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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Investigation of the Hydrolytic Degradation Kinetics of 3D-Printed PLA Structures under a Thermally Accelerated Regime
ClearExplication of mechanism governing atmospheric degradation of 3D-printed poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with different in-fill pattern and varying in-fill density
Researchers studied the atmospheric degradation of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) samples exposed to natural weather conditions in India, examining different in-fill patterns and densities. The study found that while PLA performance deteriorated over time due to UV exposure, humidity, and other environmental factors, the combination of in-fill pattern and volume played an important role in the rate of degradation.
The aging behavior of degradable plastic polylactic acid under the interaction of environmental factors
Researchers used response surface methodology to study how temperature, light, and humidity interact to accelerate the aging and breakdown of polylactic acid, a common biodegradable plastic. The study found that humidity had the greatest effect on PLA degradation, followed by light and temperature. Evidence indicates that even biodegradable plastics can release microplastic particles as they age under environmental conditions, posing potential ecological concerns.
Evolution of the Molecular and Supramolecular Structures of PLA during the Thermally Supported Hydrolytic Degradation of Wet Spinning Fibers
Researchers studied the structural evolution of polylactic acid fibers during accelerated hydrolytic degradation at different pH levels and temperatures, finding disorder-to-order phase transitions in the polymer's supramolecular structure that affect the degradation behavior of PLA materials in real-world conditions.
Changes in the Thermal and Structural Properties of Polylactide and Its Composites During a Long-Term Degradation Process
Researchers studied the long-term degradation of polylactide (PLA) composites to understand how their thermal and structural properties change over time. The findings indicate that as PLA breaks down during composting, there is potential for microplastic formation, and the rate of decomposition varies depending on the composite composition.
3D-printed polylactic acid biopolymer and textile fibers: comparing the degradation process
3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) objects and PLA textile fibers were compared in their degradation behavior under composting and environmental conditions. Both materials degraded over time but at different rates depending on their physical form and surface area. The study provides insights into how PLA-based products break down and whether they produce persistent microplastic residues.
Aging behavior of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics accelerated by UV/H2O2 processes
Researchers used UV and hydrogen peroxide to simulate environmental aging of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, finding that PLA microplastics undergo significant surface and structural changes during weathering that alter their environmental behavior and persistence.
Abiotic Degradation and Composting Behavior of 3D-Printed PLA and PLA/Wood Biocomposites
Researchers investigated the abiotic degradation and composting behavior of 3D-printed polylactic acid and PLA/wood biocomposites, motivated by the growing use of 3D printing technology and the polymeric waste it generates. They assessed how these materials break down under environmental and composting conditions, with implications for managing plastic residues from additive manufacturing.
Ranking the accelerated weathering of plastic polymers
Researchers ranked the accelerated weathering rates of five common plastic polymers, finding that polylactic acid and polystyrene degraded fastest while polyethylene terephthalate was most resistant, providing key data on environmental persistence timelines.
State of the art on biodegradability of bio-based plastics containing polylactic acid
This review examines whether bio-based plastics made from polylactic acid (PLA) actually break down in the environment as intended. While certain microorganisms can degrade PLA, the process is slow and depends heavily on conditions like temperature and moisture. The findings matter because if bio-based plastics do not fully break down, they can still fragment into microplastics, posing many of the same environmental and health risks as conventional plastics.
In vitro degradation behavior of oriented microcellular poly(L-lactic acid) biomimetic materials
This study characterized the in vitro hydrolytic degradation behavior of oriented microcellular poly(L-lactic acid) biomimetic materials, finding that molecular chain orientation and cellular microstructure influence the rate and pattern of degradation.
Mechanical Performance of 3D-Printed Polyethylene Fibers and Their Durability against Degradation
Researchers systematically investigated how 3D printing parameters such as fiber diameter and printer head temperature affect the mechanical performance and degradation resistance of fused deposition modeling-printed polyethylene fibers.
Impact of moisture on the degradation and priming effects of poly(lactic acid) microplastic
Researchers examined how soil moisture levels affect the degradation of biodegradable poly(lactic acid) microplastics and their influence on soil organic carbon decomposition. The study found that moisture significantly increased PLA degradation in acidic soils, and PLA induced both positive and negative priming effects on native soil carbon depending on moisture levels and soil type.
