Stereocomplexation of poly (l -lactide) and random copolymer poly (d -lactide- co -ε-caprolactone) to enhance melt stability

Purba Purnama, Youngmee Jung, Soo Hyun Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to demonstrate that small caprolactone content in the poly(D-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) PDLCL can enhanced the melt stability of stereocomplex polylactide (s-PLA). PDLCL copolymers with small content of CL were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D-lactide and CL in the presence of stannous octoate and 1-dodecanol. The structure of PDLCL was analyzed by 1H NMR which showed methane lactide signals at 5.14 ppm and methylene CL signals at 4.1 ppm. The melting point of PDLCL copolymers were between the melting points of PDLA and PCL due to the randomization of PDLA and PCL fragments together. The melt stability of s-PLA related to the reassemble of the enantiomeric polylactide chain. The degree of s-PLA starts to decrease at s-PLA5 and s-PLA10 which is shown by small homopolymer peak. The s-PLA copolymer has better melt stability compared to the linear s-PLA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4012-4014
Number of pages3
JournalMacromolecules
Volume45
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 May 8
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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