Effect of the content and distribution of ultraviolet absorbing groups on the UV protection and degradation of polylactide films

Abstract

Introduction of a UV absorbing group onto a polymer chain through covalent bonding greatly reduced the UV light transmittance of the resulting polylactide (PLA) film and preserved the high transparency to visible light. Compared to simply blending a UV absorber with a PLA matrix, covalent bonding of the UV absorbing group with polylactide enabled the prepared films to have better dispersion of the UV absorbing group, stable solvent resistance, better protection effect against UV damage and a slower rate of UV irradiated degradation, while the distribution of the UV absorbing group made no difference to the aforementioned properties. The degradation of both the PLA film covalently bonded with a UV absorbing group and the PLA/UV-absorber blended film followed the same mechanism as pure PLA films, in that the alkyl-oxygen bond broke first to produce acyl-oxygen and secondary carbon radicals, which then captured hydrogen to form carboxyl groups and alkyl groups at the end of the fractured polymer chain. More UV absorbing groups at the chain end were favorable for reducing UV transmittance, providing a better protection effect on the packaged probe, and slowing the UV irradiated degradation of PLA film. The thermal stability was dependent on the molecular weight of polylactide and was hardly affected by the introduction of the UV absorber or UV absorbing group.