Improved hydrolytic resistance of polylactide biocomposite films reinforced by rice husk before and after accelerated aging

Abstract

The enhanced durability of biobased polylactide (PLA) is a critical prerequisite for it to be considered a viable alternative to petroleum‐based polymers for long‐term applications. Leveraging the performance improvements achieved through interface construction, PLA‐biomass composites have garnered considerable interest and have been widely utilized as a completely degradable material. The hydrolytic behavior of PLA biocomposites in photo‐hydrothermal environments was examined in this study in relation to the impact of biomass components and the specifically designed interface. We observed that biomass could act as an effective stabilizer in the composites, leading to a 25.6% reduction in the hydrolysis reaction rate constant. This stabilization occurs as biomass impedes the diffusion of water molecules and the extension of PLA molecular chains across various hydrothermal environments, thereby enhancing the hydrolytic resistance of PLA. The intriguing aspect is that this stabilizing effect of biomass could be moderated by an interface created through surface treatment, which facilitates enhanced transfer of active small molecules during the photolysis‐hydrolysis process. Consequently, this approach presents a novel method for producing PLA biocomposites that offers excellent hydrolytic resistance, an adjustable degradation cycle, and expected potential applications in advanced packaging and agricultural domains.Highlights Biomass significantly enhances the hydrolysis resistance of polylactide (PLA) biocomposites. This stability boosts due to the obstructive and shielding effects of biomass. Effective interface could regulate the usable life of PLA biocomposites. The role that biomass/ interfaces play also applies to PLA photodegradation. Photo‐hydrolysis mechanism is not affected by biomass or designed interface.