Study on hydrophilicity and degradability of polyvinyl alcohol/polylactic acid blend film / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

Based on casting and solvent evaporation method, the degradable PLA/PVA blend film was prepared with polylactic acid (PLA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as raw material. The moisture absorbability, water absorbability and degradability of the polylactic acid/polyvinyl alcohol (PLA/PVA) blend film were studied; also the degradation mechanism of blend film was investigated. The results showed that the moisture absorption and water absorption of blend film decreased as the concentration of PLA increased. The degradation process of blend film in the normal saline is conducted by stepwise. At the forepart, the degradation of PLA played an important role, while PVA was the main degradation substance later. The solvent acidity could catalyze the degradation of PLA, and degradation of PLA was always turning from noncrystalline region to crystalline region. PVA had abilities to accelerate the degradation of PLA by increasing the hydrophilicity of the blend film and by breaking the crystallinity of PLA. Therefore, the hydrophilicity and degradability of PLA/PVA blend film can be controlled in a certain range by adjusting the proportion of PLA and PVA.