MS4666: Environmental Degradation of Plastics

Academic Units1
Semester1
Pre-requisite(s)MS1013; MS1014; MS2013
Co-requisite(s)Nil

Course Instructors

Associate Professor Dalton Tay Chor Yong

Course AIMS

The course aims to provide a broad overview on the various physical and chemical processes of plastic weathering and the potential harm it may exert to the environment – through the lens of materials scientists.  The module is designed to foster and develop student’s knowledge of issue pertaining to plastics weathering testing, characterisation, mechanisms of polymer degradation and microplastics pollution. Based on the imparted knowledge, students will be encouraged to be aware and think critically on the societal-environment caused by plastic weathering.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you (as a student) would be able to:     

  1. Describe the physical and chemical changes associated to plastic degradation.
  2. Recommend and justify the appropriate characterisation techniques to examine plastics degradation.
  3. Explain the molecular mech anisms of photooxidation and biodegradation of plastics.
  4. Understand the different and the working principles of stabilization additives to limit plastic degradation.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge on the process of microplastics generation and possible associated environmental harm.

Course Content

  1. Physicochemical changes and characterization of weathered plastic materials
  2. Photo-oxidation of polymers: Principles and mechanism; Photo -chemistries and oxidation; Photo stabilization of polymers with the use of additives (e.g. pigments, UV absorbers, antioxidants, etc)
  3. Biodegradation of polymers: Micro-organism mediated enzymatic degradation; materials factors influencing biodegradation rate; Protection against biodegradation; Approaches to examine biodegradation.
  4. Microplastics pollution: Primary and Secondary Microplastics; Microplastics characterisation; interaction of microplastics and chemical pollutants; Biological impact of microplastics.

Reading and References

Nil