The effect of chemical composition on the biodegradation rate and physical and mechanical properties of polymer composites with lignocellulose fillers

Abstract

The results of TPLC scientific research, practical experience of their preparation, and application as of 2016 are presented in eight volumes of the “Handbook of Composites from Renewable Materials” (2017, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). This article provides an analysis of books and articles with open access to the Science Direct (Elsevier) database for the period 2017–2020 to assess the biodegradation rate and physical and mechanical properties of polymer composites with lignocellulosic fillers. The production and use of polymer composites with a thermoplastic polymer matrix and lignocellulosic fillers (TPLC) have significant ecological and economic prospects since waste biomass from forests, agriculture, and polymers obtained from petroleum raw materials can be used for their production. However, depending on the TPLC application area, there are opposite requirements for the biodegradation rate. For the use in construction and medicine materials and products must have a minimum biodegradation rate. Materials and products for single-use packaging must have the necessary biodegradability potential and have an adjusted biodegradation rate in soil, water, compost environment. Research results show that the properties of TPLC can be significantly influenced not only by the physical but also by the chemical structure of all components of these composites. The chemical properties of polymers, fillers, additives for various purposes can affect their industrial production efficiency.