Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/0141-3910(96)00102-4
Title (Primary) Thermal decomposition of biodegradable polyesters—II. Poly(lactic acid)
Author Kopinke, F.-D.; Remmler, M.; Mackenzie, K. ORCID logo ; Möder, M.; Wachsen, O.
Source Titel Polymer Degradation and Stability
Year 1996
Department TUCHEM; ANA; SAN
Volume 53
Issue 3
Page From 329
Page To 342
Language englisch
Abstract The thermal decomposition of the biologically degradable polymer poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was investigated by means of several thermoanalytical techniques: thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, time resolved pyrolysis-MS and pyrolysis-GC/MS. The results mainly confirm reaction mechanisms proposed in the literature. The dominant reaction pathway is an intramolecular transesterification for pure PLA (Tmax = 360 °C), giving rise to the formation of cyclic oligomers. In addition, acrylic acid from cis-elimination as well as carbon oxides and acetaldehyde from fragmentation reactions were detected. PLA samples contaminated with residual Sn from the polymerization process show a preceding selective depolymerization step (Tmax = 300 °C) which produces lactide exclusively. The GC analysis of the oligomers gives insight into the stereochemistry of the original polymer chain with respect to the configuration of the asymmetric C atoms, as well as into the stereochemistry of decomposition reactions. Other experimental findings, which do not fit the proposed reaction mechanisms, are also discussed.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=24271
Kopinke, F.-D., Remmler, M., Mackenzie, K., Möder, M., Wachsen, O. (1996):
Thermal decomposition of biodegradable polyesters—II. Poly(lactic acid)
Polym. Degrad. Stabil. 53 (3), 329 - 342 10.1016/0141-3910(96)00102-4