Polymer, Vol.39, No.20, 4841-4847, 1998
Miscibility and crystallization behaviour of poly(L-lactide)/poly(p-vinylphenol) blends
The miscibility of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(p-vinylphenol) (PVPh) blends has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.) and Fourier transform. infrared (FTi.r.) spectroscopy. PLLA/PVPh blends are partially miscible as characterized by shifts in the glass transition temperatures (T(g)s) of the two component polymers. The T-g of the PLLA-rich phase increases with increasing PVPh content, while that of the PVPh-rich phase decreases with increasing PLLA content. The apparent melting temperature of PLLA is significantly depressed with increasing PVPh content. Weak hydrogen-bonding interaction exists between the carbonyl groups of PLLA and the hydroxyl groups of PVPh as evidenced in the FTi.r. spectra. In the amorphous state, the hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl band of PVPh shifts to a higher frequency upon blending with PLLA, while the carbonyl stretching band of PLLA shifts to a lower frequency with the addition of PVPh. In addition, a new carbonyl stretching band attributed to the hydrogen-bonded carbonyl groups of PLLA is found at 1700 cm(-1). The crystallinity of PLLA in the blends displays a marked decrease with increasing PVPh content. When the PVPh content is above 40 wt%, crystallization of PLLA does not occur under isothermal conditions. Moreover, the cold crystallization process of the PLLA component is also affected significantly by the addition of PVPh.
Keywords:STEREOCOMPLEX FORMATION;POLY(LACTIC ACID);MOLECULAR-WEIGHT;POLY(L-LACTIC ACID);POLYESTER BLENDS;POLYMER BLENDS;COPOLYMERS;BIODEGRADABILITY;MORPHOLOGY;MELT