Effect of compatibilizig agent on the properties of polylactide and polylactide based composite during ozone exposure

Compatibilizers belong to the most important internal factors which influence the degradation process of polymer matrix. For this reason in the current study, polylactide (L), polylactide with 5% of poly(ε-caprolactone) (LK) as compatibilizing agent and samples with 5%wt. of montmorillonite (MMT) (LS5 and LS5K respectively) before and after various time of ozone exposure have been analyzed. The results from infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis have been presented. It has been established that microstructural changes during ozone exposure of the samples with the presence of compatibilizer increase in relation to the samples comprising PLA and PLA filled with montmorillonite. Moreover it has been determined that the introduction of poly(ε-caprolactone) into pure polymer as well as into PLA-montmorillonite material accelerates ozone-induced degradation, although it does not change the mechanism of the degradation process.