Non‐isothermal crystallization behavior of stereo diblock polylactides with relatively short poly(d‐lactide) segments from the melt

Stereo diblock polylactides (SDB‐PLAs) composed of relatively short poly(d ‐lactide) (PDLA) segments and relatively long poly(l ‐lactide) (PLLA) segments were synthesized to have a wide number‐average molecular weight (M_n) range of 2.5 × 10⁴–2.0 × 10⁵ g mol^?1 and d ‐lactyl unit content of 0.9–38.6%. The effects of incorporated short PDLA segments (M_n = 2.0 × 10³–7.7 × 10³ g mol^?1) on crystallization behavior of the SDB‐PLAs were first investigated during heating after complete melting and quenching or during slow cooling after complete melting. Stereocomplex (SC) crystallites can be formed at d ‐lactyl unit content as low as 4.3 and 5.8% for heating and slow cooling, respectively, and for M_n of PDLA segments as low as 2.0 × 10³ and 3.5 × 10³ g mol^?1, respectively. With decreasing M_n and increasing d ‐lactyl unit content, the cold crystallization temperature during heating decreased and the crystallization temperature during slow cooling increased. With increasing d ‐lactyl unit content, the melting enthalpy (ΔH_m) of SC crystallites during heating and the crystallinity (X_c) of SC crystallites after slow cooling increased, whereas ΔH_m of PLLA homo‐crystallites during heating and X_c of PLLA homo‐crystallites after slow cooling decreased. The total ΔH_m of SC crystallites and PLLA homo‐crystallites during heating and the total X_c after slow cooling became a minimum at d ‐lactyl unit content of 10–15% and gave a maximum at d ‐lactyl unit content of 0%. Despite the accelerated crystallization of some of SDB‐PLAs, the low values of total ΔH_m and X_c at d ‐lactyl unit content of 10–15% are attributable to the formation of two crystalline species of SC crystallites and PLLA homo‐crystallites.     

Relationship between the crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene glycol) and stereocomplex crystallization of poly(L‐lactic acid)/poly(D‐lactic acid)

Poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) is a good biomedical polymer material with wide applications. The addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a plasticizer and the formation of stereocomplex crystals (SCs) have been proved to be effective methods for improving the crystallization of PLLA, which will promote its heat resistance. In this work, the crystallization behavior of PEG and PLLA/poly(d ‐lactic acid) (PDLA) in PLLA/PDLA/PEG and PEG‐b‐PLLA/PEG‐b‐PDLA blends has been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Both SCs and homocrystals (HCs) were observed in blends with asymmetric mass ratio of PLLA/PDLA, while exclusively SCs were observed in blends with approximately equal mass ratio of PLLA/PDLA. The crystallization of PEG was only observed for the symmetric blends of PLLA_39k/PDLA_35k/PEG_2k, PLLA_39k/PDLA_35k/PEG_5k, PLLA_69k/PDLA_96k/PEG_5k and PEG‐b‐PLLA_31k/PEG‐b‐PDLA_27k, where the mass ratio of PLLA/PDLA was approximately 1/1. The results demonstrated that the formation of exclusively SCs would facilitate the crystallization of PEG, while the existence of both HCs and SCs could restrict the crystallization of PEG. The crystallization of PEG is related to the crystallinity of PLLA and PDLA, which will be promoted by the formation of SCs. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Highly Enhanced Nucleating Effect of Melt‐Recrystallized Stereocomplex Crystallites on Poly(L‐lactic acid) Crystallization

In the general processing temperature range of poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) articles (210–240 °C), PLLA/poly(D ‐lactic acid) (PDLA) stereocomplex (SC) crystallites melted just above the endset temperature of SC melting (228–238 °C) and recrystallized during cooling were found to act as the most effective nucleating agents for enhancing the crystallization of PLLA compared to partially melted SC crystallites (211–227 °C) or those melted far above the endset temperature of SC melting (240 and 250 °C) and recrystallized during cooling. The high nucleating effect of the SC crystallites melted in the temperature range of 228–238 °C was found to be caused by their smaller sizes or the larger number of SC crystallites per unit mass. The incorporation of such SC crystallites facilitates the processing of PLLA articles having high crystallinity and, therefore, high heat‐resistance in a shorter period to reduce the production cost.

