Transition to biodegradable composites as a method for solving environmental problems

Abstract

In environmental matters, one of the most pressing problems is the efficient disposal of polymeric materials that have a negative impact on the ecology of soils and oceans. A necessary condition for the sustainable development of industrial production and processing of polymer products is the transition to polymer materials based on renewable plant raw materials, in particular polylactides, polyhydroalkanates, etc. However, the technology for the production of these types of polymers is seriously inferior to synthetic polymers in the field of energy engineering. In this regard, research in the field of creating composite materials by introducing wood filler is currently particularly relevant. This research covers the results of stress-strain behavior of wood filled polylactic wood powder composite materials thermally modified by high temperatures ranged from 200 to 240 °С. Wood impact strength dependence is defined and static bending and composite density dependence on wood filler quantity and the temperature of its thermal modification is also established. It was specified that with the increasing of filler densification and its thermal treatment, the wood impact strength and composite density is decreasing, while with the reduced content of binding, the thermal modification of 200 °С has a positive impact on bending elastic coefficient. The conducted research allows identifying rational areas of use of composite materials as an effective factor in managing natural resources.