pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S06 - Biopolymers and Polymer from Renewable Resources
Poster Presentation
 
 

Fabrication high-performance and optically transparent polylactide stereocomplex by low-temperature powder sintering

Bai Dongyu (1), Bai Hongwei (1)*, Fu Qiang (1)

(1) Sichuan University - Sichuan - China

Stereocomplexation provides an interesting way to greatly enhance performance of eco-friendly polylactide (PLA). Numerous studies have been carried out on stereocomplex formation and characterizations, but it is still a huge challenge to create high-performance stereocomplexed polylactide (sc-PLA) products from melt-processed high-molecular-weight poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(D-lactide) (PDLA) blends due to the poor melt memory effect of stereocomplex (sc) crystallites to restore exclusive sc crystallization after complete melting, which leads to the formation of a product with mixed homochiral (hc) and sc crystallites, and the substantial thermal degradation of PLA chains. Hence, we demonstrate a simple but robust strategy to address these obstacles by sintering of sc-PLA powder at temperatures as low as 180-210 °C for the first time. The results confirm that interdiffusion of enantiomeric PLA chain segments across interfaces of adjacent powder particles enable them to interact and co-crystallize into sc crystallites capable of tightly welding the interfaces during the sintering process, and thus sc-PLA products with 100% sc crystallites, excellent heat resistance and good transparency have been successfully fabricated. This work opens a new avenue for the design and industrial-scale fabrication of high-performance, optically transparent sc-PLA-based products via powder metallurgy inspired low-temperature sintering using conventional polymer sintering equipment. Keywords: polylactide; stereocomplex; powder; low-temperature; sintering