Advanced Simulation-Based Analysis of Environmental Degradation in Biodegradable Green Nanocomposites

Abstract

The plastic pollution-induced global environmental crisis has prompted the creation of biodegradable options. Green nanocomposites, where biodegradable polymers and nanoscale reinforcements derived from renewable sources are used together, are a solution in sight. This work builds on previous efforts by proposing a simulation tool based on a modified Arrhenius degradation model that considers temperature, humidity, and UV exposure to analyze degradation behavior. Three nanocomposite systems (PLA-CNF, PHA-clay, and starch-nanocellulose) are modeled under different environmental conditions to assess their degradation kinetics. Findings demonstrate pronounced variation in degradation behavior with respect to material composition and environmental factors. Such a comparative framework facilitates identification of application-dependent materials for geographically and environmentally varying locations. The model demonstrates an innovative predictive method, thereby enabling the smart deployment of biodegradable materials into sustainable applications.