DETERIORATION OF FILAMENTS AND FILMS OF POLYETHYLENETEREPHTHALATE WITH ENZYME OF <i>Cladosporium cladosporioides</i> FERM J-8

Abstract

Deterioration of filaments and films of polyethyleneterephthalate were investigated with crude enzyme solutions of Cladosporium cladosporioides FERM J-8. The test pieces of filaments or films were immersed at given pH (5.5, 7.0, 8.0) in the enzyme solutions prepared from the fungus. The mixture was shaken at 30°C for two weeks. The incubated samples were observed by scanning electron micrography and some physical properties of the filaments or films were examined. Furthermore, the chemical changes of the filaments or films and the liberations of carboxyl group and ammonia were measured.The tensile strength, viscoelasticity, extension behavior and relative viscosity were remarkably changed. It was recognized that these changes were caused by the hydrolysis with esterase of Clad. cladosporioides. This deterioration phenomena was not the swelling soluble type such as Nylon-6, Diacetate, Cotton cellulose and Silk fibroin. But, it has a similar property of Polyurethane, Triacetate and Diacetate filter. As the above result, it was considered that the lyric mechanism was almost same as the action of the organic bases or ammonia.