Podatność polilaktydu na degradację w wybranych składnikach kosmetyków

The estimation of degradability of poly(lactide) (PLA) in the selected cosmetic ingredients and determination of the influence of modification of PLA on the rate of degradation process was the subject of this paper. Degradation was carried out in distilled water, ethanol, salicylic acid in ethyl solution and liquid paraffin at the temperature 40°C. The degradability of PLA was studied by macro- and microscopic observations of surfaces, changes of weight, hardness and crystallinity of polymer samples before and after incubation. The obtained results indicate that PLA was susceptible to degradation in selected cosmetic ingredients. The rate of degradation process depends on the type of medium and used modification of PLA. These results can provide indications for designers of packaging concerning the possibility of the use of PLA in the packaging industry of cosmetic products.