Title
Flax waste management using biodegradable polymer matrices
Authors
JAKUB JANOCHA and ANDRZEJ IWAŃCZUK

Received In memory of Acad. Bogdan C. Simionescu
Published Volume 59 Issue 7-8 July-August
Keywords Mater-Bi, natural fibers, biodegradation, biodegradable plastic, flax, composites

Abstract
The ongoing development of biodegradable polymer production technologies appears to be a logical step toward reducing the ever-growing piles of plastic waste. Commercially available biodegradable polymers are still expensive and, unfortunately, are not yet a viable alternative to traditional petroleum-based polymers. However, it should be noted that this is slowly beginning to change. One way to reduce the cost of biodegradable polymers is by using additives, such as short cellulose fibers derived from local agricultural crops, which are often by-products of other processes. Of course, to ensure that the newly developed biodegradable composites remain competitive on the market, it is essential to guarantee that their physical and mechanical properties are not significantly diminished. The aim of the research was to produce biodegradable composites based on polymer Mater-Bi with added flax fibers and to determine their mechanical and tensile properties. The melt flow rate (MFR) was also specified for selected composites.