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Effect of UV Light on Standard Plastic and Bio-Plastic Bags

Effect of UV Light on Standard Plastic and Bio-Plastic Bags. By: Anthony Disbrow, and Tyler Ista ENG 45 SRJC 12/13/06. Factors. Reflection Ambient temperature Humidity Impurities. Effects. Any UV radiation can cause photochemical effect within polymers.

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Effect of UV Light on Standard Plastic and Bio-Plastic Bags

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  1. Effect of UV Light on Standard Plastic and Bio-Plastic Bags By: Anthony Disbrow, and Tyler Ista ENG 45 SRJC 12/13/06

  2. Factors • Reflection • Ambient temperature • Humidity • Impurities

  3. Effects • Any UV radiation can cause photochemical effect within polymers. • This effect can be either a benefit, or a detriment. • With respect to plastics, UVC is more likely to have an effect. • Surface of plastics may undergo a color shift, appear chalky, or become brittle.

  4. Effects Continued • Certain polymer systems are able to be cured under UV light at room temperature. • UV curing can also be used on some glasses, semiconductors, optical fibers, dental fillings, inks, paper finishes, and much more. • UV curing can take place in a matter of seconds.

  5. What Happens • UV energy can excite photons, which result in free radicals (atoms or molecules with un-paired electrons). • Small impurities (ppb) can act as free radical receptors, leading to degradation.

  6. Plastic Statistics • One ton of recycled plastic saves: • 5,774 Kwh of energy • 16.3 barrels (685 gallons) of oil • 98 million Btu's of energy • 30 cubic yards of landfill space • Recycled plastic saves 88% of the energy used to produce plastic from raw materials. • Only 26% of HDPE plastic are recycled • Plastics cannot be naturally degraded.

  7. No polyethylene is used . • Made from cornstarch, vegetable oil and other renewable resources. • The Mater-Bi process is protected by more than 70 patents. • Compostable, disposable

  8. Procedure: • Cut plastic bag into a strip 1” x 12”. • Record initial thickness using micrometer. • Record initial width with Verneir calipers. • Clamp one end of bag allowing the strip to hang. • Clamp the other end such that weights can be hung from the clamp. • Measure the initial length of the specimen. • Add weight in 50g increments, record the length after each increment. • Continue the previous step until the specimen breaks. • After breakage record the final length, thickness and width.

  9. Test Setup

  10. The End Result

  11. Conclusions • Just the tensile test alone was not enough to reach a solid conclusion. • The creep properties of the plastic appeared to be affected. • The stress strain curve alone cannot show the elongation for a given time period. • We observed the samples exposed to more UV light crept the slowest.

  12. Sources • http://www.zeusinc.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?q=UV • http://www.masterbond.com/wbarticles/wbuv.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet • http://www.biogroupusa.com/catering.htm • http://www.biobag.at/produkte/bio_bag/bag_4_life/ • http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=plastic&pcat=homegarden • http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/page/Recycling_RecyclingTrivia?OpenDocument

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