Influence of temperature on high molecular weight poly(lactic acid) stereocomplex formation

The influence of temperature on the formation of high molecular weight poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stereocomplex was studied by evaluation of the precipitates from dioxane solutions of PLA enantiomers (PLLA and PDLA). The racemic mixtures were characterized by Gel Permeation Chromatography, Infrared Spe...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Hortos Llobera, Martí, Espino, Sebastian, Bou Serra, Jordi|||0000-0001-7948-8720
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/128556
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/128556
https://dx.doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2019.12
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Polymers--Biodegradation
Biodegradable polymers
polylactide
polymeric racemic mixture
crystal growing
capillary rheometry
Polímers -- Biodegradació
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química
Descripción
Sumario:The influence of temperature on the formation of high molecular weight poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stereocomplex was studied by evaluation of the precipitates from dioxane solutions of PLA enantiomers (PLLA and PDLA). The racemic mixtures were characterized by Gel Permeation Chromatography, Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Scanning Electronic Microscopy, Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering and Vicat Softening Temperature. Precipitation was carried out under different solution temperatures, keeping constant the mixing ratio (XD), the molecular weight, the optical purity of both PLA enantiomers and the stirring rate. It was found that the precipitates contained only pure stereocomplex crystallites (racemic crystallites), without observing crystal phase separation between both homocrystals. The kinetics of the insoluble phase formation could be adjusted with the Avrami model, classically used for polymer crystallization in molten state. It was observed that the maximum PLA stereocomplex production rate was at about 40°C. However, more thermally stable racemic crystallites were formed at high solution temperatures. It was found that all the precipitates were sphere-like at 10 g·dl–1 at the solution temperature of 25, 40, 60 and 80°C