Thermal analysis applied to the characterization of degradation in soil of polylactide: II. On the thermal stability and thermal decomposition kinetics

The disposal stage of polylactide (PLA) was assessed by burying it in active soil following an international standard. Degradation in soil promotes physical and chemical changes in the polylactide properties. The characterization of the extent of degradation underwent by PLA was carried out by using Thermal Analysis techniques. In this paper, studies on the thermal stability and the thermal decomposition kinetics were performed in order to assess the degradation process of a commercial PLA submitted to an accelerated soil burial test by means of multi-linear-non-isothermal thermogravimetric analyses. Results have been correlated to changes in molecular weight, showing the same evolution as that described by the parameters of thermal stability temperatures and apparent activation energies. The decomposition reactions can be described by two competitive different mechanisms: Nucleation model (A2) and Reaction Contracting Volume model (R3). The changes in the kinetic parameters and kinetic models are in agreement with the calorimetric and dynamic-mechanical-thermal results, presented in the Part I of the study [1].