Abstract
The disposal of polymeric waste is increasingly becoming an issue of international concern. The use of biodegradable polymers is a possible strategy to face most of the problems related to the disposal of the durable (non-biodegradable) polymers. Among biodegradable polymers, polylactic acid (PLA), obtained from renewable sources, is a very attractive one, due to its relatively good processability, biocompatibility, interesting physical properties. Hydrolysis is the major depolymerization mechanism and the rate-controlling step of PLA biodegradation in compost. The propensity to degradation in the presence of water significantly limits specific industrial applications such as automotive, biomedical, electronic and electrical appliances, agriculture. Therefore the control of biodegradation rate is somewhat even more important than the characteristic of biodegradability itself. In this scenario, it is critical to find additives able to modulate the biodegradation rate of biodegradable polymers, in relationship to the expected lifetime. Since the kinetics of hydrolysis strongly depend on the pH of the hydrolyzing medium, in this work some fillers able to control the pH of water when it diffuses inside the polymer were added to PLA. In particular, fumaric acid, a bio- and eco- friendly additive, and magnesium hydroxide, a common antiacid, were used. These fillers were added to the material using a melt-compounding technique, suitable for industrial application. The results obtained are encouraging toward the possibility of effectively controlling the degradation rate.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Garlotta, D.: A literature review of poly (lactic acid). J. Polym. Environ. 9(2), 63–84 (2001)
De Santis, F., Pantani, R., Titomanlio, G.: Nucleation and crystallization kinetics of poly (lactic acid). Thermochim. Acta 522(1), 34–128 (2011)
Pantani, R., De Santis, F., Sorrentino, A., De Maio, F., Titomanlio, G.: Crystallization kinetics of virgin and processed poly (lactic acid). Polym. Degrad. Stab. 95(7), 59–1148 (2010)
De Santis, F., Volpe, V., Pantani, R.: Effect of molding conditions on crystallization kinetics and mechanical properties of poly (lactic acid). Polym. Eng. Sci. 57(3), 306–311 (2017)
De Santis, F., Pantani, R.: Melt compounding of poly (Lactic Acid) and talc: assessment of material behavior during processing and resulting crystallization. J. Polym. Res. 22(12), 1–9 (2015)
Concilio, S., Iannelli, P., Sessa, L., Olivieri, R., Porta, A., De Santis, F., et al.: Biodegradable antimicrobial films based on poly (lactic acid) matrices and active azo compounds. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 132(33) (2015)
Sessa, L., Concilio, S., Iannelli, P., De Santis, F., Porta, A., Piotto, S. (ed.): Antimicrobial azobenzene compounds and their potential use in biomaterials. International advances in applied physics and materials science congress & exhibition (APMAS’15): Proceedings of the 5th International Advances in Applied Physics and Materials Science Congress & Exhibition, AIP Publishing (2016)
Pantani, R., Sorrentino, A.: Influence of crystallinity on the biodegradation rate of injection-moulded poly (lactic acid) samples in controlled composting conditions. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 98(5), 96–1089 (2013)
Lostocco, M.R., Huang, S.J.: The hydrolysis of poly (lactic acid)/poly (hexamethylene succinate) blends. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 61(2), 30–225 (1998)
Henton, D.E., Gruber, P., Lunt, J., Randall, J.: Polylactic acid technology. Nat. Fibers, Biopolymers, Biocomposites 16, 77–527 (2005)
De Jong, S., Arias, E.R., Rijkers, D., Van, Nostrum C., Kettenes-Van den Bosch, J., Hennink, W.: New insights into the hydrolytic degradation of poly (lactic acid): participation of the alcohol terminus. Polymer 42(7), 802–2795 (2001)
Tsuji, H., Nakahara, K.: Poly (L-lactide). IX. Hydrolysis in acid media. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 86(1), 94–186 (2002)
Pantani, R., De Santis, F. (eds.): Physical changes of poly (lactic acid) induced by water sorption. Polymer processing with resulting morphology and properties: feet in the present and eyes at the future. Proceedings of the GT70 International Conference, AIP Publishing (2015)
Pantani, R., De Santis, F., Auriemma, F., De Rosa, C., Di Girolamo, R.: Effects of water sorption on poly (lactic acid). Polymer 99, 9–130 (2016)
Gorrasi, G., Pantani, R.: Effect of PLA grades and morphologies on hydrolytic degradation at composting temperature: assessment of structural modification and kinetic parameters. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 98(5), 14–1006 (2013)
De Santis, F., Gorrasi, G., Pantani, R.: A spectroscopic approach to assess transport properties of water vapor in PLA. Polym. Testing 44, 15–22 (2015)
Duan, Z., Thomas, N.L.: Water vapour permeability of poly (lactic acid): crystallinity and the tortuous path model. J. Appl. Phys. 115(6), 064903 (2014)
Davis, E.M., Minelli, M., Baschetti, M.G., Sarti, G.C., Elabd, Y.A.: Nonequilibrium sorption of water in polylactide. Macromolecules 45(18), 94–7486 (2012)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Iozzino, V., De Santis, F., Volpe, V., Pantani, R. (2018). PLA-Based Nanobiocomposites with Modulated Biodegradation Rate. In: Piotto, S., Rossi, F., Concilio, S., Reverchon, E., Cattaneo, G. (eds) Advances in Bionanomaterials. Lecture Notes in Bioengineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62027-5_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62027-5_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62026-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62027-5
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)