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Cited by 85Polymer crystallization and propertiesbiodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesBone Tissue Engineering Materials

Relationship between the Stereocomplex Crystallization Behavior and Mechanical Properties of PLLA/PDLA Blends

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Park, Hye-Seon, Hong, Chang-Kook·2021·Polymers
DOI 10.3390/polym13111851PMC PMC8199684
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Abstract

Poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a promising biomedical polymer material with a wide range of applications. The diverse enantiomeric forms of PLLA provide great opportunities for thermal and mechanical enhancement through stereocomplex formation. The addition of poly (d-lactic acid) (PDLA) as a nucleation agent and the formation of stereocomplex crystallization (SC) have been proven to be an effective method to improve the crystallization and mechanical properties of the PLLA. In this study, PLLA was blended with different amounts of PDLA through a melt blending process and their properties were calculated. The effect of the PDLA on the crystallization behavior, thermal, and mechanical properties of PLLA were investigated systematically by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), polarized optical microscopy (POM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile test. Based on our findings, SC formed easily when PDLA content was increased, and acts as nucleation sites. Both SC and homo crystals (HC) were observed in the PLLA/PDLA blends. As the content of PDLA increased, the degree of crystallization increased, and the mechanical strength also increased.

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  • The results suggest a strong hierarchical crystallization, where PCL either crystallizes between PLA phases or HC crystallites are formed on top of the PLA/PCL phase.

    “This suggested a strong hierarchical crystallization, where PCL either crystallizes between PLA phases or HC crystallites are formed on top of the PLA/PCL phase.44,77,78”

    From Correlative characterization of stereocomplex formation in blends of aliphatic polyester P(PCL <sub> <i>m</i> </sub> - <i>b</i> -PLLA <sub> <i>n</i> </sub> ) multiblock-copolymers and PDLA (2026) · cites this paper as [44]

    The Morphological Observations section describes stereocomplex nucleation sites surrounded by a PLLA crystalline phase, and the Conclusions report HC and SC crystallization in PLLA/PDLA blends. The paper does not study PCL or describe PCL crystallizing between PLA phases or HC crystallites forming on a PLA/PCL phase (searched: PCL, polycaprolactone, hierarchical crystallization). (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • WAXS is a widely established technique for identifying crystallite phases and estimating crystallite sizes even in polymeric materials.

    “Nevertheless, WAXS is a widely established technique for identifying crystallite phases 44,45 and estimating crystallite sizes even in polymeric materials.[46][47][48]”

    From Correlative characterization of stereocomplex formation in blends of aliphatic polyester P(PCL <sub> <i>m</i> </sub> - <i>b</i> -PLLA <sub> <i>n</i> </sub> ) multiblock-copolymers and PDLA (2026) · cites this paper as [44]

    The citation is attached to the claim that WAXS estimates crystallite sizes in polymers. Section 3.2 uses XRD peaks to identify crystalline phases, but reports crystallite sizes in its discussion of polarized optical microscopy; Section 2.3 describes XRD measurements without a size-estimation method. Our copy therefore does not establish the size-estimation point attributed to this source. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Park, H.-S., & Hong, C.-K.
Affiliations
Chonnam National University (KR)
Corresponding author
Hong, Chang-Kook
ORCID
Hong, Chang-Kook
Venue
Polymers
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-06-02
Volume
13
Issue
11
Pages
1851
ISSN
2073-4360 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/polym13111851
PMC
PMC8199684
OpenAlex
W3170887681
Cited by
85
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 2
FWCI
3.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Polymers (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Jeollanam-do, Korea, under Regional Specialized Industry Development Program of Next-generation stent innovation processing advance technology support project (R&D, B0080621000341)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
Keywords
poly(L-lactic acid), poly(D-lactide), stereocomplex crystallization, PLLA/PDLA blends, nucleation, crystallization degree, mechanical properties, thermal properties, biodegradable polymers, tensile strength

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