Controlled crystal nucleation in the melt-crystallization of poly(l-lactide) and poly(l-lactide)/poly(d-lactide) stereocomplex

Among the various inorganic nucleators examined, Talc and an aluminum complex of a phosphoric ester combined with hydrotalcite (NA) were found to be effective for the melt-crystallization of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and PLLA/poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) stereo mixture, respectively. NA (1.0 phr (per one hundred resin)) can exclusively nucleate the stereocomplex crystals, while Talc cannot suppress the homo crystallization of PLLA and PDLA in the stereo mixture. Double use of Talc and NA (in 1.0 phr each) is highly effective for enhancing the crystallization temperature of the stereo complex without forming the homo crystals. The stereocomplex crystals nucleated by NA show a significantly lower melting temperature (207 °C) than the single crystal of the stereocomplex (230 °C) in spite of recording a large heat of crystallization ΔH_c (54 J/g). Photomicrographic study suggests that the spherulites with a symmetric morphology are formed in the stereo mixture added with NA while the spherulites do not grow in size in the mixture added with Talc. The exclusive growth of the stereocomplex crystals by the melt-crystallization process will open a processing window for the PLLA/PDLA.     

Highly accelerated stereocomplex crystallization by blending star-shaped 4-armed stereo diblock poly(lactide)s with poly(d-lactide) and poly(l-lactide) cores

Star-shaped 4-armed stereo diblock poly(lactide)s with the core/shell types of poly(d-lactide) (PDLA)/poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and PLLA/PDLA (abbreviated as 4-DL and 4-LD, respectively) and the number-average molecular weights of about 1 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹ were synthesized and the crystallization behavior of neat 4-DL, 4-LD, and their 50/50 blend (abbreviated as 4-DL/4-LD blend) was investigated. Solely stereocomplex (SC) crystallites as crystalline species were formed in the neat 4-DL, 4-LD, and 4-DL/4-LD blend, irrespective of crystallization temperature (100–160 °C). The overall SC crystallization of 4-DL/4-LD blend was highly accelerated compared with that of neat 4-DL and 4-LD, due to the largely elevated spherulite nuclei number per unit mass in the blend. Such high density of nuclei formation in 4-DL/4-LD blend is attributable to the facile intermolecular interaction and subsequent SC nucleation between the PLLA shell of 4-DL and the PDLA shell of 4-LD. The blending method reported in the present study is applicable for various core/shell types of star-shaped stereo diblock stereocomplexationable polymers to accelerate overall SC crystallization and can counterbalance the lowered crystallization rate caused by the star-shaped architecture. Despite the highly accelerated overall SC crystallization of 4-DL/4-LD blend by blending 4-DL and 4-LD, the spherulite growth rate, induction period for spherulite growth, final crystallinity, crystalline species, growth morphology, and crystallization mechanism were not altered by blending 4-DL and 4-LD.     

Miscibility and properties of linear poly(l-lactide)/branched poly(l-lactide) copolyester blends

Polymer blends consisting of linear poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and different proportions of dendritic PLLA-based copolyesters (hb-PLLA) characterized by different degrees of branching (DB) were obtained in melt. The solid-state properties of poly(l-lactide)s and their blends were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and stress-strain measurements. DSC and DMA methods proved miscibility of PLLA/hb-PLLA blends for the studied composition range. AFM indicated that no phase separation occurs in PLLA/hb-PLLA blends and that PLLA and hb-PLLA cocrystallize in one single lamellae type. The mechanical characteristics of PLLA/hb-PLLA blends deteriorated with an increase of the DB and with changing blend composition. Susceptibility of the blends to biodegradation was studied by measuring the weight loss in two different biodegradation media. PLLA/hb-PLLA blends showed more pronounced hydrophilic character and higher susceptibility to biodegradation with an increase in the degree of branching.     

Transcrystalline structures of poly(l-lactide)

Poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) film containing transcrystalline (TC) structures can easily be obtained by placing PLLA films melted between two poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) sheets, followed by isothermal crystallization at 122 °C. The fine structures of the PLLA-TC film were studied by various structural techniques such as X-ray diffractometry, optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We also examined the purification effect upon the morphology of PLLA-TC film. The formation of the TC structures revealed that one-dimensional spherulitic growth occurred from the assembling impurities as nucleation agent near the PTFE substrate in the heterogeneous nucleation system. We found that the b-axis of PLLA crystal was parallel to the lamellae growth direction confirmed using X-ray diffraction. The precipitated PLLA film crystallized in a similar process exhibited scanty TC textures, suggesting that the existence of impurity in the PLLA sample was an important factor for the formation of those structures.     

