Oxo-biodegradable films to renovate the agricultural sector
February 10, 2009
The use of plastics is essential for the progress of numerous industries, including those related to agriculture, that are a vital component for the enhancement of the quality and quantity of the production in this material and that it favors a lower consumption of water and allows you to create a special microclimate in areas where they grow the plants. In addition, the plastic has a distinctive advantage of the rest of materials (glass, etc.): reduced weight, which allows a management, placement, and easier to transport.
In recent years, Spain has become one of the leaders worldwide in terms of manufacturing and import of plastic for farming (especially films). The main applications of plastic in this sector are found in greenhouses, tunnels, padded, mesh of shading, pipes of drip irrigation, hydroponics bags and plastic fotoselectivos for control of pests and diseases.
Applications in the agricultural industry
Many of these applications are directly related to the agricultural sector which is becoming more frequent the use of certain types of plastics, as for example, the use of films with manure and straw to reduce the need for pesticides and minimize the need for irrigationthereby helping to maximize crop yields. When these films incorporating TDPA additives, degradation is done safely and in very small particles, which can be aradas on the ground, adding structure to it, as do other organic components of the Earth.
The TDPA additive developed by EPI is added in very small amounts to common plastic resins (polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene) during the process of transformation into end products, allowing the plastic to degrade completely to be exposed to direct sunlightheat, and/or mechanical stress.
The degradation of plastics incorporating TDPA is programmed to measure in each final product, so that it starts once he has fulfilled his life and has no toxic or harmful effect to plant or animal life. In addition, it is fully compatible with existing recycling systems.
Developed by EPI TDPA additives act as catalysts and accelerators, increasing the rate of degradation of 100 to 1,000 times and allowing plastic products containing them to disintegrate in a period between a few weeks or even one or two yearsDepending on the formula 'tailor-made' to each product and the environment in which they are discarded.
