The structure,properties, and thermal destruction of biodegradable blends of cellulose and ethylcellulose with synthetic polymers

Powder blends of low-density polyethylene with cellulose and ethylcellulose were obtained under high-temperature shear deformation conditions in a rotor disperser at various initial reagent ratios. The composition of powder fractions was shown to be identical to the initial blend composition, which was evidence that the compositions obtained were homogeneous. Comparative studies of the structure of the initial and produced powder blends and mechanical characteristics of films obtained from them were determined by the X-ray method. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to study thermal destruction of individual polymers and their compositions. The effective kinetic parameters were calculated and used to suggest a model of diffusion-controlled polymer decomposition. The addition of polyethylene oxide was found to increase biodegradability of compositions based on cellulose. It therefore contributed to broadening of the applicability range of materials based on them.