ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE APPLICATION OF POLYMER COMPOSITIONS THAT ARE BIODEGRADABLE WITH THE ADDITION OF STARCH

Abstract

This paper considers the problems associated with the utilization of polymer waste, as well as the difficulties of recycling it, analyzes existing approaches to optimizing the process of creating biodegradable polymer compositions with the addition of starch, and investigates the effect of the amount of starch on the physical, mechanical, and rheological characteristics of a polyethylene-based polymer composition. It illustrates the trends that have led to the need to develop innovative materials capable of decomposing into harmless substances (water, biomass, etc.) under the influence of the environment (light, moisture, microorganisms, etc.), which have become an environmentally friendly means of solving the problem of the formation and accumulation of solid polymer waste. The current trends in research and application of biodegradable starch-based polymer compositions are analyzed, highlighting their potential to contribute to sustainable development and environmentally friendly polymer materials in various industries. Methods of starch modification before introduction into the polymer composition are also analyzed, it is determined that physical methods of starch modification are economically more accessible and cheaper than chemical modification methods, and do not generate wastewater containing salts, reagents or reagent by-products, which is environmentally appropriate. In the presented work, a method of obtaining compositions from polyethylene, sevilen, starch, cobalt stearate and citric acid was applied. It was determined that the decomposition of biodegradable polymer compositions affects the change in physical and mechanical parameters, which depend on the type of additives and their characteristics, the structure formed during material processing, etc. The effect of ultraviolet radiation and the action of microorganisms on the decomposition of a polyethylene composition containing starch is shown. It was determined that after the composition is kept in compost, the decomposition of the polyethylene composition containing starch is more intensive compared to the effect of ultraviolet radiation.