Biodegradable composites based on poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) were developed. PLLA without and with the addition of 1, 3 and 5 wt% MOFs was melt compounded in a microextruder. The optical, physical, thermal, mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the composites were evaluated. The Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet and colorimetric studies showed selected absorption at particular wavelengths due to the presence of copper and benzene belonging to the MOFs. The dynamic mechanical analysis results revealed that the heat deflection temperature, storage modulus and loss modulus of the PLLA-MOF composites did not significantly change compared with the neat PLLA samples. However, a significant decrease in the brittleness of the PLLA-MOF composite was found as evidenced by an increase of 15% in Izod impact strength and 170% in elongation at break. Overall, the brittleness of the PLLA-MOF composite sample decreased as the amount of MOF in the PLLA increased.

Biodegradable multifunctional polymeric membranes based on poly(l-lactic acid), PLLA, and metal–organic framework compounds (MOFs) were developed. PLLA with and without the addition of 5 wt % MOF was melt compounded in a microextruder, and the solubility parameters, water sorption isotherm, and permeability coefficients to oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, ethyl acetate, hexane, and cyclohexane were determined. The sorption capacity of the PLLA–MOF composite films increased up to 2-fold at each relative humidity to which it was exposed when compared with the PLLA films. The sorption and desorption curves of the PLLA–MOF films show hysteresis. The presence of MOF in the composite films did not significantly modify the permeability coefficients of the PLLA–MOF films.