11/02/2021
By Sokny Long

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Plastics Engineering, invites you to attend a Master’s thesis defense by Kerry Candlen on “Accelerated Degradation of Biodegradable Mulch Films Produced From Soy-Filled Polymer Resins.”

Master’s Candidate: Kerry Candlen
Defense Date: Monday, Nov. 15, 2021
Time: 9 – 11 a.m. EST
Location: This will be a virtual defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact the student, Kerry_Candlen@student.uml.edu, and committee advisor, GraceWanTing_Chen@uml.edu, at least 24 hours prior to the defense to request access to the meeting.

Committee Chair (Advisor): Wan-Ting (Grace) Chen, Assistant Professor, Plastics Engineering, UMass Lowell

Committee Members:

  • Margaret Sobkowicz-Kline, Associate Professor, Plastics Engineering, UMass Lowell
  • Jo Ann Ratto, Deputy Director DEVCOM - HEROES, UMass Lowell/U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center

Brief Abstract:
In this study, mulch films produced from a byproduct of the soy protein isolate production, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were subjected to an accelerated biodegradation test at 58 °C for 12 weeks. Samples were characterized at regular intervals by weight, microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR results show that both the control film (PBAT/PLA) and the film with soy filler (PBAT/PLA/Soy) showed signs of hydrolytic degradation by the end of 12 weeks. Notably, the PBAT/PLA/Soy film did fragment faster, however neither completely degraded in the 12 weeks of accelerated testing (31 months real time). Promising results obtained from this study encourage the use of waste-stream biomass as an effective additive in biodegradable mulch films which will reduce post-harvest labor or improper disposal.

All interested students and faculty members are invited to attend the online defense via remote access.