Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The molecular weight dependence of the crystallization behavior of four-arm poly(L-lactide)

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Colloid and Polymer Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The molecular weight dependence of the crystallization behavior of four-arm poly(L-lactide) (4A-PLLA) was investigated thoroughly by testing the synthesized 4A-PLLA on a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The four-arm structure and high molecular weight of resulted 4A-PLLA was first confirmed by 1H-NMR with the evidence from GPC curves. A powerful ability of 4A-PLLA to crystallize in a non-isothermal process was proven. By iso-thermal study, 4A-PLLA displayed a similar approach with the nucleation theory during crystallization when M n of 4A-PLLA exceeding 5 × 104 g/mol. Half crystallization time (t 1/2) and melting temperature of 4A-PLLA showed unusual dependence on the molecular weight, which was attributed to different equilibrium state of molecule chains induced by the different arm length for various samples by excluding the possibility of crystallization regime difference.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Lim LT, Auras R, Rubino M (2008) Processing technologies for poly(lactic acid. Prog Polym Sci 33(8):820–852

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Davachi SM, Kaffashi B (2015) Poly lactic acid in medicine. Polymer-plastics technology and. Engineering 54(9):944–967

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Wang LY, Jing XB, Cheng HB, XL H, Yang LX, Huang YB (2012) Rheology and crystallization of long-chain branched poly(L-lactide)s with controlled branch length. Ind Eng Chem Res 51(33):10731–10741

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang LY, Jing XB, Cheng HB, XL H, Yang LX, Huang YB (2012) Blends of linear and long-chain branched poly(L-lactide)s with high melt strength and fast crystallization rate. Ind Eng Chem Res 51(30):10088–10099

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. You JX, Lou LJ, Yu W, Zhou CX (2013) The preparation and crystallization of long chain branching polylactide made by melt radicals reaction. J Appl Polym SciJournal of Applied Polymer Science 129(4):1959–1970

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kricheldorf HR (2001) Syntheses and application of polylactides. Chemosphere 43(1):49–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kim SH, Han Y-K, Kim YH, Hong SI (1992) Multifunctional initiation of lactide polymerization by stannous octoate/pentaerythritol. Die. Makromol Chem 193(7):1623–1631

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee SH, Kim SH, Han YK, Kim YH (2001) Synthesis and degradation of end-group-functionalized polylactide. J Polym Sci Pol Chem 39(7):973–985

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kim ES, Kim BC, Kim SH (2004) Structural effect of linear and star-shaped poly(L-lactic acid) on physical properties. Journal of Polymer Science Part B—Polymer Physics 42 (6):939–946.

  10. Sakamoto Y, Tsuji H (2013) Crystallization behavior and physical properties of linear 2-arm and branched 4-arm poly(L-lactide)s: effects of branching. Polymer 54(9):2422–2434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tsuji H, Sugiura Y, Sakamoto Y, Bouapao L, Itsuno S (2008) Crystallization behavior of linear 1-arm and 2-arm poly(L-lactide)s: effects of coinitiators. Polymer 49(5):1385–1397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hao QH, Li FX, Li QB, Li Y, Jia L, Yang J, Fang Q, Cao AM (2005) Preparation and crystallization kinetics of new structurally well-defined star-shaped biodegradable poly(L-lactide)s initiated with diverse natural sugar alcohols. Biomacromolecules 6(4):2236–2247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhang CX, Wang B, Chen Y, Cheng F, Jiang SC (2012) Amphiphilic multiarm star polylactide with hyperbranched polyethylenimine as core: a systematic reinvestigation. Polymer 53(18):3900–3909

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Tsuji H, Miyase T, Tezuka Y, Saha SK (2005) Physical properties, crystallization, and spherulite growth of linear and 3-arm poly(L-lactide)s. Biomacromolecules 6(1):244–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Fan Y, Nishida H, Shirai Y, Endo T (2004) Thermal stability of poly (l-lactide): influence of end protection by acetyl group. Polym Degrad Stabil 84(1):143–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ren J, Zhang ZH, Feng Y, Li JB, Yuan WZ (2010) Synthesis of star-shaped poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(L-lactide) copolymers: from star architectures to crystalline morphologies. J Appl Polym Sci 118(5):2650–2658

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. George KA, Schue F, Chirila TV, Wentrup-Byrne E (2009) Synthesis of four-arm star poly(L-lactide) oligomers using an in situ-generated calcium-based initiator. J Polym Sci Pol Chem 47(18):4736–4748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Dong CM, Qiu KY, ZW G, Feng XD (2002) Synthesis of star-shaped poly(D,L-lactic acid-alt-glycolic acid)-b-poly(L-lactic acid) with the poly(D,L-lactic acid-alt-glycolic acid) macroinitiator and stannous octoate catalyst. J Polym Sci Pol Chem 40(3):409–415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. You J, Yu W, Zhou C (2013) Accelerated crystallization of poly(lactic acid): synergistic effect of poly(ethylene glycol), dibenzylidene sorbitol, and long-chain branching. Ind Eng Chem Res 53(3):1097–1107

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, China

    Shu-Yang Zhang, Zhe-Feng Chen, Feng Wu, Wei Yang, Zheng-Ying Liu & Ming-Bo Yang

Authors
  1. Shu-Yang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhe-Feng Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Feng Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wei Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zheng-Ying Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ming-Bo Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zheng-Ying Liu.

Ethics declarations

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51033003,51421061).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, SY., Chen, ZF., Wu, F. et al. The molecular weight dependence of the crystallization behavior of four-arm poly(L-lactide). Colloid Polym Sci 294, 1865–1870 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-016-3936-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-016-3936-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation