Polylactide chemical stability

The second concept for the generation of monolithic polymers is based on diblock copolymers which were prepared by Hillmyer and coworkers [27]. These copolymers contain oriented nanoscopic cylinders of the degradable polymer polylactide (PLA) which were embedded in polystyrene. The latter served as an inert thermoplastic matrix, while PLA could be selectively removed under well-defined conditions using sodium hydroxide in aqueous methanol. The resulting mesoporous monolithic polystyrene contains nanochannels with defined pore size. The major drawback of this material free of any cross-linker is associated with reduced mechanical and chemical stability. 

While the chemical hydrolysis of PLA has been widely studied other information concerning the chemical stability or resistance of PLA is rather limited. Stability and possible migration from polylactide to food simulants has been evaluated in a few studies (36). The stability in water, 3% acetic acid and isooctane has been shown to be adequate. However, large mass losses were reported in contact with alcoholic food stimulants such as 95% ethanol. Migrants... 

Bendix, D., 1998. Chemical synthesis of polylactide and its copolymers for medical applications. Pol5Tn. Degrad. Stabil. 59, 129—135. 

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