Polymer material and the environment 180530

1

Polymer material and the environment 7,5

ECTS

Ladok code: 42RP15

The exam is given to:

Date of exam: 30 May, 2018

Time: 09:00-13:00

Means of assistance:

Total amount of points on exam:

Requirements for grading:

0 – 24.5 points F 25 – 29.5 points FX 30 – 36.5 points E 37 – 42.5 points D 43 – 48.5 points C 49 – 54.5 points B 55 – 60 points A

Additional information:

Next re-exam date:

The marking period is, for the most part, 15 working days, plus up to 5 working days

for administration:

Otherwise it´s the following date:

Important! Do not forget to write the Anonymity Code on each paper you hand in!

Good Luck!

Examiner:

Phone number:

Anonymity Code: ___________________________________ 2 Question 1 (10 points)

Define the following concepts: a. Stabiliser b. Oxo-degradable c. Aminolysis d. Phthalates e. Prodegradant f. Hydrogenation g. Bisphenol A (BPA)

h. Poly brominated diphenyl ethers i. Glycolysis

j. Abiotic

Question 2 (14 points)

a. What are the main sources of marine plastic pollution? (3p) b. How does marine plastic debris affect the environment (3p) c. What is causing weathering of plastics in the oceans? (3p)

d. Describe how persistent organic pollutants may interact with microplastics (3p) e. Give two examples of primary microplastics (2p)

Question 3 (10 points)

a. Describe briefly how PET-bottles are recycled. (2p)

b. PET can also be recycled by glycolysis. Describe this process (2p)

c. What would the advantages and disadvantages be in producing the bottles by PLA instead? (6p)

Question 4 (10 points)

a. Polymer degradation will cause chemical changes. Give three examples. (3p)

b. When plastics are extruded, several factors may contribute to the polymer degradation. Mention three important factors. (3p)

c. What does the term “accelerated ageing” mean? (1p)

d. The life time is sometimes predicted by the “10-degree rule”. What is the theoretical basis for this “rule”? (1p)

e. A polymer was kept in an ageing chamber at 70°C for 1 year. Calculate the expected life time for the polymer at 20°C? (2p)

Question 5 (16 points)

a. The word “biopolymer” can actually refer to many different polymers and there are three different main groups. Define these three groups and give an example of a polymer from each group. (3p)

b. Carbohydrates are abundant in nature and could potentially be used as plastics. However, these polymers are typically not thermoplastic. Give two examples how they can be modified so that they become thermoplastic. (4p)

c. Biodegradation of polymers typically takes place in two steps. Describe this process (4p). d. PLA is said to be industrially compostable. What does this mean? (1p)