Biodegradable polymers

Question 1

What are biodegradable polymers?

Answer 1

can be made from finite resources such as crude oil and contains additives that use it to degrade are quickly than traditional polymers

Question 2

What are the two categories bio-polymers can be split into?

Answer 2

natural - made from natural materials such as cellulose

synthetic - made from renewable resources but chemically engineered to break down more quickly

Question 3

Give 4 implications of using bio-polymers and biodegradable polymers

Answer 3

can produce methane gas (greenhouse gas) when they decompose
can take high temp to decompose and may leave behind toxic residues
cannot be recycled (may not encourage people to recycle)
natural need land to grow crops to make

Question 4

Give 3 conditions degradation occurs in the presence of

Answer 4

light (photodegradable) - bonds weakened and polymer breaks down with UV exposure
oxygen (oxygen-degradable) - turns into fine power with exposure which is subsequently degraded
water (hydro-degradable)