A Comprehensive Guide to Biodegradable Materials: Classification, Applications, and Relevant Product Categories in the Membrane Industry

Preface 

As “ Dual Carbon ” Strategic advancement and “ Plastic Ban ” Deepening the adoption of biodegradable materials as the core alternative to traditional non-biodegradable plastics is driving rapid growth. As professionals in the film industry, we routinely work with biodegradable films and packaging films, whose key raw materials all derive from various biodegradable materials. Yet many practitioners are only aware of People's Liberation Army 、 PBAT However, our understanding of their comprehensive classification, properties, and applications remains limited. This article systematically categorizes mainstream biodegradable materials, with a particular focus on their applications in the membrane industry, while balancing technical depth with accessibility to help industry professionals stay abreast of emerging trends. 

I. Core Classification of Biodegradable Materials: Based on Degradation Mechanism (Industry-Standard Classification) 

Biodegradable materials are those that, under natural environmental conditions, undergo biological, photolytic, and chemical degradation processes and ultimately break down into harmless substances. Based on their degradation mechanisms, they can be classified into three main categories, each suited to different application scenarios: 

(1) Biodegradable Materials (the most widely used and best suited for the film industry) 

Core definition: Degradation achieved through microbial decomposition, fully integrating into the natural environment; this is the most widely used type in the membrane industry, with the following subcategories: 

1.   Polylactic acid ( People's Liberation Army ): The most commonly used biodegradable material and a core raw material in the membrane industry. 

• Raw material sources: corn starch, sugarcane, and other renewable biomass—environmentally friendly and green. 
• Key features: high transparency, excellent rigidity, suitable for blown film and cast film production, and biodegradable under composting conditions. 6-12 Can be completely degraded in one month; 
• Applications in the film industry: biodegradable packaging films, agricultural films, and single-use thin-film products; often used in conjunction with PBAT Blending modification to compensate for insufficient toughness. 

2.   Polyhydroxyalkanoates ( PHA ): Biosynthetic biodegradable materials with well-rounded performance 

• Source of raw materials: produced via microbial fermentation, entirely bio-based, with superior environmental friendliness compared to People's Liberation Army ；
• Core characteristics: excellent toughness and strong water resistance; biodegradable in a variety of environments, including seawater and freshwater; non-toxic and harmless. 
• Applications in the film industry: high-end packaging films, medical films, and biodegradable protective films, suitable for scenarios with stringent requirements for toughness and degradation rate. 

3.   Polybutylene adipate ( PBAT ): Toughness-enhanced biodegradable materials—essential modified raw materials for the film industry. 

• Raw material source: a combination of petroleum-based and bio-based materials, enabling partial substitution of fossil feedstocks; 
• Core feature: exceptional toughness, and People's Liberation Army Good compatibility, can be improved. People's Liberation Army Brittleness issue; 
• Applications in the film industry: core raw materials for biodegradable shopping bags, packaging films, and agricultural films, and with People's Liberation Army Blended to form a film that combines rigidity and toughness, 90-120 It is compostable and biodegradable. 

4.   Polyglycolic acid ( PGA ): Rapidly Degradable Biodegradable Materials 

• Core feature: rapid degradation (composting 3-6 months), with high heat resistance and strength but relatively poor flexibility; 
• Applications in the film industry: short-term, single-use films and medical packaging films, which can be used with People's Liberation Army 、 PBAT Blending to regulate the degradation rate. 

(2) Photodegradable Materials (Auxiliary Degradation Type, Suitable for Outdoor Applications) 

Core definition: Under ultraviolet or visible light irradiation, degradation is initiated via a photosensitizer, with the degradation rate highly dependent on light exposure. Subcategories are as follows: 

1.   Photodegradable polyethylene ( PE ): Traditional PE Modified products 

• Preparation method: Standard PE A photosensitizer is added to enable degradation under sunlight; 
• Core features: low cost, simple processing, and controllable degradation rate; 
• Applications in the film industry: outdoor agricultural films and construction protective films, suitable for short-term outdoor use to reduce residual plastic mulch pollution. 

