Influence of active compounds on the degradation of polylactide biocomposites

Abstract

Biodegradable materials, which exhibit biocidal activity against microorganisms due to application of natural vegetable compounds, are presented. The effect of polylactide (PLA) modification, carried out by using bioactive compounds as mixtures form such as: carvacrol and eugenol, thymol and eugenol, thymol and carvacrol, on the thermal properties and biodegradation rate of this material was determined. The following sample features were determined: mass loss in time, thermal properties with the use of a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) instrument, and morphology by the use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The use of active compounds in mixtures gives a synergistic effect. The natural vegetable compounds exhibit biocidal and fungicidal activities and, at the same time, no negative effect on the physicochemical properties of the prepared products and do not affect negatively the degradation rate of these products.