Abstract
The biodegradation of polymeric biocomposites formed from epoxidized linseed oil and various types of fillers (pine needles, pine bark, grain mill waste, rapeseed cake) and a control sample without filler was studied during 180 days of exposure to two types of forest soil: deciduous and coniferous. The weight loss, morphological, and structural changes of polymer composites were noticed after 180 days of the soil burial test. The greatest weight loss of all tested samples was observed in coniferous forest soil (41.8%–63.2%), while in deciduous forest soil, it ranged between 37.7% and 42.3%. The most significant changes in the intensities of the signals evaluated by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, as well as morphological changes determined by scanning electron microscopy, were assessed for polymer composite with rapeseed cake and specimen without filler in coniferous forest soil and are in a good agreement with weight loss results. Whereas significantly lower changes in weight loss, morphology, and structure of polymeric film with pine bark were noticed in both soils. It was suggested that fungi of Trichoderma, Penicillium, Talaromyces and Clonostachys genera are the possible soil microorganisms that degrade linseed oil-based cross-linked polymer composites. Moreover, the novel polymer composites have the potential to be an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based mulching films.
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