Physico-chemical Characteristics of Biodegradable Poly(lactic acid) and Poly(lactic acid)/Chitosan Nano-Composites Under the Influence of Gamma Irradiation

Abstract PLA and its nanocomposite containing 3% chitosan nanoparticles (PLA-3CsNP) were studied to see how γ -irradiation affected their characteristics. Different doses of applied the investigated materials under inquiry (5–40 kGy) using 60 Co at ambient conditions. The irradiation characterized by FT-IR, GPC, mechanical tensile test, DSC, XRD, TGA in solid chloroform solutions. molecular weight was lowered when dose increased, indicating that γ-irradiation had dominating effect through oxidative degradation, chain scission. addition reduces impact γ-irradiation, while samples irradiated solution showed more degradation after than films. Irradiation caused a decrease strength elongation break values. Both melting temperature (Tm) glass transition (Tg) decreased as increased. crystallization peak temperatures reduced pure solution. thermal stability diminished raised, this pronounced