Biodegradability Of Plastics Testing In An Undergraduate Materials Laboratory Course
- Conference
- Location
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Louisville, Kentucky
- Publication Date
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June 20, 2010
- Start Date
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June 20, 2010
- End Date
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June 23, 2010
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Materials
- Page Count
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12
- Page Numbers
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15.231.1 - 15.231.12
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--16014
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/16014
- Download Count
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18604
Paper Authors
Lori Rosario Rochester Institute of Technology
Lori Rosario is a graduate student at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Mechanical & Manufacturing Systems Integration. She completed her B.S.in Mechanical Engineering Technology. She has completed internships at Johnson and Johnson McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Delphi Automotive Systems and the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Systems (CIMS)at the Rochester Institute of Technology as a Fuel Cells Research Engineer.
Elizabeth Dell Rochester Institute of Technology
Elizabeth Dell is an Assistant Professor of Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is the Program Chair for Undeclared Engineering Technology. Dell received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and has an MS in Macromolecular Science & Engineering from the University of Michigan. She has worked in the automotive industry in the development of plastic products from fuel system components to interior trim.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Biodegradability of Plastics Testing in an Undergraduate Materials Laboratory
Abstract
As a growing concern for the environment has become an important issue nationally and globally, more efforts have been in place to sustain our resources. Sustainable materials are of increasing industrial importance. As such, it is imperative that students are educated about the importance of these materials. One such material is biodegradable polymers. A laboratory procedure for testing biodegradability of polymers was designed for an undergraduate materials laboratory course. Testing biodegradability of plastics allows students to gain a fuller understanding of these materials. Implementing biodegradable testing in a curriculum provides active learning by hands-on testing and encourages students to engage in lifelong learning to continue to build their knowledge of emerging materials. This paper describes an investigation of testing biodegradability of biodegradable plastics by monitoring carbon dioxide evolution and degradation of physical properties. A cost-effective method to test biodegradability is also described.
Rosario, L., & Dell, E. (2010, June), Biodegradability Of Plastics Testing In An Undergraduate Materials Laboratory Course Paper presented at 2010 Annual Conference & Exposition, Louisville, Kentucky. 10.18260/1-2--16014
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