Degradation studies of some polyesters and polycarbonates—2. Polylactide: Degradation under isothermal conditions,thermal degradation mechanism and photolysis of the polymer

The thermal degradation of polylactide has been studied at several temperatures in the range 230–440°C and the variation of product distribution with temperature has been examined. From experiments at 240–270°C, an energy of activation of 28·5 kcal mol^?1 (119 kJ mol^?1) has been calculated. Mass spectra have been obtained for polylactide and for the cold ring fraction of degradation products in TV A experiments. Both lactide and polylactide have also been heated under closed system conditions and the products have been identified.A mechanism is presented for the thermal degradation, based upon a hydroxyl end-initiated ester interchange process giving cyclic oligomers, lactide, acetaldehyde and carbon monoxide, together with a series of reactions at somewhat higher temperatures dependent upon chain homolysis, giving the same products and also carbon dioxide and methylketene.The photolysis of polylactide at 30°C, using the medium pressure mercury lamp, has been briefly examined.