Sidwell Consulting and Analytical Services Limited
Principal John A. Sidwell BSc, CChem, FRSC
Home
Food Contact Materials
Compliance Documentation
Mathematical Modelling
Polymer Analysis
Problem Solving
Biodegradable Materials
Contact Us
Site Map
BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS
 
Biodegradable materials are now being used in food packaging. The main classes of biodegradable materials currently in use include;
 
a) Those based on natural polymers such as starch and cellulose.
b) Modified natural polymers.
c) Polymers obtained by chemical synthesis using monomers derived from petrochemical or bio-based sources and typified by polyesters containing hydrolysable linkages in their structure.
d) Oxodegradable materials typified by polyolefinic plastics containing transition metal catalysts.
 
Many of these materials are produced from renewable raw materials and can be degraded to compost in commercial composting systems. In some cases, this can also happen in home composting systems.
 
John Sidwell is a member of the following committees involved with the development of standards for biodegradable materials;
 
- ISO (International Standards Organisation) TC 61 SC5 WG22 Biodegradability
- BSI (British Standards Institute) PKW0 SC1 Oxodegradable Materials
 
The Consultancy offers the following services on Biodegradable materials. Please contact us for more information or a quotation.
 
Services Offered
 
  • Evaluation and testing of the conformity of bio and oxodegradable materials with EU food contact regulations (Overall and specific migration requirements).
  • Assessment of the performance of oxodegradable materials in terms of rates of degradation, changes in physical properties and changes in molecular weight and gel content
    etc.

 

In collaboration with specialist laboratories, testing to ASTM and ISO standards can be undertaken including to;

 

  • ASTM D 3826 - Determining degradation end point in degradable polyethylene and polypropylene using a tensile test.
  • ASTM D 5208 - Standard Practice for fluorescent ultraviolet (UV) exposure of photodegradable plastics.
  • ASTM D 5510 - Heat aging of oxidatively degradable plastics.
  • ASTM D 5576 - Standard Practice for the determination of structural features in polyolefins and polyolefin copolymers by infrared spectrometry.
  • ASTM D 6954 - Standard Guide for exposing and testing plastics that degrade in the environment by a combination of oxidation and biodegradation (Tiers 1-3).

 

For help with Biodegradable materials , please either e-mail enquiries@sidwellconsulting.net or use the Contact Us form