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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

MARINE DEGRADATION TESTING PROGRAM

ON

AOLINEX X151A

(THICKNESS: 47 µm)

STUDY DJK-160

KANEKA CORPORATION

Through

DJK International Inc.

Hakua Building, 6th

floor

4-1, 2-chome, Akasaka

Minato-ku, TOKYO

JAPAN

Code:

Date:

DJK-160-ex1

Dec-28-12

Revision:

Page:

00

2 of 3

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A marine degradation testing program was performed on AOLINEX X151A in a thickness of

47 µm in line with the American standard ASTM D 7081-05 ‘Standard Specification for Non-

Floating Biodegradable Plastics in the Marine Environment’.

Following basic characteristics were evaluated: biodegradation (under aerobic, marine

conditions and under dry, aerobic controlled composting conditions), disintegration under

marine conditions, ecotoxicity with daphnids and heavy metals. The detailed test results are

given in the various reports. The study plans are given in Appendix 1.

Biodegradation

ASTM D 7081-05 stipulates 2 requirements with regard to biodegradation:

1) 30% relative biodegradation under aerobic marine conditions using test method ASTM

D 6691 within 180 days at 30 ± 2°C

2) 90% relative biodegradation in an active environment like compost in accordance with

test method ASTM D 5338 within 180 days at 58 ± 2°C

After 28 days of incubation under aerobic marine conditions using test method ASTM D 6691-

09 test item AOLINEX X151A showed an absolute biodegradation percentage of 79.4% +

12.3% or 102.9% relative to the suitable reference material cellulose (see report R-DJK-

160/1A). This means that the 30% pass level for biodegradation under marine conditions has

easily been fulfilled.

After 45 days of incubation under dry, aerobic controlled composting conditions using test

method ASTM D 5338-11 test item AOLINEX X151A showed an absolute biodegradation

percentage of 85.0%+4.1% or 94.3% relative to the suitable reference material cellulose (see

report R-DJK-158/2B). This means that the 90% pass level for biodegradation under

composting conditions has easily been fulfilled.

From these tests it can be concluded that the biodegradation requirements as defined by ASTM

D 7081-05 are fulfilled for AOLINEX X151A.

Disintegration under marine conditions

According to ASTM D 7081-05 a mono-material product has demonstrated satisfactory

disintegration under marine conditions if after 12 weeks of testing no more than 30% of its

original dry weight remains after sieving on a 2.0 mm sieve. The disintegration of AOLINEX

X151A T-die sheet in a thickness of 47 µm was evaluated in study DJK-160/1B. A 100%

complete disintegration was obtained for material AOLINEX X151A T-die sheet (47 µm) after

60 days.

Consequently, it can be concluded that the disintegration requirement as defined by ASTM D

7081-05 is easily fulfilled for AOLINEX X151A T-die sheet in a thickness of 47 µm.