Morphology and melt crystallization of poly(L-lactide) obtained by ring opening polymerization of L-lactide with zinc catalyst

The morphology and melt crystallization of zinc catalyzed poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Isothermal melt crystallization performed at 95-135 degrees C showed that the morphology depends on the degree of supercooling, as illustrated by crystallite perfection and lamellar thickening behaviors. Double melting peak was observed on DSC thermograms and attributed to the melt-recrystallization mechanism, small and imperfect crystals becoming gradually more stable ones. Circumferential and hexagonal cracks were detected in PLLA spherulites, which were formed during melt-crystallization at 135 degrees C and quenching in liquid nitrogen. Rhythmic growth and thermal shrinkage are suggested to be the two main factors accounting for the formation of periodic cracks. Spherulite growth rates of PLLA were evaluated by using combined isothermal and nonisothermal procedures, and were analyzed by the secondary nucleation theory. The maximum growth rate reached 9.1 mu m/ min at 130 degrees C. The temperature range investigated (120-155 degrees C) belongs to the Regime II of crystallization. The value of U* was found to be 1890 cal/mol, instead of 1500 cal/mol commonly used in literature, and K. and or were estimated to be 3.03 x 10(5) K-2 and 1.537 x 10(-4) J/m(2), respectively. As a result, no distinct difference between PLLA catalyzed by zinc metal and those prepared with stannous octoate catalyst exists in this work.