Biodegradable Polymers: Market Report
Looking at the four main classes of biodegradable polymers, this report analyzes their key performance properties, applications development, market drivers and future prospects.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Biodegradable Polymers: Market Report
Chapter 12: Glossary of Terms
- Abiotic disintegration
- The disintegration of plastic materials by means other than by the biological process such as dissolving, heat ageing or ultraviolet ageing.
- Additives
- Materials that are added to a base polymer to produce a desired change on properties or characteristics.
- Adipic acid aliphatic copolyesters
- Biodegradable polyester used in degradable plastic products.
- Adipic acid aromatic copolyesters
- Biodegradable polyester used in degradable plastic products.
- Aerobic degradation
- Degradation in the presence of air. Composting is a way of aerobic degradation.
- Amorphous
- Devoid of crystallinity, no definite order. At processing temperatures, the plastic is normally in the amorphous state.
- Anaerobic degradation
- Degradation in the absence of air, as occurs in dry landfills. Anaerobic degradation is also called biomethanisation.
- Assimilation
- The conversion of nutrients into living tissue; constructive metabolism.
- Aromatic hydrocarbons
- Hydrocarbons derived from or characterized by the presence of unsaturated resonant ring structures.
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- Binder
- In a reinforced plastic, the continuous phase which holds together the reinforcement.
- Biodegradable plastic
- a degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae.
- Bioerodable
- Polymers that exhibit controlled degradation through the incorporation of prodegradant additive masterbatches or concentrates. Such polymers oxidise and embrittle in the environment and erode under the influence of weathering.
- Biomass
- The weight of all the organisms in a given population.
- Blends & alloys
- Combinations of two or more different polymers mechanically entangled rather than chemically bonded.
- Block...
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