It has been shown that contrary to naturally occuring polymers, synthetic polymers are attacked only from the ends of the chain, which would account for the much slower rate of degradation. Natural rubber - almost completely consumable by soil microorganisms. Starch - degraded easily by bacteria and fungi. Cellulose - attack by biological agents, through enzymatic hydrolysis. Enzymatic Degradation Enzymes are mostly involved in the chemical mode of polymer degradation, pertaining to the decomposition of polymers that are a part of organized living species.
Enzymatic degradation occurs by a catalytic process.
In synthetic polymers, chain ends tend to be deep in the polymer matrix and since enzymes tend to attack only at the chain ends, the process is quite slow. Microbial Degradation Microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, degrade polymers by ingesting the carbon molecules that are the backbone of the polymer. This page prepared by Kimberly Farrell for Professor Sisson of WPI , for use in ME XXX, Corrosion and assorted fun times.