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Biodeterioration of plastics
Author(s) -
Wessel C. J.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760040310
Subject(s) - plastics industry , forensic engineering , engineering , environmental protection , environmental science , materials science , composite material
The deterioration of plastics by biological agents of considerable concern not only to the U. S. Department of Defense but to the national economy as a whole. Although the importance of the subject was recognized by some since the early days of the plastics industry, widespread investigation first began during World War II when serious problems were encountered in the tropics with electrical and electronic equipment. In the recent past the great developments in oceanography have emphasized that marine biodeterioration of plastics requires much more investigation. Biodeterioration of plastics is characterized according to that caused by microbiological agents, macrobiological agents, and marine biological agents. the important past and recent knowledge in each category is summarized.