The disintegration patterns of composites produced by a melt compounding process using 0, 20, 30, and 40 wt % of Phormium tenax fibers in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix were studied for a period of 40 days in composting conditions. The characterization of PLA and PLA/phormium composites included disintegration measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, FTIR analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The two controlling factors for disintegrability appeared to be the crystallinity of PLA and phormium fiber content: in general, the matrix tends to disintegrate completely before the 40 days and also phormium fibers undergo a substantial degradation during this period of time. Measurements taken at 10, 20, 30, and 40 days confirm that the disintegration process progresses steadily, though most of it takes place between 20 and 30 days
Biodegradation of Phormium tenax/poly(lactic acid) composites
FORTUNATI, ELENA;PUGLIA, Debora;KENNY, Jose Maria
2012
Abstract
The disintegration patterns of composites produced by a melt compounding process using 0, 20, 30, and 40 wt % of Phormium tenax fibers in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix were studied for a period of 40 days in composting conditions. The characterization of PLA and PLA/phormium composites included disintegration measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, FTIR analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The two controlling factors for disintegrability appeared to be the crystallinity of PLA and phormium fiber content: in general, the matrix tends to disintegrate completely before the 40 days and also phormium fibers undergo a substantial degradation during this period of time. Measurements taken at 10, 20, 30, and 40 days confirm that the disintegration process progresses steadily, though most of it takes place between 20 and 30 daysI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
