Degradation of PLA/PBAT biodegradable polymer films for sustainable agricultural practices

Abstract

Biodegradable polymer films used for mulching practices provide numerous benefits while minimizing the environmental impact associated with traditional plastic films. Understanding the degradation processes of biodegradable films is essential for optimizing their performance and ensuring their effective breakdown in the environment. This article analyzes the degradation phenomenon for a commercial PLA/PBAT biodegradable mulching film with reference to Mediterranean environmental conditions. The paper presents the results of chemical and mechanical tests on aged samples obtained by in situ degradation trials on three different soils (pellet, sandy and clay) with the aim of exploring the role of environmental conditions in the degradation process. Degradation tests have considered the decay of morphological, chemical and mechanical properties during standard crop cycles of the South Mediterranean area.