Degradation properties of biodegradable polymers
Plastics have been a fundamental need in our daily life and most of the plastics are petroleum-based, it cannot be degraded in the environment. Polylactic acid (PLA) is known as a biodegradable polymer and it can be a potential substitute for the petroleum-based plastics. However, PLA is known to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
Zibeline International
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/76434/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76434/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76434/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76434/1/2jwbm2019-05-08.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/76434/7/76434_DEGRADATION%20PROPERTIES%20OF%20BIODEGRADABLE_wos.pdf |
| Summary: | Plastics have been a fundamental need in our daily life and most of the plastics are petroleum-based, it cannot be
degraded in the environment. Polylactic acid (PLA) is known as a biodegradable polymer and it can be a potential
substitute for the petroleum-based plastics. However, PLA is known to be brittle and it has a slow degradation rate.
Therefore, the aim of this study is to modify PLA in order to overcome the limitations and broaden its application in
the packaging industry. In the present study, PLA is incorporated with different fillers (starch and nanocellulose)
and plasticized with epoxidized palm oil (EPO) to further improve its properties and increase the degradation rate.
Solvent casting method is used for the preparation of the composites. The samples prepared were subjected to a soil
test for six months. Mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated by tensile testing. The weight loss of
composites were recorded monthly and the composites blends undergo characterization analysis using Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM). The utilization of polymer blend composites is the most suitable alternative to improve
the properties of PLA to be used in various applications. After further analysis it can be concluded that starch acts
as a better filler compared to nanocellulose with the presence of EPO in the composites. |
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