Highly Filled Biocomposites Based on Metallocene Ethylene-Octene Copolymers with Wood Flour: Features of a Biodegradation Mechanism

This study examined the biodegradation process of highly filled biocomposites composed of ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) and wood flour (WF) in varying proportions from 30 to 70 wt.%. The researchers analyzed the structure and characteristics of the samples before and after a 22-month soil-aging period. By employing techniques such as weight loss measurement, water absorption testing, optical microscopy, EPR spectroscopy with a radical probe, and gel permeation chromatography, the team identified fundamental patterns in oxidative and biological processes. The investigation revealed that the composition containing 40% WF exhibited the highest level of EOC degradation: polydispersity index increased from 2.7 to 4.5, and the Mw (weight-average molecular weight) decreased from 168 to 114 kDa. An explanation for this observation was proposed, suggesting that the phase structure significantly influences biodegradation, with the rate peaking when the interface area is maximized.