Mechanistic aspects of the thermal degradation of poly(lactic acid)and poly(j?-hydroxybutyric acid) 

 -  Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 40-41, p.43-53, 1997 .
<br/><br/> The thermal degradation of po1yIlactic acid)IPLA)and polyls- hydrnxybutyric acid)(PHB)was investigated by means of several thermoanalytical mctbods, including thcrmogravimetry. d ifferential scaringc alorimetry, pyrolysis-MS and pyrolysis-GC-MST. hese methods supplied information on the ki~ttics of the poIymcr dccompo ion as wxll as on the product composition. The analysis of LA-oligomcrs provided new insights into the stercochemistry of the degradation. The results are discussed in vkw of the known reaction mechanisms for ester pyrolysis. Some of the present results cannot be explained on this basis. 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER<br/>POLYESTER<br/>DEGRADATION<br/>POLYLLACTIC ACID)<br/>POLY(P-HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID)<br/>THERMOANALYSIS; PYROLYSIS