More on the poly(L-lactide) prepared using ferrous acetate as catalyst

Polylactides were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) in bulk using as catalyst either stannous 2-ethylhexanoate at a monomer to catalyst ratio of 2000, or ferrous acetate (Fe(OAc)(2)) at monomer to catalyst ratios of 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000. The crystallization behaviour was studied for the prepared polymers as well as the degradation behaviour both in laboratory and natural compost environments by using differential scanning calorimetry, size exclusion chromatography, Xray diffractiometry and microscopy. No differences were apparent due to the choice or amount of catalyst used, except for those which could be related to the increased racemization when the Fe(OAc)(2) was used. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.