Research seminar: Polymer technology

Welcome to this lunch seminar on ''Biodegradation of polymer blends and their microplastic risks''.

Although biodegradable plastics are widely regarded as a promising solution to the global plastic pollution crisis, biodegradability alone does not guarantee the absence of negative environmental impacts. In practice, biodegradable polymers are frequently modified through blending with other polymers or elastomers, which may be either biodegradable or non-biodegradable. As the transition from conventional plastics to biodegradable alternatives accelerates, it is therefore critical to understand their degradation behavior and the potential environmental risks associated with microplastic formation and accumulation.

Herein, we demonstrate that both the morphology of polymer blends and the differences in biodegradability between their constituent phases strongly influence the overall biodegradation kinetics. In particular, phase-separated “sea–island” morphologies result in dispersed polymer domains that effectively behave as microplastics upon degradation of the matrix, leading to a high risk of microplastic generation from biodegradable polymer blends. These findings highlight the need for careful material design, use, and end-of-life management of biodegradable plastics. Given the scale of the ongoing paradigm shift toward biodegradable products, a comprehensive assessment of their degradation pathways and environmental fate is essential to avoid unintended ecological consequences.

Dr. Xinfeng Wei, researcher at Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology will give a talk on his research and current investigations.

We hope you can participate in this lunch seminar, and that we can further develop our research collaboration.

Zoom link: Zoom (https://hb-se.zoom.us/j/5935431895