Compressive deformation behavior of porous PLLA/PCL polymer blend

Porous poly(L-lactide)/poly(e-caplolactone) (PLLA/PCL) was fabricated by using the solid-liquid phase separation method and the solvent sublimation process. Pelletized PLLA and PCL with a mixture ratio of 80:20 were dissolved in 1,4-dioxane to prepare PLLA/PCL solution of 7 wt%. The solution was then filled into a PP tube, and frozen from the bottom part at a constant rate in liquid nitrogen to induce solid-liquid phase separation. Cylindrical specimens of 8-mm diameter and 12-mm length were then fabricated. Compression tests of the porous specimens were conducted by using a conventional testing machine, and the compressive mechanical properties such as the critical stress and the modulus were evaluated. It is observed that these mechanical properties of PLLA/PCL stands between pure PLLA and PCL, indicating that the compressive properties of the biodegradable scaffolds can be controlled by using polymer blending.