Effect of Nucleation of Tricalcium Phosphate and Isothermal Annealing on the Crystallization of Poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)

摘要

We investigated the effect of nucleation and isothermal annealing on the crystallization behavior of a random copolymer, poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLLGA), with monomer molar ratios of 85/15 (PLLGA85/15) by scanning electron microscopy, polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction, and examination of the tensile properties of the resultant product. The effect of heterogeneous nucleation was assessed by the addition of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as a nucleating agent. Nucleation and isothermal annealing of PLLGA at 130 ℃ were conducted to improve the degree of crystallinity of the copolymer. The fracture surfaces of the TCP/PLLGA85/15 composite bar showed a considerable number of spherulites with TCP as their nucleus. Addition of TCP and subsequent annealing improved the degree of crystallinity. After annealing, the TCP/PLLGA85/15 composite samples gained nearly the same strength that the pure PLLGA85/15 samples possessed. It is believed that this method will enhance the practical application of this nucleating agent in the processing of polymers.