Abstract
The aim of this work was preparation and initial investigation of biodegradable polymer composites from renewable recourses filled with industrial waste materials for potential application as mulching coatings. Crosslinked polymer of epoxidized linseed oil and 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid was used as polymeric binder in the prepared composites. The following industrial waste materials of natural origin were used as fillers: horn meal, phosphogypsum, rapeseed cake, pine needles, pine bark, grain mill waste, and mix of grain waste and weeds. The composite films can be formed in one day at (20–25) °C. The curing time was increased with an increase of dilution and amount of filler, as well as with reduction of temperature. Mechanical and thermal properties, moisture permeability, surface wetting, swelling in water, combustibility, and biodegradability of the formed polymer composite films were evaluated. It was found that mechanical characteristics of the prepared polymer composites deteriorated with increase of amount of filler. Tensile strength, Young modulus, and elongation at break of composite films were in the range of (0.3–1.8) MPa, (0.8–6.8) MPa, and (17–51) %, respectively. The values of wetting angle varied from 71° to 90° and were lower than that of commercial agrofoil. Swelling values were in the range of (2–22) % and depended on type and amount of filler, particle size, and hydrophobicity. The samples with lower amounts and less hydrophobic fillers having the higher particle size exhibited higher swelling values. Prepared composite films were found to be able to retain moisture in soil in 2–2.5 times more than soil without coating after 1 month, they were by ca. (4–20) % less flammable than conventional synthetic polymer films, biodegradable (their mass loss was (36–60) % during 6 months exposition in soil), and therefore could be applied as sprayable or pre-cured mulching films in agriculture and forestry.
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