Effects of Introducing Crude and Modified Soybean Oil into Polyurethane Structures on the Soil-Burial Biodegradation Process

Abstract

Synthetic and natural acrylate oligomers blends and their blends with different ratios of crude soybean oil were studied as environmentally degradable and eco-compatible materials. Two of the components acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) and crude soybean oil are bio-sourced oligomers. Their biodegradability under soil burial in natural condition was characterized by FT-IR and mechanical properties and was further confirmed by SEM analyses. A high content of modified and crude soybean oil present in the sample composition had enhanced the adhesion of microorganism onto the polymer surface, which in turn resulted in high biodegradation rates under soil burial conditions.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Crude soybean oil
• Modified soybean oil
• Polyurethane acrylate blends
• Soil burial biodegradation