Biodegradation of Polyethylene Composites Based on Starch and Ultra-Disperse Metal Particles

Abstract

This paper presents a modification of biodegradable polymers with highly-disperse metals, for example Fe/FeO or Fe2O3 (Z), with nano-sized particles. During the course of the work, biodegradable polyethylene composites with the composition PE-276 + Z + starch (Z = 0.1% by wt, starch from 2.5 to 10% by wt) were produced. Studies were made of the rheological and deformation/strength characteristics of the composites produced. A regular relationship was identified between the rate and extent of biodegradation and the percentage starch content in the composites.