Performance Evaluation of Photo and Biodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene Using Photodegradable Additive Ferrocene [Part – II]

The Ferrocene additive is also reported as UV active and giving absorption peak of 220-260 nm at 2.8 X 10-3 mol/l. Ferrocene additive was melt blended with LDPE at 3 different concentration of ferrocene i.e. 1, 2 & 3% using twin screw extruder. After blending with LDPE the performance of photo and bio degradation was evaluated. The films were evaluated for their mechanical, thermal, infrared spectroscopic analysis, and morphological characteristics. The results show that ferrocene can be used as an effective photo-biodegradable additive. The photo degradation rate of the additive is very high at high concentration of ferrocene additive and the biodegradation was also proving that some low molecular weight species was formed during photo degradation, which is responsible for the 22% biodegradation after 47 days.