Biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)—cassava bagasse composites produced by injection molding

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 138; no. 28
• Main Authors: Carvalho, Fabíola Azanha, Moreira, Amanda Aleixo, Oliveira, André Luiz Martinez, Yamashita, Fabio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 20.07.2021; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Bagasse; biodegradable; Biodegradation; biopolymers and renewable polymers; Cassava; Composite materials; degradation; Environmental impact; Extrusion molding; Fourier transforms; Injection molding; Materials science; microscopy; molding; Polylactic acid; Polymers; Soil investigations; Soils; Tubes; Weight loss
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.50667

Neat poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and PLA/cassava bagasse (CB) composites were used to produce seedling tubes by extrusion and injection molding. The tubes were buried in simulated soil, and their biodegradation was investigated by weight loss, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After 180 days, the composites' biodegradation was higher than neat PLA material, and the higher the CB content, the higher the biodegradation, which caused fissures and voids in the material. The biodegradation of PLA/CB composites increased the phosphorus content in the soil after 180 days. Composites of PLA with CB, an abundant agro‐industrial residue in Brazil, are promising because they can reduce the environmental impact due to CB's proper destination, and the composites' costs and biodegradation are faster than pure PLA material. Both the faster biodegradation of the tube and the higher P content are advantageous for seedling tubes. Microorganisms in F50 composite after 180 days of biodegradation in soil.