Thermal degradation of poly(l-lactide): effect of alkali earth metal oxides for selective l,l-lactide formation

To achieve the feed stock recycling of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) to l,l-lactide, PLLA composites including alkali earth metal oxides, such as calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO), were prepared and the effect of such metal oxides on the thermal degradation was investigated from the viewpoint of selective l,l-lactide formation. Metal oxides both lowered the degradation temperature range of PLLA and completely suppressed the production of oligomers other than lactides. CaO markedly lowered the degradation temperature, but caused some racemization of lactide, especially in a temperature range lower than 250 °C. Interestingly, with MgO racemization was avoided even in the lower temperature range. It is considered that the effect of MgO on the racemization is due to the lower basicity of Mg compared to Ca. At temperatures lower than 270 °C, the pyrolysis of PLLA/MgO (5 wt%) composite occurred smoothly causing unzipping depolymerization, resulting in selective l,l-lactide production. A degradation mechanism was discussed based on the results of kinetic analysis. A practical approach for the selective production of l,l-lactide from PLLA is proposed by using the PLLA/MgO composite.     

Carbodiimide-mediated synthesis of poly(l-lactide)-based networks

Poly(l-lactide-co-succinic anhydride) networks were synthesised via the carbodiimide-mediated coupling of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) star polymers. When 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) alone was used as the catalyst, gelation did not occur. However, when 4-(dimethylamino)pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate (DPTS), the salt of DMAP and p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA), was the catalyst, the networks obtained had gel fractions comparable to those which were reported for networks synthesised by conventional methods. Greater gel fractions and conversion of the prepolymer terminal hydroxyl groups were observed when the hydroxyl-terminated star prepolymers reacted with succinic anhydride in a one-pot procedure than when the hydroxyl-terminated star prepolymers reacted with presynthesised succinic-terminated star prepolymers. The thermal properties of the networks, glass transition temperature (T_g), melting temperature (T_m) and crystallinity (X_c) were all strongly influenced by the average molecular weights between the crosslinks (). The network with the smallest (1400 g/mol) was amorphous and had a T_g of 59 °C while the network with the largest (7800 g/mol) was 15% crystalline and had a T_g of 56 °C.     

Unique crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactide)/poly(d-lactide) stereocomplex depending on initial melt states

A unique crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) stereocomplex was observed when a PLLA/PDLA blend (50/50) was subjected to specific melting conditions. PLLA and PDLA were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of l- or d-lactide using zinc lactate as catalyst. PLLA/PDLA blend was prepared through solution mixing followed by vacuum drying. The blend was melted under various melting conditions and subsequent crystallization behaviors were analyzed by using DSC, XRD, NMR and ESEM. Stereocomplex was exclusively formed from the 50/50 blend of PLLA and PDLA with relatively low molecular weights. Surprisingly, stereocomplex crystallization was distinctly depressed when higher melting temperature and longer melting period were applied, in contrast to homopolymer crystallization. Considering predominant interactions between PLLA and PDLA chains, a novel model of melting process is proposed to illustrate this behavior. It is assumed that PLLA and PDLA chain couples would preserve their interactions (melt memory) when the stereocomplex crystal melts smoothly, thus resulting in a heterogeneous melt which can easily crystallize. The melt could gradually become homogeneous at higher temperature or longer melting time. The strong interactions between PLLA and PDLA chain segments are randomly distributed in a homogeneous melt, thus preventing subsequent stereocomplex crystallization. However, the homogeneous melt can recover its ability to crystallize via dissolution in a solvent.     

Stereocomplex crystallization and spherulite growth behavior of poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(d-lactide) stereodiblock copolymers

The non-isothermally and isothermally crystallized stereodiblock copolymers of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) with equimolar l-lactyl and d-lactyl units and different number-average molecular weights (M_n) of 3.9 × 10³, 9.3 × 10³, and 1.1 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹, which are abbreviated as PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers, contained only stereocomplex crystallites as crystalline species, causing higher melting temperatures of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers compared to those of PLLA homopolymers. In the case of non-isothermal crystallization, the cold crystallization temperatures of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers during heating and cooling were respectively lower and higher than those of PLLA homopolymers, indicating accelerated crystallization of PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers. In the case of isothermal crystallization, in the crystallizable temperature range, the crystallinity (X_c) values of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers were lower than those of the PLLA homopolymers, and were susceptible to the effect of crystallization temperature in contrast to that of homopolymers. The radial growth rate of the spherulites (G) of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers was the highest at the middle M_n of 9.3 × 10³ g mol⁻¹. This trend is different from that of the PLLA homopolymers where the G values increased monotonically with a decrease in M_n, but seems to be caused by the upper critical M_n values of PLLA and PDLA chains as in the case of PLLA/PDLA blends (in other papers), above which homo-crystallites are formed in addition to stereocomplex crystallites. The disturbed crystallization of PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers compared to that of the PLLA/PDLA blend is attributable to the segmental connection between the PLLA and PDLA chains, which interrupted the free movement of those chains of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers during crystallization. The crystallite growth mechanism of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers was different from that of the PLLA/PDLA blend.     

