Diego Piazza
University of Caxias do Sul, Brazil
Title: Degradation of PLA in a Simulated Marine Environment after 600 Days
Biography
Biography: Diego Piazza
Abstract
PLA and PLA with triacetin (5wt%) and buriti fiber (30wt%) designed as PLA/B/T were extruded in a single-screw extruder. The product was milled, dried and compression molded in a press for 60 seconds, at 180°C to prepare test specimens with dimensions 200 mm x 100 mm and 1 mm thickness. The simulated marine environment used is provided with 7 lamps (250W) simulating ultraviolet rays. Withdrawal of samples was performed after 15, 30, 45, 60, 100 and 600 days of exposure. The morphological characterization of the sample surface was performed in a SEM. Analyses of chemical changes were monitored by FTIR, on prepared films by the KBr pellet method, in the wave number range of 4000 to 400 cm-1. Lactic acid index (ILA) was calculated as the ratio between band surfaces A1 (3200 cm-1) and A2 (750 cm-1), which is considered a PLA band.
