Effect of UV irradiation on thermal properties of nanocomposites based on polylactide

The aim of the work was to determine the impact of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on thermal properties of polylactide-based nanocomposites in the form of a film. Polylactide nanocomposites composed of an organoclay (Nanofil2) and with or without a poly(epsilon-caprolactone) were exposed to UV radiation in air at a wavelength of maximum 254 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used in order to investigate the thermal properties of samples during the process of photodegradation. Influence of Nanofil2 quantity and the presence of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) on thermal properties of polylactide-based nanocomposites during UV exposure has been discussed. It has been established that introduction of Nanofil2 as a nanofiller and a compatibilizing agent into polylactide matrix can affect photodegradation of studied materials. The results of DSC analysis indicate that the rate of degradation process was decreased in the presence of modified montmorillonite.