Accelerated Stereocomplex Crystallization of Poly(L‐lactide)/Poly(D‐lactide) Blends by Long Terminal Linear Alkyl Groups

Abstract

The accelerating effect of terminal n‐alkyl groups (TAGs) on the non‐isothermal crystallization of poly(L‐lactide)/poly(D‐lactide) blends increased with TAG length in the low temperature range below 100 °C and that on isothermal stereocomplex crystallization of poly(L‐lactide)/poly(D‐lactide) blends became maximal at terminal n‐hexyl group in the high temperature range above 165 °C. However, the decelerating effect on isothermal stereocomplex crystallization was observed for terminal n‐docosyl group in the high temperature range above 165 °C. The TAG length did not alter the crystallite growth morphology during non‐isothermal crystallization, the formed crystalline species (only stereocomplex crystallites) and the crystallite growth mechanism during isothermal crystallization.