Assessment of UV exposure and aerobic biodegradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/starch blend films coated with radiation-curable print inks containing degradation-promoting additives

摘要: Abstract Biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) blend films were printed with white, yellow, red, blue, black inks based on epoxy acrylate resin. Clear PBAT/TPS used as the control. Ink formulations also modified (1% w/w) without degradation-promoting additives cobalt stearate (CoSt) or cerium (CeSt). Printed cured under ultraviolet light emitted by a medium-pressure mercury lamp at 10.3 kW m−2, then further aged in accelerated weathering chamber total irradiance of 0.89 W m−2 continuously for 250 h 50 ± 3 °C. Subsequently, samples exposed to an aerobic composting biodegradation process 58 °C 55% relative humidity 60 d. Color (L*, a* b*), gloss hardness indexes, well FTIR spectra, obtained. Thermal properties molecular structure monitored before after UV exposure tests. The addition CoSt affected color, aging. degradation PBAT/TPS + CoSt depended nature ink pigment their capacity absorb photons. PBAT/TPCS resulted larger reduction weight average ( M ¯ w ) evolution CO2. incorporation increased sensitivity degradation, had large impact final samples.