2.   Photodegradable polypropylene ( PP ): Polypropylene modified products 

• Key features: excellent weather resistance and high strength, under outdoor sunlight 1-3 Degradation can begin after one month; 
• Applications in the membrane industry: outdoor advertising membranes and temporary protective membranes, balancing strength and environmental friendliness to address the shortcomings of traditional PP The bottleneck of poor membrane degradability. 

(3) Chemically Degradable Materials (High-End Niche Category, Suited to Special Applications) 

Core definition: Degradation via chemical reactions such as hydrolysis and oxidation, highly sensitive to environmental factors; primarily used in medical applications and high-end packaging. Subcategories are as follows: 

1.   Polycaprolactone ( PCL ): Low-temperature degradation materials 

• Core feature: low melting point (approximately 60℃ ), good flexibility and strong compatibility; it is hydrolytically degradable at low temperatures, with a degradation cycle 6-12 months; 
• Applications in the membrane industry: low-temperature refrigerated food packaging films and medical films; potential applications as flexible electronic substrate films. 

2.   Polycarbonate ( PC ): Biodegradable modified materials 

• Core characteristics: high strength, high transparency; after modification, it is chemically degradable with non-hazardous degradation products. 
• Applications in the film industry: high-end transparent packaging films and protective films for electronic components, combining high strength with biodegradability. 

II. Classification of Biodegradable Materials by Raw Material Source (Supplementary Classification to Deepen Understanding) 

The industry also commonly classifies materials based on their raw-material sources, dividing them into bio-based and petroleum-based categories to help practitioners select the appropriate option based on cost and environmental considerations: 

(1) Bio-based biodegradable materials (environmentally friendly and enjoy strong policy support) 

Definition: Using renewable biomass as feedstock to reduce the consumption of fossil resources; core product categories and applications in the membrane industry are as follows: 

1.   Mainstream categories: People's Liberation Army 、 PHA , starch-based composites, chitosan, etc.; 

2.   Key applications in the film industry include biodegradable agricultural films, food packaging films, and single-use thin-film products, which can replace conventional plastic films. 

(2) Petroleum-based biodegradable materials (with stable performance and controllable costs) 

Definition: Chemically synthesized from petroleum as a raw material, it exhibits stable performance and serves as an important complement to biodegradable materials. Its core product categories and applications are as follows: 

1.   Mainstream categories: PBAT 、 PCL 、 PGA , Photodegradation PE/PP；

2.   Key applications in the film industry include biodegradable shopping bags, packaging films, and outdoor protective films, which can be used in conjunction with bio-based materials to strike a balance between environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness. 

III. Comparative Analysis of Commonly Used Biodegradable Materials in the Membrane Industry (with Emphasis on Key Points Tailored to the Needs of Industry Professionals) 

Based on the actual production conditions of the membrane industry, screen 5 A comparison of commonly used biodegradable materials in terms of their properties, processing methods, and application areas to facilitate quick material selection: 

1. PLA (Polylactic acid): High transparency and good rigidity; can be used for blown film and cast film production, making it suitable for packaging films and agricultural films; requires blending with PBAT Blending is the most widely used biodegradable material in the membrane industry; 

2. PBAT (Polybutylene adipate): Excellent toughness, suitable for film blowing and injection molding, primarily used with People's Liberation Army Blending is used in shopping bags and agricultural films and serves as a core raw material for enhancing the toughness of film materials. 

3. PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates): Excellent toughness and strong water resistance; suitable for film blowing and cast film production, making them ideal for high-end packaging films and medical films. They exhibit broad degradability but come at a higher cost. 

4.   Photodegradation PE : Low cost and simple processing; suitable for blown film production, ideal for outdoor agricultural films and temporary protective films; degradation rate is highly sensitive to light exposure. 

5. PCL (Polycaprolactone): Excellent flexibility and low-temperature biodegradability; suitable for blow-molding and cast-film production, making it ideal for low-temperature packaging films and medical films, with the ability to tailor the film’s degradation rate. 

