Thermal Properties of Porous Polylactide

The melting and thermal degradation of porous polylactide have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The pores are formed from a solution of azobisizobutyronitrile in acetone and ammonium carbonate in a water–acetone mixture and thermostatting of the filled polymer and via exposing the samples to a medium of supercritical carbon dioxide. It has been shown that the blowing agents destroy the crystalline regions of the polymer and decrease the melting point and heat of fusion of the crystallites depending on the plasticizing impact on the polymer matrix, the pore formation method, and the nature of the blowing agent. Pore formation in polylactide leads to a decrease in the initial thermooxidative degradation temperature of the polymer and a change in the process mechanism.