Relevant factors for the eco-design of polylactide/sisal biocomposites to control biodegradation in soil in an end-of-life scenario

Abstract

The eco-design considers the factors to prepare biocomposites under an end-of-life scenario. PLA/sisal biocomposites were obtained from amorphous polylactide and sisal loadings of 10, 20 and 30 wt% with and without coupling agent, and subjected to biodegradation in soil according to standard ISO846. Mass-loss, differential scanning calorimetry and size-exclusion chromatography were used for monitoring biodegradation. A statistical factorial analysis based on the molar mass Mn and crystallinity degree XC pointed out the relevance and interaction of amount of fibre and use of coupling agent with the time of burial in soil. During the preparation of biocomposites, chain scission provoked a similar reduction of Mn for coupled and non-coupled biocomposites. The amount of fibre was relevant for the increase of XC due to the increase of nucleation sites. The coupling agent accelerated the evolution of both factors: reduction of Mn and the consequent increase of XC, mainly during biodegradation in soil. Both factors should be balanced to facilitate microbial assimilation of polymer segments, since bacterial digestion is enhanced by chain scission but blocked by the promotion of crystalline fractions.