Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mechanical Performance and Design Criteria of Biodegradable Low-tunnel Films

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymers and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The overall mechanical behaviour of a series of experimental Mater-Bi made thin low-tunnel films is analysed with respect to the effect of two major factors: the film processing optimisation during manufacturing and the design of the low-tunnels structural system. The analysis of the mechanical behaviour of the biodegradable low-tunnel films, based on the results of extensive full-scale and small-scale experiments, combined with laboratory testing of the mechanical properties of the film, proves that a rather good mechanical behaviour is possible for these films, comparable to the behaviour of conventional agricultural films in terms of strength, provided that two criteria are met: (a) the low tunnel structural design is based on the initial stress at yield value of the film, which represents the asymptotic value of the tensile strength of the film, following its evolution with the time of exposure to real field conditions; (b) the processing of the film is optimised for the particular biodegradable material and film thickness under consideration. It is also confirmed that the stabilisation schemes used with conventional polyethylene films are not suitable for the biodegradable films.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1.  Bioplastics: ‘Biodegradable plastics for environmentally friendly mulching and low tunnel cultivation’, QLK5-CT-2000-00044.

References

  1. Dilara PA, Briassoulis D (2000) J Agric Eng Res 76:309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jouet JP (2001) ‘Los plásticos en el mundo (Plastics in the world)’, XV Congreso Internacional de Plásticos en Agricultura (15th International Congress for Plastics in Agriculture) CIPA, Plasticulture No 120, pp 46–57

  3. Association of Plastic Manufacturers in Europe (2002) An analysis of plastic consumption and recovery in Western Europe. Spring 2002, APME

  4. Sundt P, Martinez T (2001) Recycling schemes for Agriculture (bilde EO). Presentation during the ‘EPRO-meeting’ in Paris 22–23.11.01

  5. Briassoulis D (2004) J Polym Environ 12(2):65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chandra R, Rustgi R (1998) Prog Polym Sci 23:1273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Thompson RC, Olsen Y, Mitchell RP, Davis A, Rowland SJ, John AWG, McGonigle D, Russell AE (2004) Science 304:838

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Feuilloley P (2004) La Recherche N° 374:52

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fritz J (2003) Macromol Symp 197:397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Karlsson S, Albertsson AC (1998) Polym Eng Sci 38:1251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Scott G (1999) Macromo Symp 144:113

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chiellini E, Corti A, Swift G (2002) Biodegradation of thermally-oxidized fragmented ldpe samples. 7th World Conference on Biodegradable Polymers & Plastics, Tirrenia (Pisa), Italie, 4–8

  13. Scott G (2000) Polym Deg Stab 68:1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Weiland M, Daro A, David C (1995) Polym Deg Stab 48:275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Briassoulis D (2004) Biosyst Eng 87(2):209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Willett JK (1994) J Appl Polym Sci 54:1685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Cho W, Woo KS, Chun BC, Park JS (2001) Eur Polym J 37:1227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jaserg B, Swanson C, Nelsen T, Doane W (1992) J Polym Mater 9:153

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lawton JW (1996) Carbohydrate Polymers 29:203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Tocchetto RS, Benson RS, Dever M (2001) J Polym Environ 9(2):57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Briassoulis D (2006) Polym Deg Stab 91:1256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kapanen A (2005) VTT Biotechnology Finland. Personal communication

  23. Candura A, Scarascia-Mugnozza G, Schettini E, Vox G (2003) Biodegradable covering films for strawberry protected cultivation in mediterranean Areas. XXX CIOSTA – CIGR V Congress, Proceedings ISBN 88-88854-09-6, Turin, Italy, 22–24 September 2003, Vol. 2: 824–831.A

  24. Vox G, Schettini E, G Scarascia-Mugnozza G (2005) Acta Horticult 691(2):575

    Google Scholar 

  25. Scarascia-Mugnozza G, Schettini E, Vox G (2004) Biosyst Eng 87(4):479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. http://www.novamont.com

  27. Comite Europeen de Normalisation CEN EN13432 Packaging – Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation – Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging, European Committee for Standardisation, Brussels

  28. Deutsche Normen DIN, DIN V 54900 (1998) Testing of compostability of plastics – Part 1: Chemical testing", October 1998 edition; – Part 2: Testing of the complete biodegradability of plastics in laboratory tests", September 1998 edition; – Part 3: Testing under practice-relevant conditions and a method of testing the quality of the composts", September 1998 edition, DIN Deutsches Institut fuer Normung, Koeln, Berlin: Beuth

  29. Unificazione Italiana UNI, UNI 10785 (2001) Compostabilità dei materiali plastici, Unificazione Italiana, Milano

  30. Comite Europeen de Normalisation CEN/TC 249, (2002) EN 13655 (draft European Standard), Plastics - Mulching thermoplastic films for use in agriculture and horticulture, European Committee for Standardisation, Brussels

  31. Comite Europeen de Normalisation CEN/TC 249 (2001) Document EN 13206 Covering thermoplastic films for use in agriculture and horticulture, European Committee for Standardisation, Brussels

  32. Briassoulis D (2005) The effects of tensile stress and the agrochemical vapam on the ageing of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) agricultural films; Part I. Mechanical behaviour. Polym Degrad Stability 88(3):489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Comite Europeen de Normalisation (1995). Eurocode-1: Basis of design and actions on structures- Part 2–4 : Actions on structures “Wind actions”. European Committee for Standardisation, Brussels

  34. Briassoulis D, Aristopoulou A, Bonora M, Verlodt I (2004) Biosyst Eng 88(2):131

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work has been carried out in the framework of the European research project Bioplastics: ‘Biodegradable plastics for environmentally friendly mulching and low tunnel cultivation’, QLK5-CT-2000–00044, funded by the EU. Special thanks are due to Dr. A.Mistritis for his work on the electronic measurement and analysis of the wind data, Mr. G.Makris, for collecting the samples and supervising the experiments in the experimental field in Athens, to N.Chronopoulou for performing the mechanical tests and to Mr. D.Giannopoulos for the technical support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece

    D. Briassoulis

Authors
  1. D. Briassoulis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Briassoulis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Briassoulis, D. Mechanical Performance and Design Criteria of Biodegradable Low-tunnel Films. J Polym Environ 14, 289–307 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-006-0037-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-006-0037-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation