Preparation, crystallization and hydrolytic degradation of biodegradable poly(L-lactide)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes nanocomposite

Biodegradable poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) nanocomposite was prepared via solution casting method for the first time in this work. Scanning electron microscopy observation indicates that POSS were homogeneously dispersed in the PLLA matrix. Effect of POSS on the crystal structure, crystallization kinetics, dynamical properties, and hydrolytic degradation of PLLA in the nanocomposite was investigated in detail. It is found that the presence of POSS has enhanced significantly the crystallization rate, improved mechanical properties and accelerated the hydrolytic degradation of PLLA in the nanocomposite with respect to neat PLLA. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.