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Bioplastics: Mirel Structure and Properties: Page 6 of 6

• Molecular Weight • Thermal Properties • Mechanical Properties • Surface Energy • Gas Barrier Properties • Biodegradability • Stability to hydrolysis • UV Stability

7. Stability to hydrolysis
All polyesters are susceptible to hydrolysis to some extent. Under normal service conditions, Metabolix bioplastics are hydrolytically stable. For example, injection molded bioplastics samples were exposed to high temperature (75°C) dish washing cycles to study the effects of temperature and moisture on dimensional stability and molecular weight. After 20 cycles, no change in either dimensional form or molecular weight was observed.

Before	After more than 20 washings in a dishwasher

8. UV Stability
Metabolix bioplastics are aliphatic polyesters and therefore have good UV stability compared with formulated polyolefins, styrenics and aromatic polyesters.

• Molecular Weight • Thermal Properties • Mechanical Properties • Surface Energy • Gas Barrier Properties • Biodegradability • Stability to hydrolysis • UV Stability