| Abstract: | The thermal behavior of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) isothermal crystallization upon cooling from the melt was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and polarizing microscope (POM) by changing the crystallization temperature and time. It was indicated that 110°C should be a critical temperature for PLLA melting crystallization. The melting point of crystallized PLLA discontinuously changed with crystallization temperature, increased with temperature, but decreased at about 110°C, and thereafter again increased with higher crystallization temperatures. At 110°C a multiple endothermic peak was observed. PLLA crystals of higher perfection form when crystallized under higher temperature, which reflects the effects of high chain mobility in higher temperatures. During isothermal crystallization, PLLA crystallites become increasingly perfect, and thicken with prolonged time, leading to an increasing melting point. |
