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Photodegradable high density polyethylene‐based shopping bags— environmental hazard or blessing?
Author(s) -
Ferguson Grant M.,
Hood Mark,
Abbott Kerry
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.4990280107
Subject(s) - high density polyethylene , stearate , polyethylene , hazard , materials science , environmental hazard , environmental science , waste management , chemistry , composite material , engineering , organic chemistry , medicine , pathology
Plastics are popularly regarded as an environmental hazard. Ferric stearate photoinitiated high density polyethylene (HDPE) films manufactured as supermarket shopping bags were found to rapidly photodegrade after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light irradiation. Our studies confirmed manufacturer's claims that the bags would degrade more rapidly than standard UV stabilised bags. The photodegradable bags had the potential to completely degrade and be resorbed into the biosphere without adverse effects.