Effect of the melt-mixing condition on the physical property of poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) blends

The effect of the mixing condition in a mill-type mixer on the thermal property and the crystal formation of the poly(l-lactide)/poly(d-lactide) blends is investigated. The blends melt-mixed at 200 and 210 degrees C under application of a high shear flow tend to show a single melting peak of the stereocomplex crystal (SC) in the differential scanning calorimetry first and second heating processes without indicating the trace of the melting of homo-chiral crystal. The mixing at an elevated temperature causes a serious thermal degradation. Further kneading of the blends at an elevated temperature higher than T-m of SC causes the transesterification between the same enatiomeric chains forming block copolymers of l- and d-chains. This block copolymer acts as a nucleating agent of SC and the compatibilizing agent between poly(l-lactide) and poly(d-lactide) and promotes the formation of SC. (c) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.