Degradation of Cellulose-Based Polymer Composites

Abstract

The primary objective for development of cellulose-based polymer composites is to create a material with acceptable environmental degradability in order to reduce the increasing ecological risk by so-called nonbiodegradable polymers. It is believed that cellulose may act as biodegradable part in the composite, which is preferably consumed by microorganism leaving behind disintegrated polymer fraction that may enter in bio-cycle in a systematic manner and ultimately convert into biomass and carbon dioxide. The present chapter is focused on the biodegradation behavior of cellulose-based composites under different circumstances.