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. 2025 May 13;17(10):1326.
doi: 10.3390/polym17101326.

Changes in the Thermal and Structural Properties of Polylactide and Its Composites During a Long-Term Degradation Process

Jaroslav Cisar  1 , Martina Pummerova  1 , Petra Drohsler  1 , Milan Masar  1 , Vladimir Sedlarik  1
Affiliations

Changes in the Thermal and Structural Properties of Polylactide and Its Composites During a Long-Term Degradation Process

Jaroslav Cisar et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

As a polymer degrades, its structure changes, and the course of composting also affects the rate and degree of decomposition. Moreover, the potential exists for the formation of microplastics. This work focuses on the investigation of the long-term hydrolytic degradation of PLA-based composites at different temperatures (50, 55, and 60 °C, respectively). Samples were prepared on semi-industrial equipment, simulating actual production conditions. The effect of the degradation temperature on molecular weight was studied by gel permeation chromatography. Variation in the thermal properties and crystallinity of the PLA and its composites was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. Mass loss during hydrolytic degradation was assessed using the gravimetric technique, and confirmation of microplastic residues in the hydrolyzed samples was evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

Keywords: calcium carbonate; crystallinity; hydrolysis; plasticizer; polylactide; polymer composite.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Degradation course of PLA, PLA/CC, and PLA/CC/LA-PEG samples in the first 670 h of the experiment at 60 °C.
Figure 2
Figure 2
ATR-FTIR analyses of (a) nondegraded samples and (b) samples degraded for 5000 h at 60 °C.
Figure 3
Figure 3
TGA and dTGA curves for samples of (a) PLA, (b) PLA/CC, and (c) PLA/CC/LA-PEG in nondegraded form and after 5000 h of hydrolytic degradation at 50, 55, and 60 °C.
Figure 4
Figure 4
DSC curves for PLA (a–c), PLA/CC (d–f), and PLA/CC/LA-PEG (g–i) upon exposure to 50, 55, and 60 °C.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Weight loss and the crystallinity content of (a) PLA, (b) PLA/CC, and (c) PLA/CC/LA-PEG at different temperatures.
Figure 6
Figure 6
XRD patterns of PLA, PLA/CC, and PLA/CC/LA-PEG samples before (a) and after 5000 h of degradation at (b) 50, (c) 55, and (d) 60 °C.
Figure 7
Figure 7
SEM micrographs of PLA sample after 5000 h of hydrolysis at (a) 50, (b) 55, and (c) 60 °C.
Figure 8
Figure 8
SEM micrographs of (a,b) PLA/CC and (c,d) PLA/CC/LA-PEG samples after 5000 h of hydrolysis at 60 °C.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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