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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #91428
Title: PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A BIODEGRADABLE MULCH: PAPER COATED WITH POLYMERIZED VEGETABLE OILS

Author
item SHOGREN, RANDAL

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Kraft paper was coated with resins based on vegetable oils and then tested for mechanical properties, rate of biodegradation in soil, and ability to inhibit weed growth. Resins included oxidatively polymerized linseed oil (LO) and a polyester formed by the reaction of epoxidized soybean oil and citric acid (ESO/CA). Tensile strength of LO coated paper (82 MPA) was slightly higher than uncoated paper (68 MPA), while tensile strength of ESO/CA coated paper was somewhat lower (45 Mpa). Elongations to break (3- 8%) were similar for all samples. The rates of loss of weight and tensile strength during soil burial decreased as follows: uncoated paper >LO coated paper >ESO/CA coated paper. Resin coated papers inhibited growth for >10 weeks while uncoated paper was highly degraded and ineffective by 6-10 weeks.