     

Thermally Stable Honeycomb‐Patterned Porous Films of a Poly(L‐lactic acid) and Poly(D‐lactic acid) Stereo Complex Prepared Using the Breath Figure Technique

Porous polymer materials prepared from biodegradable polymers have received considerable attention due to their potential as cell culture scaffolds for tissue engineering. Porous materials are generally sterilized by autoclaving prior to use as cell culture scaffolds to avoid unexpected biological infection. However, the melting point of biodegradable polymers is typically lower than the temperature used in autoclave sterilization. Here, the preparation of honeycomb films comprising a poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(D‐lactic acid) (PDLA) stereo complex is described and their thermal stabilities are evaluated. The hierarchic photochemical patterning of PLLA/PDLA stereo complex honeycomb‐patterned films by UV‐O₃ treatment is also demonstrated.

     

Hydrolytic Degradation of Amorphous Films of L‐Lactide Copolymers with Glycolide and D‐Lactide

Summary: Films of poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) and copolymers of L ‐lactide (LLA) with either glycolide [P(LLA‐GA)](81/19) or D ‐lactide [P(LLA‐DLA)](77/23) were prepared and an effect of comonomer type on the hydrolytic degradation of the films was studied in phosphate‐buffered solutions at 37 °C. The degraded films were investigated using gravimetry (weight loss and water absorption), gel permeation chromatography, DSC, X‐ray diffractometry, tensile testing and polarization optical microscopy. To exclude the effects of molecular weight and crystallinity on hydrolytic degradation, the films were prepared from polymers with similar molecular weights and were made amorphous by melt quenching. It was found that the hydrolytic degradation rate decreased in the order P(LLA‐GA) > P(LLA‐DLA) > PLLA. The hydrolytic degradation rate constant of PLLA and LLA copolymer films increased with increasing the water absorption (hydrophilicity), or with decreasing the initial glass transition temperature or the L ‐lactyl unit sequence length, indicating that the hydrolytic degradation rate of the copolymers was closely related to these three parameters. The crystallization of P(LLA‐GA) film occurred within hydrolytic degradation for 20 weeks.

M_n of PLLA and LLA copolymer films as a function of hydrolytic degradation time.     

Highly Enhanced Accelerating Effect of Melt‐Recrystallized Stereocomplex Crystallites on Poly(L‐lactic acid) Crystallization, 2–Effects of Poly(D‐lactic acid) Concentration

The effects of varying concentrations of incorporated PDLA on the acceleration of PLLA homo‐crystallization due to stereocomplex (SC) crystallite formation are investigated in PLLA films doped with PDLA over the wide concentration range of 1–10 wt%. PLLA homo‐crystallization is accelerated for all the PDLA concentrations when the processing temperature T_p is just above the endset melting temperature of the SC crystallites (T_p = 226–238 °C), although the appropriate T_p range becomes narrow at low concentrations of PDLA. The accelerating effects of SC crystallites depend on the SC crystalline thickness and the interaction between the SC crystalline regions and PLLA amorphous regions for T_ps below and above the melting peak temperature of the SC crystallites, respectively.

     

亚磷酸三苯酯对聚乳酸结晶性能的影响

采用偏光显微镜和差示扫描量热仪分别对亚磷酸三苯酯（TPP）扩链聚乳酸（PLA）的结晶形态和结晶过程进行表征,并采用莫至深法对PLA的结晶动力学过程进行研究。结果表明,TPP的扩链引入并没有改变PLA的结晶形态,仍然保持为球状晶体;TPP的引入大大提高了PLA的结晶能力,使其冷结晶温度（Tcc）从115.4 ℃降低到102.8 ℃,相对结晶度从30.2 %提高到34.9 %;莫至深法适合PLA结晶动力学过程的研究,TPP的引入使得PLA的F(T)值大大降低。     

聚乳酸结晶的研究进展

综述了自合成以来聚乳酸（PLA）结晶行为研究的主要成果，介绍了PLA的α、β、γ三种晶型结构参数及不同晶型晶体的形成条件，以及PLA球晶、单晶、孪晶、微纤晶和串晶等结晶形态及其形成条件。此外，还介绍了PLA在不同条件下的结晶行为，着重阐述了分子结构、第二组分及温度场、应力场以及辐照等外部因素对其结晶行为的影响。     

Water Vapor Permeability of Poly(L‐lactide)/Poly(D‐lactide) Stereocomplexes

PLLA/PDLA blend films with only stereocomplex crystallites as a crystalline species together with pure PLLA and PDLA films with only homo‐crystallites as a crystalline species were prepared, and the effects of enantiomeric polymer blending, crystalline species, and crystallinity on the water vapor permeability were investigated. The WVT coefficient P of PLLA/PDLA blend films was 14–23% lower than that of pure PLLA and PDLA films in the crystallinity X_c range of 0–30%. Amorphous PLLA/PDLA blend films have a much lower P than pure PLLA and PDLA films. The dependence of P on X_c for blend films was stronger for X_c = 0–30% than for X_c = 30–100%. This dependence is discussed using the Nielsen model and the concept of “restricted” (or “restrained”) and “free” amorphous regions.

