SEM Analysis and Degradation Behavior of Conventional and Bio-Based Plastics During Composting

Recently, various materials have begun to be marketed that claim to be biodegradable or compostable. Terms such as "degradable", "oxo-biodegradable", "biological", "compostable" and "green" are often used to describe and promote different plastics. Commercial bioplastics and a petrochemical plastic (claim to be degradable) were used for this study. The research was carried out in real conditions in the Central Composting Plant in Brno, Czech Republic. SEM analysis of the samples was done in order to analyze microstructure and morphology of specimens, validating dispersion results. It can be concluded that samples certified as compostable have degrade in real composting conditions. Samples (4-7) showed significant erosion on surface when subjected to the SEM analysis. Samples labeled (by their producers) as 100 % degradable (Samples 1-3) did not show any visual signs of degradation.