@article{article_1655686, title={Investigation of Thermal Degradation Kinetics of Polylactide-Perlite Composites}, journal={Erzincan University Journal of Science and Technology}, volume={18}, pages={799–816}, year={2025}, author={Gümüştaş, Sıla and Aksoy, Nazlı Gül}, keywords={Polylactide, perlite, biodegradable polymers composite, thermal degradation kinetics}, abstract={In this study, the thermal degradation behavior and kinetics of biodegradable and biocompatible polylactide were investigated by preparing composites with low-cost perlite at various ratios under an inert atmosphere. Polylactide (PLA) was characterized with FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, GPC and TGA after being synthesized with ring-opening polymerization in the presence of tin octoate. The number average molecular weight of polymer (Mn) was determined as 20.091 g/mol. PLA/perlite composites were prepared with the method of solvent casting, by mixing the synthesized PLA in ratios of 10%, 20% and 40% with perlite. While the structure of the composites was characterized with FTIR, their thermal characteristics were examined with TGA. It was found that the thermal stability of the PLA/perlite (60/40) composite increased by 35 °C compared to pure PLA. The thermal degradation kinetics of the polymeric and composite material was examined at different heating speeds (5-10-15 and 20 °C/min) with thermogravimetric analysis using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, Tang and Kissinger methods. The thermal degradation activation energies were determined as 114.59 kJ/mol, 112.06 kJ/mol and 124.12 kJ/mol respectively.}, number={3}, publisher={Erzincan Binali Yildirim University}, organization={TÜBİTAK}