Poly(lactic acid)(PLA) is a well-known bio-based polymer that has low heat resistance and low crystallinity. Stereoblock poly(lactic acid) (sb-PLA), which is composed of poly(L-lactic acid)(PLLA) and poly(D-lactic acid)(PDLA) in a block sequence, is expected to be an effective material to improve these properties via complex formation between the L-lactyl and D-lactyl segments. In this work, it was attempted to produce sb-PLA with high molecular weight and high degree of complex formation by polycondensation using a combination of enantiometric PLA oligomers with different oligomer lengths and through the use of different catalysts. It was demonstrated that sb-PLA with high molecular weight and high sc crystallinity can be prepared by solid state polycondensation of enantiometric oligomers synthesized with a methanesulfonic acid catalyst and that the molecular weight of the oligomers significantly affect the final molecular weight and sc crystallinity of sb-PLA.

Generation of stereoblock poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by solid state polycondensation

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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