     

ABCBA Pentablock Copolymers Consisting of Poly(l‐lactide) (PLLA: A), Poly(d‐lactide) (PDLA: B), and Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS: C): Effects of Semicrystalline PBS Segments on the Stereo‐Crystallinity and Properties

A new stereo pentablock copolymer consisting of poly(l ‐lactide) (PLLA: A), poly‐d ‐lactide (PDLA: B), and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS: C) is synthesized by two‐step ring‐opening polymerization of d ‐ and l ‐lactides in the presence of bis‐hydroxyl‐terminated PBS prepolymer that has been prepared by the ordinary polycondensation. The pentablock copolymers (PLLA‐PDLA‐PBS‐PDLA‐PLLA) as well as the triblock copolymers (PLLA‐PBS‐PLLA) obtained as the intermediates show different properties depending on the polymer compositions. In the pentablock copolymers, the direct connection of the PLLA and PDLA blocks allows easy formation of the stereocomplex crystals, while the introduction of the semicrystalline PBS block is effective not only for changing the crystallization kinetics but also for imparting an elastomeric property.

     

聚乳酸/聚(已二酸-对苯二甲酸丁二酯)共混物的非等温结晶动力学

采用熔融挤出法制备了聚乳酸/聚(已二酸-对苯二甲酸丁二酯)共混物。利用差示扫描量热仪研究了聚乳酸及其共混体系的非等温结晶过程。用经Jeziorny修正的Avrami方程和Mo法对其非等温结晶动力学进行了分析。结果表明:Avrami方程和Mo法都适用于处理聚乳酸及其共混体系的非等温结晶过程,共混物的结晶速率大于聚乳酸的结晶速率。此外,用Huffman-Lauritzen理论计算了非等温结晶的结晶活化能,发现共混体系的结晶活化能绝对值小于聚乳酸。     

间苯二甲酸改性PET的结晶行为研究

应用 DSC研究了间苯二甲酸 (IPA)改性 PET的结晶行为。结果表明 :由于第三单体破坏了 PET大分子结构的规整性 ,导致改性聚酯熔点下降 ,冷结晶温度上升 ,热结晶温度下降 ;与常规 PET相比 ,较慢的冷却速度就可使熔融状态的改性 PET保持无定形状态。     

Non‐Isothermal Crystallization Behavior of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) Synthesized with Different Catalysts

Summary: Non‐isothermal crystallization behavior of PTT resins synthesized with different catalysts was studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The results showed that with the increase of the cooling rate, the crystallization temperature for poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) resin decreased, which indicated that the crystallization process was controlled by the nucleation. Catalyst had no effect on the crystallization development process, but had somewhat effect on the non‐isothermal crystallization mechanism. The average values of Avrami exponent, for PTT with different catalysts were between 3 and 4. It was assumed that the non‐isothermal crystallization mechanism for PTT with or without catalyst was the combination of homogenous and heterogeneous nucleation and spherulite growth, but it mainly depended on the latter. For sample 4, the non‐isothermal crystallization underwent secondary crystallization process when cooling rate was over 20 °C/min. At the same cooling rate, the crystallization temperature, the crystallization ability and the crystallization rate of PTT resins followed the sequence as: sample 2 > sample 1 ≈ sample 3 ≈ sample 4, which proved that catalysts could significantly prompt crystallization. The cooling rate had significant effect on the crystallization ability parameters of PTT, i.e., with the increase of cooling rate, the crystallization ability declined. Although catalyst could increase the crystallization ability of PTT, the effect was very limited because the effect of the molecular weight on the crystallization ability would be superior to the catalyst when the molecular weight of PTT was significantly high. The specific surface area of catalyst had also a great influence on the spherulitic morphology of PTT formed in the cooling process. The spherulite dimensions decrease with increasing the specific surface area of catalyst because of an increase in the nucleation rate, which produces more and smaller spherulites that can not grow larger before impinging on each other.