IV. Core Application Scenarios for Biodegradable Materials (Extended and Expanded, Aligned with Industry Trends) 

Biodegradable materials are now widely used across multiple industries, with the membrane industry accounting for the largest share of applications. These applications can be broadly categorized into four main types: 

(1) Packaging Film Sector (Core Application Scenario in the Film Industry) 

1.   Food packaging film: PLA/PBAT Blended film, PHA A film for packaging fresh produce, snacks, and other food items; non-toxic and biodegradable, compliant with food-contact requirements. 

2.   Courier packaging film: biodegradable courier bags and cushioning film, replacing traditional PE Bags that reduce express delivery waste while balancing resilience and biodegradability; 

3.   Single-use packaging film: inner-layer film for disposable masks, shopping bags, etc., which is naturally biodegradable and aligns with “ Plastic Ban ” Requirements. 

(2) Agricultural Film Sector (Priority Policy Support) 

1.   Biodegradable agricultural film: PLA/PBAT Blended film, photodegradation PE Mulch films, used for crop field mulching, are biodegradable, thereby preventing soil pollution, and have been widely adopted in major agricultural provinces. 

2.   Seedling-raising film, greenhouse film: PHA membrane, PCL The film boasts excellent weather resistance and biodegradability, making it well-suited for outdoor agricultural applications, with a service life that outperforms traditional agricultural films. 

(3) Medical Membrane Sector (High-End Application Scenarios) 

1.   Medical packaging film: PGA membrane, PHA A non-toxic, biodegradable film used in medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging to reduce medical waste. 

2.   Absorbable film: PCL membrane, PGA A membrane used as a carrier for absorbable sutures, which can naturally degrade within the body, eliminating the need for a second surgical procedure. 

(4) Industry and Other Sectors (Extended Applications) 

1.   Industrial Protective Film: Photodegradation PP membrane, PC Modified film for temporary protection of buildings and electronic components, biodegradable. 

2.   Flexible electronic films: a novel biomimetic, biodegradable film that combines high transparency with exceptional strength and toughness, serving as a substrate for flexible electronics with broad application prospects. 

3.   Others: compostable courier boxes with reinforcing ribs, etc., and People's Liberation Army Excellent compatibility, aligning with the green and low-carbon trend. 

V. Core Advantages and Industry Pain Points of Biodegradable Materials (Objective Supplement) 

Understanding the advantages and challenges of biodegradable materials can help professionals in the film industry make better material selections and drive product innovation: 

(1) Core Advantages 

1.   Environmentally friendly and pollution-free: degrades into harmless substances, addressing white pollution, aligning with “ Dual Carbon ” Strategy; 

2.   Diversified raw materials: options include bio-based and petroleum-based feedstocks, which can be flexibly combined to meet specific needs; 

3.   Strong process compatibility: seamlessly integrates with existing membrane manufacturing equipment, eliminating the need for large-scale upgrades. 

4.   Strong policy support: “ Plastic Ban ” Deepening implementation, with subsidies provided across regions, indicates enormous industry potential. 

(2) Industry Pain Points 

1.   Higher costs: bio-based materials (such as PHA ) The cost is that of traditional plastics. 2-3 times, thereby hindering large-scale adoption; 

2.   Performance remains to be optimized: certain materials (such as People's Liberation Army ) Poor toughness and water resistance, requiring blending and modification; 

3.   Stringent degradation conditions: Some materials require specific environmental conditions to degrade rapidly, while their degradation in natural environments is relatively slow. 

4.   Lack of standardization: inconsistent degradation rates and performance criteria undermine quality control of membrane materials. 

Conclusion 

With the advancement of environmental protection policies and technological upgrades, biodegradable materials have become a major trend in the membrane industry, with their application scenarios continually expanding. As professionals in the membrane industry, gaining a deep understanding of their classification, properties, and applications will enable better material selection and innovation, helping to seize “ Plastic Ban ” The industry opportunities it brings. 

Currently, the cost of biodegradable materials is steadily declining, their performance continues to improve, and the synergistic use of bio-based and petroleum-based materials is gradually addressing key industry challenges. Looking ahead, breakthroughs in material modification and fermentation technologies will enable widespread adoption of biodegradable materials in the film industry, thereby driving high-quality industry development. It is hoped that this article will serve as a valuable reference for industry professionals.