A natural butter glyceride as a plasticizer for improving thermal, mechanical, and biodegradable properties of poly(lactide acid)

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-04, Vol.263 (Pt 2), p.130366-130366, Article 130366
• Main Authors: Sun, Yufa, Sun, Gang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradation; Glycerol tributyrate; Hansen solubility parameters; Plasticization; Poly(lactic acid)(PLA)
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130366

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biobased and biodegradable thermoplastic polyester with great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics. However, its poor toughness and slow biodegradation rate affect broad applications of PLA in many areas. In this study, a glycerol triester existing in natural butter, glycerol tributyrate, was creatively explored and compared with previously investigated triacetin and tributyl citrate, as potential plasticizers of PLA for achieving improved mechanical and biodegradation performances. The compatibilities of these agents with PLA were assessed quantitively via the Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) and measured by using different testing methods. The incorporation of these compounds with varied contents ranging from 1 to 30 % in PLA altered thermal, mechanical, and biodegradation properties consistently, and the relationship and impacts of chemical structures and properties of these agents were systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that glycerol tributyrate is a novel excellent plasticizer for PLA and the addition of this triester not only effectively reduced the glass transition, cold crystallization, and melting temperatures and Young's modulus, but also led to a significant improvement in the enzymatic degradation rate of the plasticized PLA. This study paves a way for the development of sustainable and eco-friendly food grade plasticized PLA products. [Display omitted] •A natural butter component, glycerol tributyrate (GT), was proven an effective plasticizer for polylactide acid (PLA).•Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) were utilized to quantify the compatibility of GT and plasticizers with PLA.•The thermal, mechanical and degradation properties of GT and two other triester plasticized PLA were thoroughly studied.•GT as a biobased plasticizer for PLA can greatly improve its enzymatic degradation rate.