Degradation of Plasticised Poly(lactide) Composites with Nanofibrillated Cellulose in Different Hydrothermal Environments

Abstract In this study, bionanocomposite films based on poly(lactide) (PLA) plasticised with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (7.5 wt%) and reinforced various contents of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) (1, 3, 5 were prepared. The hydrothermal degradation was investigated through immersion in several aqueous environments at temperatures 8, 23, 58, 70 °C as a function time (7, 15, 30, 60, 90 days). effect water the physicochemical properties materials assessed by monitoring changes morphology, thermo-oxidative stability, thermal properties, molar mass field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential calorimetry (DSC), gel permeation chromatography (GPC). behaviour not critically affected regardless content. All revealed certain integrity towards hydrolysis effects low (8 23 °C). may be an advantage for using these PLA biocomposites contact ambient limited exposure times. On other hand, higher above glass transition (58 °C), leads to drastic deterioration PLA-based materials, particular reduction disintegration into small pieces. This can considered feasible option waste management PLA/PEG/NFC bionanocomposites deposition hot environments.