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Unique Transitions in Morphology and Characteristics of Porous Poly(Lactic Acid) Enantiomers
Author(s) -
Kanno Tomonari,
Uyama Hiroshi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201700547
Subject(s) - monolith , crystallinity , lactic acid , enantiomer , morphology (biology) , stoichiometry , chemical engineering , porosity , ternary operation , polymer chemistry , materials science , solvent , crystallization , chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , composite material , bacteria , biology , computer science , engineering , genetics , programming language
This study examines unique changes in the morphology and physical properties of monolithic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) enantiomers. It is revealed for the first time that PLA monoliths containing stereocomplex (sc) crystals are successfully produced using enantiomeric poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(D‐lactic acid) (PDLA) using a simple phase separation process with ternary solvent (1,4‐dioxane/2‐butanone/water). The basic structure of the monoliths is changed drastically from needle‐like to spherical morphology until reaching a PLLA/PDLA ratio to equivalence. The PLA monolith prepared from a stoichiometric amount of PLLA/PDLA has high sc crystallinity without any homochiral crystals, and it shows higher melting temperature (226 °C), surface area (131 m 2 g −1 ), and water contact angle (144.5°) compared with those of neat PLLA (180 °C, 86 m 2 g −1 , and 137.5°, respectively). Moreover, this sc‐PLA monolith exhibits excellent resistance to several good solvents of PLLA, whereas the pristine PLLA monolith is dissolved instantly in these solvents.