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The impact of morphology on thermal properties and aerobic biodegradation of physically compatibilized poly (lactic acid)/co-plasticized thermoplastic starch blends

Esmaeili, M ; Sharif University of Technology | 2018

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  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1002/pat.4407
  3. Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd , 2018
  4. Abstract:
  5. Recently, the use of biodegradable polymers became the applicable solution to reduce the environmental concerns, which are created by plastic wastes as well as restrictions of petroleum-based synthetic polymers. By this point of view, polylactic acid (PLA) as a biodegradable and bio-based polymer is resolving both aforementioned issues. While, the high cost of PLA and its slow biodegradation rate make researchers to blend it with a faster one, for instance, thermoplastic starch (TPS). Adding TPS into PLA can influence on the morphological structure, thermal stability, and biodegradability. In this study, the well-tuned co-plasticized TPS via sorbitol/glycerol mixture was melt mixed with PLA for achieving the physically compatibilized PLA/TPS blend. Thermal properties and aerobic biodegradation behavior of samples were discussed in detail considering the morphology development in each blend composition. Thermogravimetric analysis of PLA/TPS blends showed the single degradation peaks, which indicated the fine interdependence between 2 phases. The continuity and content of TPS phase were strongly influenced on moisture absorption and biodegradability of PLA/TPS samples. Also, the presence of TPS accelerated the biodegradation rate of PLA/TPS samples. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  6. Keywords:
  7. Co-plasticization ; Polylactic acid ; Alcohols ; Biodegradability ; Biodegradation ; Polyesters ; Reinforced plastics ; Starch ; Thermodynamic properties ; Thermogravimetric analysis ; Aerobic biodegradation ; Environmental concerns ; Morphological structures ; Morphology development ; Poly lactic acid ; Slow biodegradation ; Sorbitol ; Thermoplastic starch ; Biodegradable polymers
  8. Source: Polymers for Advanced Technologies ; Volume 29, Issue 12 , 2018 , Pages 2880-2889 ; 10427147 (ISSN)
  9. URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pat.4407