Polylactide-based self-reinforced composites biodegradation: Individual and combined influence of temperature, water and compost

Abstract

Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRCs) are proposed as a suitable alternative for composite development, based in the combination of a polymeric matrix and a polymeric fibre made of the same polymer. SRCs based in polylactide (PLA) could be fully biodegradable and their valorisation routes could presumably be assimilated to those for neat PLA. In this sense, the aim of this study was to develop new self-reinforced PLA-based composites and ascertain their biodegradability. For this purpose, PLA-based SRCs were obtained through a thermo-compression procedure and their biodegradability corroborated under standard conditions (ISO 20200). Moreover, a deep study of the effect of the different factors involved in the biodegradation of the composites such as the temperature, the water and the compost medium was considered relevant to delimitate the long-term properties and valorisation routes for these materials. The macroscopic and microscopic appearance as well as the thermo-oxidative stability, the thermal properties and the molar mass were evaluated. Although degradation was perceived due to the effect of temperature, the synergistic combination of water and temperature ‒and compost‒ was found to play a key role in the biodegradation of these materials. Overall, these SRCs can be considered as promising candidates, since their end-of-life management options can be guaranteed under standardised composting conditions.