Effects of Soil Environment on Multicomponent Blends Based on Polyethylene and Its Secondary Analog
摘要
The ecological situation and rational consumption of natural resources require a responsible approach to the use of polymers and secondary polymer raw materials. In this work, polyethylene–polylactide blends with the addition of thermally aged polyethylene, the analog of secondary polyethylene, in the amount of 10, 20, and 30 wt % and 5 wt % wood flour were prepared. Using the method of differential scanning calorimetry, it was shown that with an increase in the secondary polyolefin content the melting temperature of polyethylene in the blends decreased by 2–4°C in comparison with the initial value and the degree of crystallinity decreased by 4–7%. The thermophysical characteristics of polylactide changed insignificantly. After incubation in soil for 120 days, the morphology and structure of the blends were studied by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and IR spectroscopy. The morphology of the samples changed, and microcracks, dark spots, and erosions were formed on the surface. The weight loss during the experiment was higher for the sample containing 30 wt % of aged polyethylene.