     

Enhanced crystallization rate and mechanical properties of poly(l‐lactic acid) by stereocomplexation with four‐armed poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(d‐lactic acid) diblock copolymer

Poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) was blended with a series of four‐armed poly(? ‐caprolactone)‐block ‐poly(d ‐lactic acid) (4a‐PCL‐b ‐PDLA) copolymers in order to improve its crystallization rate and mechanical properties. It is found that a higher content of 4a‐PCL‐b ‐PDLA copolymer or longer PDLA block in the copolymer lead to faster crystallization of the blend, which is attributed to the formation of stereocomplex crystallites between PLLA matrix and PDLA blocks of the 4a‐PCL‐b ‐PDLA copolymers. Meanwhile, the PDLA block can improve the miscibility between flexible PCL phase and PLLA phase, which is beneficial for improving mechanical properties. The tensile results indicate that the 10% 4a‐PCL_5k‐b ‐PDLA_5k/PLLA blend has the largest elongation at break of about 72% because of the synergistic effects of stereocomplexation between enantiomeric PLAs, multi‐arm structure and plasticization of PCL blocks. It is concluded that well‐controlled composition and content of 4a‐PCL‐b ‐PDLA copolymer in PLLA blends can significantly improve the crystallization rate and mechanical properties of the PLLA matrix. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polyglycolide as a Biodegradable Nucleating Agent for Poly(L‐lactide)

DSC indicated that the nucleation of PLLA is enhanced in the presence of PGA even at a PGA content as low as 0.1 wt.‐%. However, the enhancing behavior of PGA was different to that of other nucleating agents for PLLA. Polarized optical microscopy revealed that the presence of PGA increased the number of PLLA spherulites per unit area. WAXD showed that in the PLLA/PGA films, PLLA and PGA crystallize separately to form their respective crystallites and PGA crystallites were formed at a PGA content at above 3 wt.‐% (at least). FTIR spectroscopy indicated that that there are significant interactions between PLLA and PGA chains in amorphous regions. Such interactions should have enhanced the growth of PLLA crystallites from the surface of PGA crystallites.

     

聚乳酸及其共聚物合成技术进展

介绍了聚乳酸及其共聚物的合成方法；讨论了直接缩聚法、开环聚合法和直接-固相聚合法制备聚乳酸及其共聚物的工艺条件与催化体系。     

The difference of equilibrium melting point between poly(l‐lactic acid) and poly(l‐lactic acid)/poly(d‐lactic acid) blends: cases with three molecular weights

In order to explore the origin of the higher melting point of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stereocomplex crystal (SC) than that of homo‐crystal (HC), the equilibrium melting point () differential between SC and HC was determined using the Hoffman–Weeks method. The results showed that, for PLA samples with M_n around 16, 20 and 65 kg mol^?1, the differential between SC and HC is around 36, 42 and 55 °C, respectively. Thus, the higher melting point of SC compared to HC does not stem from differential only. For PLA samples with lower M_n, the supercooling differential between poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PLLA)/poly(d ‐lactic acid) (PDLA) blends and PLLA is smaller than that with higher M_n, which means chain diffusion behavior is crucial for SC formation in PLLA/PDLA blends. The fact that the SC adopts the intermolecular parallel arrangement rather than the adjacent chain folding is verified by the greater slope of the melting point of SC versus crystallization temperature fitting curve when M_n is relative higher. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Melt Crystallization Behavior and Spherulitic Morphology of Poly(Trimethylene Terephthalate)/Poly(Propylene Glycol) Copolymers with Different Poly(Propylene Glycol) Molecular Weights

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/poly(propylene glycol) (PTT/PPG) copolymers with different PPG molecular weights (400–4,000?g?/mol) were successfully synthesized and characterized. Double melting endotherms during isothermal melt crystallization were observed by differential scanning calorimetry. Middle-temperature melting endotherms in all copolymers were stronger than that in PTT homopolymer and became smaller with the increasing PPG molecular weight. Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of all samples were analyzed by Ozawa and Mo models. Polarized optical microscopy micrographs revealed that ring-banded spherulitic morphology was relatively easier to be observed in copolymers with higher PPG molecular weight at lower crystallization temperature, and PPG molecular weight nearly had no influence on the band spacing.