PhD Defence Xiangyu Zhu | Accelerating the Biodegradation of Polyesters via Loaded Silica Nanocarriers

Accelerating the Biodegradation of Polyesters via Loaded Silica Nanocarriers

Xiangyu Zhu is a PhD student in the department Molecules & Materials. (Co)Promotors are prof.dr. F.R. Wurm & dr.ing. H. Gojzewski from the faculty of Science & Technology (TNW), Unversity of Twente.

Biodegradable polyesters are promising alternatives to conventional plastics, but their degradation can remain slow under practical end-of-life conditions. This dissertation explores silica nanoparticles as functional nanocarriers to accelerate polyester biodegradation.

Nutrient-loaded silica nanoparticles are incorporated into biodegradable polyesters, including polylactic acid and polyester blends. Their effects on polymer structure, water accessibility and biodegradation are investigated, with particular attention to nanoparticle size and concentration.

The results demonstrate that appropriately designed silica nanocarriers can significantly enhance polyester degradation by improving the accessibility of the polymer to water and biological degradation processes. The approach is further explored in polyester blends and materials relevant to additive manufacturing.