - a must-know

With more and more countries implementing plastic bans and restrictions, biodegradable plastic bags and fully degradable plastic bags are well-known. However, the related professional terminology involved in degradable plastics may not be so well-known. Therefore, Shunxingyuan Packaging, a professional flexible packaging manufacturer has compiled some commonly used professional terms for your reference.

1、 Biodegradable Plastics

Plastics that, during production, have a certain amount of additives added, which reduces their stability and makes them easier to degrade in the natural environment.

2、 Fully Degradable Plastics

Plastics that can be completely degraded into carbon dioxide or /and methane, water, and mineral salts of the elements contained therein, as well as new biomass.

3、 Disintegration

The physical fracture of a material into extremely small fragments.

4、 Composting

An organic soil conditioner obtained by the biodegradation of a mixture. This mixture is mainly composed of plant residues, sometimes also containing some organic materials and a certain amount of inorganic substances.

5、 Biodegradation

Degradation caused by biological activity, especially the action of enzymes, causing significant changes in the chemical structure of the material. Due to the material being gradually digested by microorganisms or certain organisms as a nutrient source, resulting in a decrease in relative molecular weight and mass loss, performance degradation, etc., and ultimately leading to the material being decomposed into small molecule compounds or elements, such as carbon dioxide or /and methane, water, and mineral salts of the elements contained therein, as well as new biomass.

6、 Biodegradable Plastics

In nature, such as soil and /or sand, water, etc., and/or under specific conditions such as composting conditions or anaerobic digestion conditions or in aqueous culture, degradation is caused by the action of naturally occurring microorganisms, and eventually completely degraded into carbon dioxide or/and methane, water, and mineral salts of the elements contained therein, as well as new biomass.

7、 Petrochemical-based Biodegradable Plastics

Plastics obtained by chemically synthesizing and polymerizing petrochemical product monomers. For example: PBAT, PBSA, PBS, PCL, PPC, PGA, etc.

8、 Bio-based Biodegradable Plastics

Bio-based biodegradable plastics: polymers obtained directly by microbial synthesis or by a combination of microbial fermentation and chemical synthesis, plastics obtained by direct processing of natural materials, such as PLA, PHA, etc.

9、 PLA

Polylactic acid, a polymer obtained by polymerization using lactic acid as the main raw material, is a new type of bio-based and renewable biodegradable material with good solvent resistance, biocompatibility, gloss, and transparency. It also has certain antibacterial, flame retardant, and UV resistance properties.

10、 PHA

PHA is an aliphatic copolyester of different structures synthesized by microorganisms through fermentation of various carbon sources.

11、 PBAT

A copolymer of butylene adipate and butylene terephthalate, belonging to thermoplastic biodegradable plastics, it has good ductility and elongation at break, as well as good impact resistance; in addition, it also has excellent biodegradability and is one of the most active degradable materials in the research of biodegradable plastics.

12、 PBS

Polybutylene succinate, a thermoplastic biodegradable plastic, compared to other biodegradable plastics, PBS has good heat resistance, a heat distortion temperature close to 100℃, and a modified use temperature close to 100℃. It can be molded and processed on existing general-purpose plastic processing equipment, and a large amount of calcium carbonate, starch, and other fillers can be blended to reduce material costs. In addition, PBS only degrades when it comes into contact with specific microorganisms in composting, water bodies, etc., and its performance is very stable during normal storage and use.

13、 PCL

Poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) is a low-melting-point polymer obtained by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone, with a melting point of only 62℃. Research on the degradability of PCL began in 1976, and PCL can be completely decomposed by microorganisms in both anaerobic and aerobic environments.

14、 PPC

Also known as polymethylene carbonate, it is a completely degradable environmentally friendly plastic synthesized from carbon dioxide and propylene oxide.

15、 PGA

Polyglycolic acid (also known as polyhydroxy acetic acid or polyglycolic acid) is a highly crystalline, biodegradable aliphatic polymer with a fast degradation rate, mainly used in surgical sutures and other fields.

16、 Sheet

A thin, flat product with a thickness smaller than its length and width.

17、 Degradable plastic sheet

Under the influence of environmental conditions, after a certain period of time and involving one or more steps, the structure undergoes significant changes and loses its properties (such as integrity, relative molecular mass, structure or mechanical strength) of the sheet.

18、 Biodegradable plastic sheet

In nature, such as soil, and /or under specific conditions such as composting conditions or anaerobic digestion conditions or in aqueous culture, degradation is caused by the action of naturally occurring microorganisms, and finally completely degraded into carbon dioxide (C02) or/and methane, water (H20) and its mineral elements and new biomass, and its final biodegradation products do not have a negative impact on the environment.

19、 Compostable plastic sheet

Under composting conditions, due to biological reaction processes, it is degraded and disintegrated, and finally completely biodegraded into carbon dioxide (C02), water (H2O), its mineral elements, and new biomass, and the final compost meets the relevant standards for heavy metal content, toxicity tests, residual fragments, etc.

20、 Photodegradable plastic sheet

Sheet degraded by natural light.

21、 Thermo-oxidative degradation plastic sheet

Degraded by heat and /or oxidation.

22、 Starch-filled degradable plastic sheet

Plastic sheet made from starch and non-biodegradable resin as main raw materials.

23、 Injection molding

A plastic processing technology, the main principle is to heat and soften the plastic, and then use pressure to inject it into the plastic product mold, and then cool it to form.

24、 Blow molding

A type of plastic processing technology. The main principle is to heat and soften the tubular plastic parison, place it in a closed mold, and introduce compressed air to inflate the plastic parison so that it adheres tightly to the inner wall of the mold, and then cool it to form.

25、 Thermoforming

A plastic processing technology, the main principle is to heat and soften the flat plastic sheet, and then use vacuum suction to adhere to the mold surface, and then cool it to form.