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Review
. 2024 May 10;16(10):1356.
doi: 10.3390/polym16101356.

Synthetic Degradable Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer and Its Blends with Starch and Cellulose-A Comprehensive Overview

Abdallah S Elgharbawy  1   2 , Abdel-Ghaffar M El Demerdash  1 , Wagih A Sadik  1 , Mosaad A Kasaby  1 , Ahmed H Lotfy  1 , Ahmed I Osman  3
Affiliations
Review

Synthetic Degradable Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer and Its Blends with Starch and Cellulose-A Comprehensive Overview

Abdallah S Elgharbawy et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Approximately 50% of global plastic wastes are produced from plastic packaging, a substantial amount of which is disposed of within a few minutes of its use. Although many plastic types are designed for single use, they are not always disposable. It is now widely acknowledged that the production and disposal of plastics have led to a plethora of negative consequences, including the contamination of both groundwater and soil resources and the deterioration of human health. The undeniable impact of excessive plastic manufacturing and waste generation on the global plastic pollution crisis has been well documented. Therefore, degradable polymers are a crucial solution to the problem of the non-degradation of plastic wastes. The disadvantage of degradable polymers is their high cost, so blending them with natural polymers will reduce the cost of final products and maximize their degradation rate, making degradable polymers competitive with industrial polymers that are currently in use daily. In this work, we will delineate various degradable polymers, including polycaprolactone, starch, and cellulose. Furthermore, we will elucidate several aspects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and its blends with natural polymers to show the effects of adding natural polymers on PVA properties. This paper will study cost-effective and ecologically acceptable polymers by combining inexpensive natural polymers with readily accessible biodegradable polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

Keywords: biopolymer; cellulose; degradable polymer; polyvinyl alcohol; starch.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author Abdallah S. Elgharbawy was employed by the Egyptian Ethylene and Derivatives Company (Ethydco). The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The expected quantity of plastic production per decade from 1950 to 2050.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Different types of degradable polymer.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Polymer degradation mechanism.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Different applications for PVA and natural polymer blends.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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