Hydrolytic degradation behaviour of sucrose palmitate reinforced poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites

This work discusses the influence of novel biofiller, sucrose palmitate (SP) on the hydrolytic degradation behavior of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites. The influence of temperature and pH of the solution on the hydrolytic degradation behavior of PLA and PLA-SP nanocomposites was investigated. The variation in the crystallinity of PLA and PLA composites subjected to the hydrolytic degradation process is verified by XRD and DSC analysis. The morphological changes that occurred during the degradation process are observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermo-gravimetric analysis confirms the loss of thermal stability of the neat PLA as well as composites after hydrolytic degradation process. Transparency measurements support the enhancement in opacity of both the PLA and PLA-SP nanocomposites with progress in hydrolytic degradation period. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.