Microstructural behavior of matrices based on polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates

ALZATE MARIN, JUAN CARLOS; RIVERO, SANDRA; PINOTTI, ADRIANA; CARAVELLI, ALEJANDRO HORACIO; ZARITZKY, N.E.

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Año: 2018

0021-8561

Individual films of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or polylactic acid (PLA) and their blends were developed by solvent casting. PHA was obtained from activated sludges from a wastewater treatment system at laboratory-scale. This work was focused on analyzing the microstructural properties and thermal behavior of either, PHA or PLA individual films as well as their blends. The behavior against biodegradation process of individual films and blends was examined from the microstructural point of view. ATR-FTIR spectra indicated the existence of a weak molecular interaction between the polymers. The formulation of blend films improved the PLA crystallinity; additionally, it induced the polymer recrystallization phenomenon, since PHA crystallized acting as a PLA nucleating agent. This phenomenon explains the improvements in water vapor barrier film properties. The blends exposed to a biodegradation process showed an intermediate behavior between PLA and PHA leading to a consistent basis for designing systems tailored to a particular purpose.