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Effect of Simulated Weathering on Physicochemical Properties and Inherent Biodegradation of PLA/PHA Nonwoven Mulches

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Abstract

The effect of simulated weathering on the physicochemical properties and biodegradability of four fully biobased and potentially biodegradable agricultural mulches prepared nonwoven textile technology, consisting of randomly oriented fibers of average diameter 7–16 μm, has been investigated. Two mulches were prepared from polylactic acid (PLA) using spunbond processing, one naturally white and the other black (SB-W and SB-B, respectively), and two via meltblown processing, from 100 % PLA and a 75/25 w/w blend of PLA and polyhydroxyalkanoate [PHA; poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate); MB-PLA and MB-PLA+PHA, respectively]. SB-W and SB-B possessed higher tensile strength than MB-PLA and MB-PLA+PHA (56.2N, 37.1N, 8.96N, and 3.90N, respectively). Simulated weathering introduced minor changes in physicochemical properties of SBs, but enhanced inherent biodegradability, yielding 68–72 % mineralization in 90 days. Simulated weathering greatly affected the physicochemical properties of the MB mulches, particularly MB-PLA+PHA, which underwent a 95 % loss of tensile strength, 32 % decrease of weight-averaged molecular weight (from 95.4 to 70.5 kDa), and breakage of microfibers, during a 21 days weatherometry cycle. Weathering accelerated the biodegradation of both MB mulches, with the time course of biodegradation and final extent of biodegradation (91–93 % in 90 days) nearly matching the value obtained for the cellulosic positive control. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested the SB and MB mulches underwent hydrolysis and photodegradative chain scission (Norrish Type II reaction). SB nonwovens may prove useful as biobased and compostable materials for multi-season mulching, and other long-term agricultural applications, such as for row covers in perennial cropping systems. MB nonwovens may be better suited for more traditional agricultural mulch applications.

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Abbreviations

ATR:

Attenuated total reflectance

BDMs:

Biodegradable mulches

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

GPC:

Gel permeation chromatography

MB:

Meltblown (nonwoven materials)

MD:

Machine direction

Mw :

Weight-averaged molecular weight

PDI:

Polydispersity index

PHA:

Polyhydroxyalkanoate [poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate]

PLA:

Polylactic acid

SB:

Spunbond (nonwoven materials)

Tc :

Crystallization temperature

Tg :

Glass transition temperature

Tm :

Melting temperature

UV:

Ultraviolet

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded in part through a Grant from the NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative, USDA SCRI-SREP Grant Award No. 2009-02484. The authors are grateful to Natureworks (Blair, NE USA) and GreenBio (Tianjin, China) for donation of PLA (Ingeo™ 6202D) and PHA feedstocks, respectively. Ms. Rachel Dunlap, an undergraduate student research assistant at UT, assisted with the collection of GPC, dry weight, and thickness data. Drs. Debra Inglis and Carol Miles, Washington State University, and Dr. Arnold E. Saxton, UT, provided technical assistance relating to organic certification of biodegradable mulches, critically reviewed the manuscript, and advised on the statistical analysis of data, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Michigan State University, 2527 Engineering Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1226, USA

    Elodie Hablot, Christopher Blazy & Ramani Narayan

  2. Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, 2506 E.J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996-4531, USA

    Sathiskumar Dharmalingam, Douglas G. Hayes & Larry C. Wadsworth

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  1. Elodie Hablot
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  2. Sathiskumar Dharmalingam
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  3. Douglas G. Hayes
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  4. Larry C. Wadsworth
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  5. Christopher Blazy
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Correspondence to Douglas G. Hayes or Ramani Narayan.

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Hablot, E., Dharmalingam, S., Hayes, D.G. et al. Effect of Simulated Weathering on Physicochemical Properties and Inherent Biodegradation of PLA/PHA Nonwoven Mulches. J Polym Environ 22, 417–429 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-014-0697-0

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