Ndazi, Bwire S.; Karlssion, S.
Description:
. Hydrolytic degradations of polylactic acid/rice hulls (PLA/RH) composites with various rice hulls contents due
to water absorptions at 23, 51 and 69°C were investigated by studying the thermal properties, chemical composition,
molecular weight, and morphology of the degraded products. The results have attested that the stability of PLA/RH composites
in water depends slightly on rice hulls contents but it is significantly influenced by water temperature. Water absorption
in 30 days at 23°C was between 0.87 and 9.25% depending on rice hull contents. However, at thermophilic
temperatures, the water absorption and degradation of these products were increased significantly. Saturations were
achieved in less than 25 and 9 days at 51°C and 69°C, respectively, while hydrolytic degradation was demonstrated by an
increase in fragility and development of crystallinity. At 69°C, there were significant reductions of the decomposition and
glass transition temperatures of the polymer by 13°C. These changes were associated with the reduction of the molecular
weight of PLA from 153.1 kDa to !10.7 kDa due to hydrolysis of its ester group.