Exclusive Stereocomplex Crystallization of Linear and Multiarm Star-Shaped High-Molecular-Weight Stereo Diblock Poly(lactic acid)s

Linear, 3-arm, and 6-arm star-shaped stereo diblock copolymers of l- and d-lactic acid (PLLA-b-PDLA) with high molecular weights (MWs) were synthesized via two-step ring-opening polymerization (ROP) with 1-dodechanol, glycerol, and d-sorbitol as the initiators, respectively. The chemical structure, nonisothermal and isothermal crystallization kinetics, crystalline structure, lamellar morphology, and mechanical thermal properties of PLLA-b-PDLAs with different macromolecular topologies were investigated. Compared to the high-molecular-weight (MW) poly(l-lactic acid)/poly(d-lactic acid) (PLLA/PDLA) racemic blends, PLLA-b-PDLAs exhibit faster crystallization upon cooling and isothermal melt crystallization; they crystallize exclusively in stereocomplex (sc) crystallites under all of the conditions investigated. This is attributable to the enhanced interactions between enantiomeric blocks linked covalently. Macromolecular topology influences the crystallization kinetics and crystalline structure of PLLA-b-PDLAs significantly. The crystallization temperature upon cooling, melting temperature, degree of crystallinity, spherulitic growth rate, crystallite size, long period, and crystalline layer thickness of PLLA-b-PDLA decrease with increasing branching number because of the retarding effect of branching on the crystallization rate and crystallizability. Because of the formation of high-melting-point sc crystallites, both the linear and star-shaped PLLA-b-PDLAs exhibit better thermal resistance and higher storage moduli at high temperature than does homocrystalline PLLA.