Viscosity of Polycaprolactone Microplastic Dispersions and Nonlinear Kinetic Models of Plastic Fragmentation
Vincenzo Villani, Pier Luigi Gentili
TL;DR
This study explores how polycaprolactone plastics break down over time, revealing a new mechanism involving nanoplastics and microplastics.
Contribution
The paper introduces a novel cracking–leaching mechanism explaining the fragmentation of plastics into different sizes.
Findings
Viscosity of PCL microdispersions decreases exponentially in the first 3 months.
Nanoplastics are released from semicrystalline particles, leaving stable crystalline microplastics.
A cracking–leaching mechanism explains the size distribution of ocean plastic debris.
Abstract
Viscosimetric experiments and microscopy measurements on microdispersions of polycaprolactone (PCL) plastics showed an unexpected exponential decrease in viscosity over the first 3 months and a plateau for a further 4 months of observations. This behavior is due to the release of nanoplastics from semicrystalline particles that reduce the viscosity of the dispersion, and leave stable and fine crystalline microplastics ranging in size from 30 to 180 μm. The development of nonlinear kinetic models for the fragmentation process from macro- to meso-, micro-, and nanoplastics reveals complex behavior that we call a cracking–leaching mechanism. The autocatalytic mechanical cracking of macroplastics larger than 5 mm is followed by a logistic-type mechanical cracking of mesoplastics between 5 and 1 mm. Therefore, microplastics smaller than 1 mm experience the leaching diffusion modeled via…
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Taxonomy
TopicsMicroplastics and Plastic Pollution · Recycling and Waste Management Techniques · biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties