Triblock copolymers containing xylan butyrate and poly(L-lactide) were prepared by ring-opening polymerization of L-(lactide) using di-hydroxyl-terminated xylan butyrate as initiator. Di-hydroxyl-terminated xylan butyrate, which has two hydroxyl groups at C1 position of the reducing-end and C4 position of the non-reducing-end, was prepared by acid hydrolysis of xylan butyrate which was prepared by homogeneous esterification of xylan extracted from eucalyptus kraft pulp. Chemical structures and properties of the copolymers were analyzed by NMR, GPC, DSC measurements and tensile tests. Blend films of the copolymers and poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (P(3HB)), which is one of the biodegradable polyesters produced by bacteria, were prepared by solvent casting. Non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization behaviors of the blend films were analyzed by DSC measurements and polarizing optical microscopy observation. The present study suggested the possibility of the xylan-PLLA block copolymers as nucleating agent for the crystallization of biodegradable polyesters.

Synthesis of poly(L-lactide)-b-xylan butyrate-b-poly(L-lactide) triblock copolymers and their effect on crystallization behavior of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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