Polyester amides

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Polyester amides are biodegradable plastics that are sold under the trade name BAK.

For example, polyester amides are synthesized from ε-caprolactam , adipic acid and 1,4-butanediol .

Representation of polyester amide

The monomers of the polyester amides are linked to one another via ester and amide bonds , which make them easy for bacteria to attack. In addition, all monomers can be used by the bacteria and are fed into cellular respiration, during which the monomers are broken down into carbon dioxide , water and biomass . The degradability can, however, be influenced by different proportions of the mass of ester and amide groups and the proportions of the monomers. Up to an ester content of 30 percent by weight, there is practically no degradation over a period of 65 days. At 40 percent ester content, the degradation is already considerable in the same period. Polyester amide has many applications in industry and can be processed in the same way as conventional plastics. However, the percentage market share is relatively low due to the high production costs.

literature

  • Günter Wagner: Materials made from milk and sugar. Biodegradable materials in chemistry class . In: NiU chemistry . Vol. 10 (1999), No. 50, pp. 24-28, ISSN  0946-2139 .
  • Charles E. Mortimer, Ulrich Müller: Chemistry - The basic knowledge of chemistry ("Chemistry", 1979). Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-13-484307-2 .