Forensic Engineering of Advanced Polymeric Materials. Part VI – Degradation of Polyester-based Materials Obtained by Different Processing Methods – Comparative Studies

¹Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34, M. Curie-Sklodowska St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland.

²Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9/5799, 845 41 Bratislava, Slovakia.

³Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castellon, Spain.

⁴Institute of Material and Machine Mechanics, Slovak Academy of Science, Dúbravská cesta 9/6319, 845 13 Bratislava, Slovakia.

⁵University of Wolverhampton, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Forensic Science, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, UK.

Corresponding Author: Joanna Rydz, Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34, M. CurieSklodowska St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland, Tel: +48 32 2716077; E-Mail: [email protected]

Received Date:   02 Mar 2018  
Accepted Date:   30 Apr 2018  
Published Date: 04 May 2018

Copyright © 2018 Joanna Rydz

Citation: Rydz J, Gonzalez Ausejo J, Musioł M, Sikorska W, et al. (2018). Forensic Engineering of Advanced Polymeric Materials. Part VI – Degradation of Polyester-based Materials Obtained by Different Processing Methods – Comparative Studies. Mathews J Foren. 1(1): 003.

ABSTRACT

Both ex-ante investigations as well as ex-post studies are needed in the area of advanced polymer materials, particularly (bio) degradable polymers, in order to increase efficiency and to define and minimise the potential failure of novel polymer products before and during specific applications. The after-use properties of such materials are also important and therefore in this study, the degradation of polylactide (PLA) films with different thickness and PLA-based films with poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate] ((R,S)-PHB), both obtained by extrusion as well as samples of PLA and its blend with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) obtained by 3D printing with different patterns (printing directions) were investigated. The materials were characterised by optical microscopy, gel permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The main aspect of this research is to elaborate on new strategies for the comprehensive characterisation of complex polymer systems obtained by different methods. Comparative studies have allowed conclusions to be drawn from research on various materials under similar conditions.

KEYWORDS

Rigid Film; Filament; Extrusion; Three-Dimensional Printing; Degradation; (Bio)degradable Polyester; PLA; PHA.