About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T24: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
Society for Biomaterials: Biomaterial Applications in Today’s Industry: Development, Translation & Commercialization
|
| Presentation Title |
Formulation of Biodegradable Polysaccharide Blend as Replacement of Single-Use Plastics |
| Author(s) |
Selma Gmati, Abby R. Whittington, Meredith Steele |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Abby R. Whittington |
| Abstract Scope |
Two heavy contributors to plastic waste are single-use plastics for food packaging, and medical packaging. Biodegradable polysaccharides have a high potential to replace current plastics while bringing about a much better end of life, specifically as a biodegradable film that exhibits similar materials properties as typical plastics. However, these materials can be difficult to process and achieve suitable mechanical properties. The primary goal of this research was to develop and optimize a polysaccharide-based formula and test its capability to perform at the same level as traditional single-use plastics, as well as compare crosslinkers and their enhancement. The fabricated films with or without crosslinkers were tested to determine their mechanical and thermal properties, water swelling, and soil degradation. A medical-grade plastic barrier film was used as a standard for comparison. Results suggest this product yields comparable necessary properties to plastics in current use and could serve as a viable degradable replacement. |