Elevation of the flow temperature of gels formed by nano fibers of Poly(L-lactic acid) by surface crystallization induced by block copolymers

Yasuhiro Matsuda, Takahiro Fukui, Shun ich Ishima, Atsushi Takahara, Shigeru Tasaka

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Block copolymers of poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and polystyrene with different lengths of PLLA blocks entered into the network structures of PLLA gels formed with complex crystals with solvent molecules. The induced changes of the structure and the flow temperature of the gels were investigated to elucidate the mechanism of the block copolymers to elevate the flow temperature. The block copolymer with shorter PLLA blocks elevated the flow temperature of the PLLA gels from 40 °C to 70 °C by immersing in the block copolymer solution with a lower concentration (0.5 wt%). For the block copolymers with longer PLLA blocks, higher concentrations (2.0 wt%) were necessary to elevate the flow temperature to 70 °C, and the flow temperature was elevated to 80 °C by immersing more concentrated solutions (3.0 wt%). This behavior can be explained by assuming that the surface crystallization of PLLA fibers induced by the block copolymers elevated the flow temperature to 70 °C, and the reinforcement of the fibers by spherical structure of the block copolymers elevated the flow temperature to 80 °C, was proposed based on the experimental results.

Original languageEnglish
Article number121768
Journalpolymer
Volume181
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 24 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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