Aging Process of Biocomposites with the PLA Matrix Modified with Different Types of Cellulose
Researchers prepared polylactic acid composites with three different cellulose-based fillers and studied how they age under UV light exposure. The study found that the type of cellulose additive plays a crucial role in how well the material resists UV degradation, with some forms improving both mechanical properties and degradation timing. These findings support the potential of biodegradable polymer composites as alternatives to conventional plastics that generate persistent microplastic waste.
Microbial Degradation of Polylactic Acid Bioplastic
This review covers how microorganisms degrade polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic under different environmental conditions. Understanding PLA biodegradation is important for assessing whether PLA products actually break down as intended in real-world environments rather than persisting as microplastics.
3D‐printed wood‐polylactic acid‐thermoplastic starch composites: Performance features in relation to biodegradation treatment
Researchers studied how soil burial biodegradation affects 3D-printed wood-polylactic acid (PLA) composite materials, testing different starch formulations for their effect on breakdown rate. Ensuring that biodegradable plastics actually degrade under real environmental conditions is important for preventing them from contributing to long-term microplastic pollution.
Deterioration of single-use biodegradable plastics in high-humidity air and freshwaters over one year: Significant disparities in surface physicochemical characteristics and degradation rates
This study evaluated the degradation of single-use biodegradable plastics over one year in both high-humidity air and freshwater environments, finding significant disparities in surface chemistry changes and degradation rates between the two conditions. The results suggest biodegradable plastics degrade far more slowly in open-air and freshwater than expected.
Microstructure and performance evolution of poly (l-lactic acid) during physical aging: Determinable role of molding method on β-relaxation
Researchers investigated how the manufacturing method of poly(L-lactic acid) — a biodegradable plastic relevant to microplastic pollution reduction — affects its mechanical aging behavior, finding that quenching versus cold-pressing creates different molecular network structures that determine how quickly the material becomes brittle over time.
Exploring the influence of sludge dewatering agents on Microplastic aging under hydrothermal treatment: Insights from Polylactic Acid microplastics
This study examined how industrial wastewater sludge treatment chemicals (dewatering agents) interact with hydrothermal processing to alter the physical and chemical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics in sludge. The findings matter because different treatment chemistries transform microplastic surfaces in distinct ways — affecting their porosity, reactivity, and persistence — which has implications for how microplastics behave after leaving wastewater treatment facilities.
Environmental degradation and fragmentation of microplastics: dependence on polymer type, humidity, UV dose and temperature
Researchers systematically tested how UV light, temperature, and humidity cause five common plastic types to break apart into secondary microplastics and nanoplastics. They found that the type of plastic — not the aging conditions — was the main factor determining how quickly it fragmented and what byproducts it released, data that can improve models predicting how plastics break down in the environment.
Monitoring polymer degradation under different conditions in the marine environment
Researchers simulated four marine environmental conditions over one year and found that biobased plastics like polylactic acid degrade up to five times faster in seafloor sediment than in the water column, while conventional plastics showed little degradation difference across conditions.
A Comparative Review on Biodegradation of Poly(Lactic Acid) in Soil, Compost, Water, and Wastewater Environments: Incorporating Mathematical Modeling Perspectives
This review compared how polylactic acid, a popular biodegradable plastic alternative, breaks down across different environments including soil, compost, water, and wastewater. Researchers found that PLA degrades fastest in compost, followed by soil, wastewater, and open water, with different mechanisms dominating in each setting. The study provides a comprehensive picture of PLA's real-world degradation behavior, which is important for understanding whether these materials truly offer environmental benefits over conventional plastics.
Bioplastics in the Sea: Rapid In-Vitro Evaluation of Degradability and Persistence at Natural Temperatures
Researchers evaluated the marine degradability of multiple bioplastic materials at natural seawater temperatures, finding that most bioplastics persist in ocean environments rather than degrading quickly, challenging assumptions that bioplastics represent a straightforward solution to marine plastic pollution.
Comparing the Aging Processes of PLA and PE: The Impact of UV Irradiation and Water
Scientists compared how biodegradable PLA plastic and conventional polyethylene break down under UV light and water exposure. PLA degraded more severely, fragmenting into smaller particles more readily than polyethylene, though both types developed surface cracks and chemical changes. Understanding how different plastics age is important because smaller, more degraded particles may be more easily absorbed by living organisms and potentially cause greater harm.
Not Only Diamonds Are Forever: Degradation of Plastic Films in a Simulated Marine Environment
Researchers found that biodegradable plastics, including polylactic acid (PLA), do not fully degrade in simulated marine environments at realistic temperatures and conditions. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are a straightforward solution to ocean plastic pollution.