@article { ISI:000232802700002,
	title = {Durability of natural fiber-reinforced composites of ethylene-propylene copolymer under accelerated weathering and composting conditions},
	journal = {Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials},
	volume = {18},
	number = {6},
	year = {2005},
	month = {NOV},
	pages = {489-508},
	publisher = {SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD},
	type = {Article},
	address = {1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {<p>Three types of composites are prepared by the melt mixing of ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPC) with (i) 3 \% NaOH-treated jute fiber, (ii) 17.5 \% NaOH-treated jute fiber, and (iii) commercial microcrystal line cellulose powder using maleated EPC as compatibilizer. The composites obtained are characterized by FTIR and microscopic measurements. Their mechanical properties are measured using a UTM (Instron model 4204). The durability of the composites is evaluated in an irradiation chamber with UV radiation of wavelength lambda \&gt;= 290 mn and composting conditions at different time intervals. The composites made from microcrystalline cellulose show superior mechanical properties, biodisintegrability, as well as photoresistance whereas the specimen containing 3\% NaOH-treated fiber exhibited the lowest photoresistance. Increasing the quantity of maleated EP (MEP) in the composition decreases photostability. Neat EPC has been found to be highly stable than all the composites with increasing UV irradiation. It has been found that the composites are less durable under both abiotic and biotic conditions in comparison to the neat polymer.</p>},
	keywords = {compatibilization, composites, jute fiber, mechanical properties, Microcrystalline cellulose, photodegradation and composting},
	issn = {0892-7057},
	doi = {10.1177/0892705705054411},
	author = {Kumar, A. P. and Depan, Dilip and Singh, R. P.}
}
@article { ISI:000239458500013,
	title = {Photo-bio-degradability of agro waste and ethylene-propylene copolymers composites under abiotic and biotic environments},
	journal = {Journal of Polymers and the Environment},
	volume = {14},
	number = {2},
	year = {2006},
	month = {APR},
	pages = {203-212},
	publisher = {SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS},
	type = {Article},
	address = {233 SPRING ST, NEW YORK, NY 10013 USA},
	abstract = {<p>Composites were prepared by two methods, (i) graft copolymerization (GFC) of isotactic polypropylene (PP) with maliec anhydride, (MAH) followed by esterification with coir fiber and (ii) by direct reactive mixing (DFC) of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-propylene (EP) copolymers with MAH and peroxide with coir fiber. These composites, after molding in films (5 x 5 cm, - 100 mu m thickness) were examined for susceptibility to biological attack by measuring the percentage weight loss in compost upto 6 months, periodically, and fungal colonization on surface of the samples, when kept as sole carbon source for the growth of Aspergillus niger in culture medium upto 40 days. Photodegradation was evaluated by monitoring the variations in FT-IR spectrum and crack formation after successive treatment with UV light (\&gt;= 290 nm) for 0, 20, 50 and 100 h at 60 C in the presence of air. Specimens of virgin PP were taken as a reference during all period of photo and biodegradation studies. Significant changes were observed depending on the preparation methods during photodegradation and biodisintegration of composites. DFCs samples were disintegrated faster than GFCs during the composting whereas, in culture, GFCs were covered highly in well uniform way by fungi. It was observed that photo-oxidative ageing directly enhanced the biodegradability of composites as the increase in fungal growth rate and decrease in weight during composting were found. It was concluded that extent of compatibilization had a profound effect on photo-oxidation and biodisintegration of composite material; consequently ester bonds were main units during fungal consumption. Composition of monomers in copolymers was also showing significant effect on the degradability which decreased with increasing content of ethylene in ethylene-propylene (EP) copolymers.</p>},
	keywords = {Biodegradation, biodisintegration and composting, composites, ethylene-propylene copolymers, photo-degradation},
	issn = {1566-2543},
	doi = {10.1007/s10924-006-0012-9},
	author = {Kumar, A. Pratheep and Pandey, Jitendra K. and Kumar, Bijendra and Singh, R. P.}
}
