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Modeling of poly( L ‐lactide) thermal degradation: Theoretical prediction of molecular weight and polydispersity index
Author(s) -
Yu Hengxing,
Huang Nanxun,
Wang Chaosheng,
Tang Zhilian
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.12093
Subject(s) - dispersity , degradation (telecommunications) , polymer , materials science , molar mass distribution , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , thermal , thermodynamics , composite material , physics , telecommunications , computer science , engineering
Abstract A mathematical model to describe the molecular weight and polydispersity index ( Q ) in poly( L ‐lactide) (PLLA) thermal degradation has been developed. Based on the random chain scission mechanism, effects of temperature and time on the molecular weight and polydispersity index are included in this model. It incorporates the degradation and recombination reaction of PLLA thermal degradation, while taking into account the equal probability assumption. The developments of molecular weight and polydispersity index of PLLA polymer in the thermal degradation process were investigated at temperature ranging from 180–220°C, the experimental data show PLLA reaches its thermal degradation equilibrium in 2 h. The simulated results of this model are compared with the measured molecular weight and polydispersity index of the PLLA polymer. The changes of the molecular weight and polydispersity index in the PLLA thermal degradation can be predicted by this model. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2557–2562, 2003