Assessment of the Biodegradability of Poly-Lactic Acid - Canola stem flour Composites against Natural Biological Factors

In the present research the biodegradability Properties of poly-lactic acid-canola stem flour composites in three levels of 25, 35, and 45% canola stem flour made by compression molding technique were studied . In order to study the biocompatibility behavior of the composite, three methods of biological degradation were used for Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum fungi, long-term water absorption and composites burial in the soil for 4 months. The results of statistical analyzes showed that the amount of composites weight loss increased against the degradation by fungi and burial in the soil by increasing the amount of rapeseed canola stem flour while pure poly-lactic acid had a very high durability against these factors. In addition, there was no effect on the weight loss of samples in the long run leach test so that the weight of composites and poly- lactic acid samples was constantly increasing and there was no effect on weight and thickness loss. The growth of myceliums fungi was clearly detectable and detectable in reviewing the images of electron microscopy from the fracture properties of composites, unlike poly-lactic acid so that fungi crossed their polymer into rapeseed shoot flour and reduced the weight of the composites. The results of the FTIR spectroscopy on poly-lactic acid prepared before and after exposure to the Gloeophyllum trabeum fungus confirmed the validity of the above results. According to the results of this study, poly-lactic acid, as a biodegradable polymer, has been shown to be very durable against degradation by natural biological agents.