Structural study of poly(L-lactic acid) spherulites

Biomacromolecules. 2004 Mar-Apr;5(2):553-8. doi: 10.1021/bm0343951.

Abstract

Spherulites of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and of its blends with atactic poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (a-PHB, from 10 to 75 wt %) were investigated by microfocus X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. Radial scans in 5 microm steps with 3 microm beam diameter were performed. In PLLA, tens of identical diffraction images were collected. The unit cell a-axis was radially oriented, and the other axes lacked any specific orientation. In contrast, all PLLA/a-PHB blends showed a periodic change of diffraction pattern with increasing distance from the spherulite center. In all cases, the a-axis lay along the radius, while the b- and c-axes rotated about a with a defined periodicity. The unit cell twisting frequency increased with a-PHB content and closely matched the band spacing observed by polarized optical microscopy, which changed from 250 to 60 microm when the amount of a-PHB increased from 10 to 75 wt %. Concomitantly, a gradual broadening of all X-ray reflections was observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Carriers
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry*
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Synchrotrons

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • Lactic Acid
  • poly(lactide)