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Pyrolysis Kinetic Study of Polylactic Acid.

Zaid Alhulaybi1, Ibrahim Dubdub1, Mohammed Al-Yaari1

  • 1Chemical Engineering Department, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 380, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.

Polymers
|January 8, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study investigates the pyrolysis kinetics of polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer. Analysis revealed the geometrical contraction model (R2) best describes PLA pyrolysis, offering insights for material processing.

Keywords:
PLAactivation energybiodegradable polymerkineticspyrolysisrecyclingthermogravimetric analyzer (TGA)

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer with significant applications in textiles and food packaging.
  • Understanding the thermal degradation kinetics of PLA is crucial for optimizing its processing and end-of-life management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the pyrolysis kinetics of polylactic acid (PLA).
  • To determine the most suitable kinetic model and reaction mechanism for PLA pyrolysis using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Main Methods:

  • Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on PLA at various heating rates (5, 10, 20, 30 K/min).
  • Four model-free kinetic methods (Friedman, Flynn-Wall-Qzawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), and Starink) were employed.
  • Two model-fitting methods (Coats-Redfern and Criado) were utilized to identify the reaction mechanism.

Main Results:

  • Model-free methods yielded consistent activation energies for PLA pyrolysis, averaging 97, 109, 104, and 104 kJ/mol for Friedman, FWO, KAS, and Starink, respectively.
  • The Criado and Coats-Redfern models were used to evaluate reaction mechanisms.
  • The geometrical contraction model (R2) was identified as the best fit for describing the PLA pyrolysis process.

Conclusions:

  • The pyrolysis of PLA is well-described by kinetic models, with consistent activation energy values obtained across different model-free methods.
  • The geometrical contraction model (R2) accurately represents the primary reaction mechanism during PLA pyrolysis, providing valuable data for material scientists and engineers.