Compostable Polymer Materials

The book deals with an environmentally important family of polymers that is designed to be disposed of in industrial and municipal compost facilities after their useful life. These compostable plastics undergo degradation by a biological process during composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue. Environmental concerns and legislative measures taken in different regions of the world make composting an increasingly attractive route for the disposal of redundant polymers. The book provides upto-date results and information about compostable polymer materials, presented in a coherent and comprehensive manner. It covers the entire spectrum of preparation, properties, degradation, and environmental issues of this family of polymers. The emphasis is on recent studies concerning compostability and ecotoxicological assessment of polymer materials important issues from an ecological point of view. Moreover, the thermal behaviour of compostable polymers is described. In the closing chapter, future perspectives, including price evolution during the last decade and a market estimation are presented.Rudnik, Ewa is the author of 'Compostable Polymer Materials' with ISBN 9780080453712 and ISBN 0080453716.