Control of degradation rate of poly(L-lactic acid)/starch blend in the field

Citation
S. Osawa et al., Control of degradation rate of poly(L-lactic acid)/starch blend in the field, KOBUNSH RON, 58(11), 2001, pp. 573-580
Citations number
5
Language
GIAPPONESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Organic Chemistry/Polymer Science
Journal title
KOBUNSHI RONBUNSHU
ISSN journal
0386-2186 → ACNP
Volume
58
Issue
11
Year of publication
2001
Pages
573 - 580
Database
ISI
SICI code
0386-2186(2001)58:11<573:CODROP>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLA)/starch blends with starch content of 30 wt% were made by injection molding. The blends were exposed to the field in differe nt three terms (from May, September, and December) and the effects of field temperature and number of microorganisms on the degradation rate were inve stigated. The tensile strength of the blend decreased to zero in a month wi thout any influence of the exposure terms. On the other hand, the degradati on of PLA in the blend was faster at higher temperatures and at larger numb er of microorganisms. The PLA/starch blends coated with pure PLA and poly ( epsilon -caprolactone) (PCL) were also made by a conventional coating metho d to control the degradation rate. The degradations of the coated blends we re depressed for 2 similar to 4 weeks; after that they degraded immediately . For the 2 similar to 4 week period, multiplication of microorganisms in t he blends were suppressed by the coating.