Stereocomplex Formation in the Poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) Melt Blends and the Melt Spun Fibers

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Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) with high molecular weights were melt mixed in a special procedure into a blend which produced the stereocomplex without indicating any trace of the occurrence of the homo-crystal. The granular blend with high stereocomplex content was obtained by mixing PLLA and PDLA at a temperature between Tms of the homo-crystal and the stereocomplex. This blend produced the stereocomplex consistently even in the repeated melting-solidifying processes. The formation of the block-copolymer of L- and Dlactic acids suspected to occur during the blending at high temperature may act as either the nucleating agent of the stereocomplex crystal or the compatibilizing agent for PLLA and PDLA. The blend obtained was melt-spun into amorphous fibers. Some of the drawn fibers showed very broad WAXD reflections from the alpha-form crystal, which immediately transformed to the stereocomplex in the annealing process at elevated temperatures without relaxing the molecular orientation. The annealing under tension seemed to extend the tie molecules between lamella of the stereocomplex and the change in the structure significantly reflected the mechanical property.