Ultrafast bulk degradation of polylactic acid by artificially cultured diatom frustules

In the field of governing our “Plastic Planet”, polylactic acid (PLA) has been considered to be a promising and ecologically friendlier alternative traditional petroleum-based plastics. However, PLA-based products degrade slowly in natural environment, likely resulting large accumulation PLA waste worldwide near future. Herein, we have incorporated artificially cultured diatom frustules (DFs) into PLA, found an improvement more than eightfold on degradation rate, from 24 months 3 or even less, as compared with pure PLA. Mechanistic investigations illustrate that DFs change behavior surface erosion bulk by induced microfibril crystals. Simulation analysis verifies unstable crack propagation inside matrix greatly accelerates degradation. The method developed this work provides efficient way achieve rapid adjustable biodegradable polymers for urgent widespread usage green plastic productions.