Liquid chromatography at critical conditions of polyethylene

Olefin copolymers are of increasing scientific interest due to their important application potential. Liquid chromatography can deliver important information, especially on their molecular structure. In particular, liquid chromatography at critical conditions (LCCC) is of interest because, in this chromatographic mode, the elution is molar mass independent for a given repeat unit. LCCC is conducted at conditions where the entropic effect of size exclusion is equal to the enthalpic effect of interaction between the macromolecules and the stationary phase and can be used to separate copolymers as well as some homopolymers containing one single repeat unit but having different end groups. For the first time, critical conditions for linear PE were experimentally identified by using porous graphite (Hypercarb™) as the stationary phase, and either 1-decanol/ortho-dichlorobenzene (ODCB), 1-decanol/1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB), n-decane/ODCB, or n-decane/TCB as the mobile phase at 160 °C. The identified critical conditions for PE using the above approach in the above solvents have been verified to be correct, barring slight deviations, by two different techniques which were previously used to determine critical conditions for polymers soluble at ambient temperature. The critical conditions for polyethylene were applied to separate statistical copolymers of ethylene/1-octene with similar molar mass.     

Plasticization of semicrystalline poly(l-lactide) with poly(propylene glycol)

Plasticization of semicrystalline poly(l-lactide) (PLA) with a new plasticizer - poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) is described. PLA was plasticized with PPG with nominal M_w of 425 g/mol (PPG4) and 1000 g/mol (PPG1) and crystallized. The plasticization decreased T_g, which was reflected in a lower yield stress and improved elongation at break. The crystallization in the blends was accompanied by a phase separation facilitated by an increase of plasticizer concentration in the amorphous phase and by annealing of blends at crystallization temperature. The ultimate properties of the blends with high plasticizer contents correlated with the acceleration of spherulite growth rate that reflected accumulation of plasticizer in front of growing spherulites causing weakness of interspherulitic boundaries. In PLA/PPG1 blends the phase separation was the most intense leading to the formation of PPG1 droplets, which facilitated plastic deformation of the blends that enabled to achieve the elongation at break of about 90-100% for 10 and 12.5 wt% PPG1 content in spite of relatively high T_g of PLA rich phase of the respective blends, 46.1-47.6 °C. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), long known as a plasticizer for PLA, with nominal M_w of 600 g/mol, was also used to plasticize PLA for comparison.     

Formation of poly(l,d-lactide) spheres with controlled size by direct dialysis

In this work, we show that simple dialysis of a poly(dl-lactic acid) (PLA) solution against water resulted in the spontaneous formation of PLA spheres. We observed initial formation of particles with irregular shape and large size, which then were disrupted into uniform and smooth nanospheres. Further, the formation process of PLA spheres was also investigated by dynamic light scattering technique (DLS) in situ. Based on these experimental results, it was proposed that the PLA spheres were formed in three steps: (1) aggregation - individual PLA chains got aggregated with each other in solution; (2) formation and disruption of PLA particles; (3) solidification of PLA spheres. In addition, the size of the spheres could be well controlled by the preparation conditions such as the speed of dialysis, initial solvent, initial water content and polymer concentration. The ease with which these spheres could be fabricated and the ability to control the size of spheres should facilitate investigations of their scope for drug delivery.     

