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The sunken morphology of poly(lactic acid) stereocomplex spherulite
Author(s) -
Liu Yanping,
Zhang Mengnan,
Wei Hanghang,
Wang Zhen,
Zeng Jun,
Qian Li
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.5861
Subject(s) - spherulite (polymer physics) , materials science , morphology (biology) , microstructure , nanoindentation , composite material , crystallization , lactic acid , chemical engineering , polymer , genetics , bacteria , engineering , biology
The mechanical properties and microstructure of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stereocomplex spherulite at the micrometric scale were investigated using nanoindentation and synchrotron radiation scanning X‐ray microdiffraction, which exhibits a new growth habit with more and more compact lamellae. Using atomic force microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy, a unique sunken morphology was found. Unbalanced surface stress and volume shrinkage are proposed as the main factors for the sunken morphology, which is also contributed by a novel growth regime driven by the hydrogen bonding between two PLA enantiomers. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry