Environmentally Degradation of r-PMMA/PMMA-Blend-PU/Ecoflex ...

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Environmentally Degradation of r-PMMA/PMMA-Blend-PU/Ecoflex Sheet
mechanical properties was observed at ratio of
MMA:r-PMMA:PU (71:4:25)/3 EF. According to the
percentage of IPNs, it showed the maximum value in
this condition. When considered the results as potential
of biodegradation, it showed that r-PMMA/
PMMA-blend-PU/Ecoflex sheet from this research
could be degraded in soil by landfills method. Towards,
after landfills for 6 months, percentages of weight loss
were increased upon to amount of Ecoflex. In addition
to this, the SEMs image shown the surface morphology
of specimens were damaged. That illustrated Ecoflex
had an effect on r-PMMA/PMMA-blend-PU/Ecoflex
sheet in potential biodegradation due to swelled by
humidity and microbial enzymatic activity in soil.
However, the impact strength of
r-PMMA/PMMA-blend-PU/Ecoflex sheet from this
research was better than the GPPMMA from industry.
Hence, the r-PMMA/PMMA-blend-PU/Ecoflex sheet
can be utilized as the impact materials for variable
application with potential in biodegradation and
r-PMMA can reduce the costs of raw material in
PMMA casting process.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge with thanks for financial
support from the iTAP (Industrial Technology
Assistance Program), NSTDA (National Science and
Technology Development Agency). Special thanks to
the National Metal and Materials Technology Center
(MTEC) and Pan ASIA Industrial Co., Ltd., Bangkok,
Thailand for supplying the materials and equipment
were used in this research.
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