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Morphologies and structures in poly(l-lactide-b-ethylene oxide) copolymers determined by crystallization, microphase separation, and vitrification

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Abstract

Morphologies and structures determined by crystallization of the blocks, microphase separation of the copolymers, and vitrification of PLLA block in poly(l-lactide-b-ethylene oxide) (PLLA-b-PEO) copolymers were investigated using microscopic techniques and synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering. The PLLA-b-PEO copolymer films were crystallized from two different annealing processes: melt crystallization (process A) or crystallized from glass state of PLLA block after quenching from melt state (process B). The relationship between the crystalline morphology and microstructure of the copolymers were explored using SAXS. The morphology and phase structure are predominated by crystallization of PLLA block, and greatly influenced by microphase separation of the copolymers. In process B, lozenge-shape and truncated lozenge-shaped PLLA crystals of nanometer scale can be observed. The crystalline morphology is markedly affected by the microstructure formed during the annealing process. Star-shaped morphologies stacked with PLLA single crystals were observed.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50773082, 20974077, 51073157) and subsidized by the Special Funds for National Basic Research Program of China (2010CB631102). We appreciate the assistance of Prof. Zhonghua Wu, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Beijing, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, People’s Republic of China

    Shaoyong Huang, Hongfei Li & Lijia An

  2. Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, People’s Republic of China

    Shaoyong Huang & Xuesi Chen

  3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, People’s Republic of China

    Shichun Jiang

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  1. Shaoyong Huang
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  2. Hongfei Li
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  3. Shichun Jiang
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  5. Lijia An
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Correspondence to Shichun Jiang or Lijia An.

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Huang, S., Li, H., Jiang, S. et al. Morphologies and structures in poly(l-lactide-b-ethylene oxide) copolymers determined by crystallization, microphase separation, and vitrification. Polym. Bull. 67, 885–902 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-011-0518-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-011-0518-8

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