DETERMINATION OF THE VISCOSITY TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT (?) AND PSEUDOPLASTIC INDEX (n) OF POLY(LACTID ACID) (PLA)

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the most important ecological thermoplastics due to its good mechanical properties. In light this, investigations related effects PLA processing parameters are as they affect final product performance. This work aimed determine viscosity-temperature coefficient (?) and pseudoplastic index (n) estimate degradation rate during using an internal mixer. The viscosity was determined applying different temperatures at same rotors rotation rate, which allowed estimating ? = 0.048 ?C?1. PLA’s under tested conditions suggested a value approximately 0.71. around 4% rotor 120 rpm temperature 190 ?C.