Degradation
Degradation is, perhaps, the most important problem for plastics. From the time a plastic or polymeric material is formed, degradative process are ongoing. These processes range from slow chain rearrangements to oxidation and chain scission. Much of compounding is concerned with adding additives to slow degradation.
On the other hand, slow degradation can be a problem in that plastics stay around longer than they should especially in landfills. More compounding challenges concern with triggering rapid degradation after use.
(RDC 4/27/2011)
Biodegradation
Environmental Degradation
Pyrolysis
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