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Physical properties and enzymatic hydrolysis of poly( L ‐lactide)–TiO 2 composites
Author(s) -
Fukuda Norio,
Tsuji Hideto
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.21411
Subject(s) - materials science , ultimate tensile strength , anatase , composite number , stearic acid , titanium dioxide , particle size , hydrolysis , composite material , chemical engineering , enzymatic hydrolysis , particle (ecology) , chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , photocatalysis , oceanography , engineering , geology
Amorphous poly( L ‐lactide) (PLLA) composite films with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) particles were prepared by solution‐casting using methylene chloride as a solvent, followed by quenching from the melt. The effects of surface treatment, volume fraction, size, and crystalline type of the TiO 2 particles on the mechanical properties and enzymatic hydrolysis of the composite films were investigated. The tensile strength of the PLLA composite films containing TiO 2 particles except for anatase‐type ones with a mean particle size of 0.3–0.5 μm was lowered and the Young's modulus became higher with increasing the content of TiO 2 particles. The tensile strength of the composite films containing anatase‐type TiO 2 with a mean particle size of 0.3–0.5 μm at contents of 20 wt % or less was almost the same as that of the pure PLLA film. The enzymatic hydrolysis of PLLA matrix was accelerated by the addition of the hydrophilic anatase‐type TiO 2 particles (nontreated or Al 2 O 3 treated) with a mean particle size of 0.3–0.5 μm at relatively high contents such as 20 wt %. On the other hand, the enzymatic hydrolysis of PLLA matrix was inhibited by composite formation with the hydrophobic rutile‐type TiO 2 particles (Al 2 O 3 ‐stearic acid treated, or ZrO 2 ‐Al 2 O 3 ‐stearic acid treated). These results suggest that the mechanical properties and enzymatic hydrolyzability of the PLLA can be controlled by the kind and amount of the added TiO 2 particles. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 190–199, 2005