20.500.12556/DKUM-92358 Hydrothermal decomposition of virgin and waste polylactic acid with subcritical water under N[sub]2 and air atmospheres This study addresses the inherent shortcomings of poly (lactic acid) (PLA), a biodegradable polymer widely used in industries such as packaging and biomedical applications. The principal challenge of PLA resides in its low crystallinity, which detrimentally affects its mechanical properties and thermal stability. Additionally, PLA is prone to water and hydrolysis, which compromises its chemical resistance and can lead to degradation over time. To overcome surmount these limitations, the study focuses on the development of hybrid films through the blending of PLA with poly (l-lactide-co-ethylene adipate) (pLEA) block copolymers. The objective is to augment the crystallinity, mechanical performance, and chemical resistance of the resulting materials. The study employs a range of analytical techniques, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), to thoroughly characterize the copolymers and blend films. By systematically selecting blending ratios and processing methodologies, the study demonstrates enhancements in the properties of the resultant hybrid films compared to neat PLA. Specifically, the structure of films significantly changed from amorphous to crystalline in a short duration - 5 min, of annealing., leading to better tensile strength, modulus and reduced wettability, which are crucial for applications requiring durability and resistance to environmental factors. Films made from 30 wt% of pLEA 97.5/2.5 with 70 % of PLA by fast cooling exhibited outstanding mechanical properties, with a tensile strength 20 MPa higher than that of neat PLA films. Additionally, the chemical resistance may be improved, as evidenced by a decrease in wettability by approximately 15° and a reduction in the polar component of the surface free energy by about 7 mN/m. Hydrophobic, water-repellent materials resist penetration by water and other polar solvents, reducing exposure to corrosive substances and enhancing chemical resistance through barrier protection. Overall, this research addresses the limitations of PLA through innovative copolymerization and blending strategies, offering valuable insights into optimizing the material's properties for various practical applications. biopolymers recycling polylactic acid subcritical water lactic acid carboxylic acids gaseous products poli(mlečna kislina) subkritična voda mlečne kisline karboksilne kisline plinasti izdelki true false true Elsevier Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/polymer-testing © 2025 The Authors Članek v reviji 2025-04-01 12:08:53 2025-04-01 12:08:54 2026-01-23 03:13:52 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 11 str. Vol. 146, [article no.] 108783 May 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2025-02-04 2025-03-27 2025-03-27 543.2 230943491 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108783 1873-2348 1-s2.0-S0142941825000972-main.pdf 1-s2.0-S0142941825000972-main.pdf 1 0DA78AE25934DF43B462BAFE11BD6851 039bce59d97613c36b13acfc9ea9fb80c3fef970563dfdc641cc4a59ea9abecc c43e230c-f782-11f0-a060-00155d00018d https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=202403 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825000972?via%3Dihub#da0010 0 b92b37c0-f782-11f0-a060-00155d00018d https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=202402 S0142941825000972.htm S0142941825000972.htm 1 F574C603622FE7BA77156599A1FCE427 25a1980e3c38ca03358b96823ee5077f10b2813bd3cf911bfd4cd4df5200e49a 1580d533-0ee2-11f0-811a-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=189898 Fakulteta za kemijo in kemijsko tehnologijo 0 0 0