Oxo-Biodegradability of High Density Polyethylene Films Containing Different Amounts of Polypropylene

Oxo-biodegradation of high density polyethylene (HDPE) films containing various concentrations of polypropylene (PP) and 1%w/w of Addiflex pro-oxidant is studied. The samples are prepared by extrusion process and the resulted granules are placed under 254nm irradiation wavelength (UVC irradiation) for 336 hours. The oxo-biodegradability is observed via the changes in the structural and thermal properties. Carbonyl Index (C.I.) measurments through Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy represents increasing values upon addition of PP to HDPE samples. Themgravimetric analysis (TGA) and derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) records a single stage decomposition process for all samples; also the decomposition of films containing PP starts at lower temperatures.