Amorphous cell studies of polyglycolic, poly(l-lactic), poly(l,d-lactic) and poly(glycolic/l-lactic) acids

In this paper static amorphous state properties (solubility parameter, free volume (using the Voorintholt method and the Voronoi tessellations) and pair correlation functions, the last ones also by including water molecules in the cells), which can be related to the probability for water uptake, have been studied for polyglycolic (PGA), poly(l-lactic) (PLLA), poly(l,d-lactic) (PLLA/PDLA) and poly(glycolic/l-lactic) (PGA/PLLA) acids, known to be biodegradable polymers. The polymer consistent force field, as modified by the authors, has been used in the calculations. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate, which of the amorphous state properties would be relevant for water uptake. We also discuss the validity of th6e methods used for these kinds of studies, and the related reliability of the computed results. Chain flexibilities of the studied polyesters in the amorphous phase have been analyzed, and the intermolecular interactions are found to cause the most significant variations in the distributions of the adjacent chain dihedral angle pairs and in the related populations of the low-energy regions of the comonomers. The solubility parameters, as calculated from the cohesion energy densities of the constructed models, suggest PGA being most compatible with water, in agreement with experiments. On the other hand, the quantitative structure-property relationships method ‘Synthia’ suggests a very similar solubility in water for all particular polyesters. In the PLAs and PGA/PLLA, however, a larger number of hydrogen bonds is formed between the water molecules and the carbonyl oxygen atoms of the chains showing a better possibility of PLLA and its copolymers to break into shorter chains. As an explanation, the hydrophobic methyl groups of the lactide units are suggested to push the water molecules closer to the carbonyl groups than in homo-PGA.     

Melt intercalation of poly(l-lactide) chains into clay galleries

The melt intercalation of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) chains into silicate galleries has been investigated via a melting process without any shearing force at elevated temperature. Under the melting process, the incorporation of various types of organo-modified montmorillonites into PLLA matrix lead to the increase in the basal spacing of clay particles in different manner without delamination into individual layers. The changes in layer-stacked structures of the clay particles in the PLLA matrix were examined by use of wide-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of clay content in PLLA matrix and clay surfactants on the melt intercalation of PLLA were discussed in terms of chain mobility.     

Crystallization, structure and properties of plasticized poly(l-lactide)

Poly(l-lactide) (PLA) was plasticized with poly(ethylene glycol)s having M_w of 400 and 600 g/mol. In addition to poly(ethyne glycol)s with hydroxyl end groups, monomethyl ethers of poly(ethylene glycol) having M_w of 550 and 750 g/mol, with chains terminated with hydroxyl groups and methyl groups, were used. The effect of different end groups on the plasticization of both amorphous and semicrystalline PLA was studied. The crystallization, structure, thermal and tensile properties of PLA and PLA with 5 and 10 wt% of plasticizers were explored. No marked effect induced by different end groups of plasticizers was found. All the plasticizers used decreased T_g and increased the ability of PLA to cold crystallization. While an amorphous plasticized PLA could be deformed to about 550%, a semicrystalline PLA with the same total plasticizer content exhibited nonuniform plasticization of the amorphous phase and less ability to the plastic deformation. Nevertheless, a 20% elongation at break was achieved for a semicrystalline PLA with 10 wt% of the plasticizer. The plastic deformation of both neat and plasticized PLA was associated with crazing.     

Temperature dependent variations in the lamellar structure of poly(l-lactide)

Time- and temperature-dependent SAXS and WAXS experiments on poly(l-lactide) were used (i) to establish the relationships between the crystallization temperature, the crystal thickness and the melting point, (ii) to follow recrystallization processes during heating, and (iii) to detect perturbations of the crystalline order. The studies showed several peculiarities: (i) although no solid state thickening occurs during a crystallization, crystal thicknesses are with values between 11 and 20 nm very large (ii) crystal thicknesses and long spacings have a minimum at 120 °C and increase for both higher and lower crystallization temperatures. The anomalous behavior at low crystallization temperatures is to be related with a disordering of the crystal lattice (iii) there exists an extended temperature range where crystal thicknesses change in controlled manner by recrystallization processes (iv) as it appears, a triple point where the fluid, the crystalline and a mesomorphic phase coexist is located near to normal pressure and a temperature of 190 °C.     

Evidence of sequential ordering during cold crystallization of poly (l-lactide)

The structural development during cold crystallization of poly (l-lactide) has been explored by time-dependent Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and depolarized light scattering, respectively. It is indicated that the conformation-sensitive 956 cm⁻¹ band changes first during induction period, followed by formation of 10₃ helix sequence (921 cm⁻¹ band) in the disordered crystals; after that, the inner structure of new-formed disordered crystals is further perfected, giving rise to frequency shift of 871 cm⁻¹ band to higher wavenumber. Moreover, the formation and subsequent perfection of disordered crystals are also evidenced by the sharp transition of integrated scattering intensity revealed by depolarized light scattering measurements. It is strongly suggested that the cold crystallization of poly (l-lactide) follows a sequential ordering or multi-step process at atomic scale. Furthermore, such a sequential ordering is independent of crystallization temperature and the thermal history (melt cooling rate) of samples prior to cold crystallization. Increasing crystallization temperature or decreasing melt cooling rate just shortens the onset time related to above-referred each step.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly (l-lactide)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) triblock copolymer

A biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) (PEG-b-PLLA-b-PLGA) was obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamic acid) (PEG-b-PLLA-b-PBLGA) synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N-carboxyanhydride of γ-benzyl-l-glutamate (BLG-NCA) with amino-terminated MPEG-b-PLLA-NH₂ as a macroinitiator. MPEG-b-PLLA-NH₂ converted from MPEG-b-PLLA-OH first reacted with tert-Butoxycarbonyl-l-phenylalanine (Phe-^NBOC) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and then deprotected the tert-butoxycarbonyl group. MPEG-b-PLLA-OH was prepared by ROP of l-lactide with monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of stannous octoate. The triblock copolymer and its diblock precursors were characterized by ¹H NMR, FTIR, GPC and DSA (drop shape analysis) measurements. The lengths of each block polymers could be tailored by molecular design and the ratios of feeding monomers. The triblock polymer PEG-b-PLLA-b-PLGA containing carboxyl groups showed obviously improved hydrophilic properties and could be a good potential candidate as a drug delivery carrier.     

Crystallization of poly(l-lactide-dimethyl siloxane-l-lactide) triblock copolymers and its effect on morphology of microphase separation

This investigation characterizes the molten morphologies following isothermal crystallization of poly(l-lactide-block-dimethyl siloxane-block-l-lactide) triblock copolymers, which were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide using hydroxyl-telechelic PDMS as macroinitiators, via small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The break-out and preservation of the nanostructure of the triblock copolymer depended on the segregation strength, which was manipulated by varying the degree of polymerization. The crystallization kinetics of these semicrystalline copolymers and the effect of isothermal crystallization on their melting behaviors were also studied using DSC, FT-IR and WAXS. The exclusive presence of α-phase PLLA crystallite was verified by identifying the absence of the WAXS diffraction signal at 2θ = 24.5° and the presence of IR absorption at 1749 cm⁻¹ when the PLLA segment of the block copolymers was present as a minor component. The dependence of the crystallization rate (Rc) on the chemical composition of the triblock copolymers reveals that the Rc of the triblock copolymers was lower than that of PLLA homopolymer and the Rc were substantially reduced when the minor component of the crystallizable PLLA domains was dispersed in the PDMS matrix.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(l-glutamic acid)-block-poly(l-phenylalanine)

Poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate)-block-poly(l-phenylalanine) was prepared via the ring opening polymerization of γ-benzyl l-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride and l-phenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride using n-butylamine·HCl as an initiator for the living polymerization. Polymerization was confirmed by ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy. After deprotection, the vesicular nanostructure of poly(l-glutamic acid)-block-poly(l-phenylalanine) particles was examined by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The pH-dependent properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated by means of ζ-potential and transmittance measurements. The results showed that the block copolypeptide could be prepared using simple techniques. Moreover, the easily prepared PGA-PPA block copolypeptide showed pH-dependent properties due to changes in the PGA ionization state as a function of pH; this characteristic could potentially be exploited for drug delivery applications.     

Mechanical properties, morphologies, and crystallization behavior of plasticized poly(l-lactide)/poly(butylene succinate-co-l-lactate) blends

The blends of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) with poly(butylene succinate-co-l-lactate) (PBSL) containing the lactate unit of ca. 3 mol% and Rikemal PL710 (RKM) which is a plasticizer mainly composed of diglycerine tetraacetate were prepared by melt-mixing and subsequent injection molding. The studied RKM content of the PLLA/PBSL/RKM blends was 0-20 wt%, and the PLLA/PBSL weight ratio was 100/0 to 80/20. Although elongation at break in the tensile test did not increase by the addition of 10 wt% RKM to PLLA, the addition of a small amount of PBSL to the PLLA/RKM blend caused a considerable increase of the elongation. The SEM and DSC analyses revealed that all the PLLA/PBSL/RKM blends are immiscible blends where the PBSL particles are finely dispersed, and that there is some compatibility between PLLA-rich phase and PBSL-rich phase in the amorphous state when the RKM content is 20 wt%. As a result of investigation of the crystallization behavior by DSC and polarized optical microscopic measurements, it was revealed that the addition of RKM causes the acceleration of crystalline growth rate at a lower annealing temperature, and the addition of PBSL mainly enhances the formation of PLLA crystal nucleus.