Thermal degradation kinetic analysis of polylactic acid/tributyrin blends.

D'AMICO D.A.; IGLESIAS MONTES, MAGDALENA LUZ; MANFREDI, LILIANA B.; CYRAS, VIVIANA P.

Buenos Aires

Workshop; II Workshop on Bio-degradable Polymers and Biocomposites III Workshop BIOPURFIL, Bio-based Polyurethane Composites with Natural Fillers; 2015

UBA-ITPN

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible crystalline polymer that can be produced from renewable resources on a large scale which is of great interest in different domains: packaging, agriculture and textiles. However, there are still drawbacks that restrict its application. One of the classical ways to overcome these problems is to perform blending with an additive. Tributyrin (TBL) has proved to be a good plasticizer for various biodegradable polymers, improving its processability and crystallization rate. Blending allows obtaining new materials with improved properties. However, the improvements achieved with the addition of these additives can also impair valuable properties, such as thermal stability. The goal of this work was to study, by means of dynamic thermogravimetry, the thermal degradation kinetic by Kissinger-Ahakira-Sunose (KAS) and Vyazovkin isoconversional methods of processed PLA/TBL blends and compare it to that of pristine polymer.