Synthesis and characterization of a brush-like copolymer of polylactide grafted onto chitosan

Abstract

A brush-like poly( dl)-lactide grafted onto chitosan as the backbone was investigated. The graft copolymerization was carried out with triethylaluminum as catalyst in toluene at 70 °C. It was found that a greater lactide content in the feeding ratio results in a higher grafting percentage. FTIR spectrometry, 1H NMR, DSC scanning, and wide-angle X-ray scattering, respectively, are used to characterize these branch copolymers. A copolymer has a definite melting point when the molar feeding ratio of lactide to chitosan is more than 10:1, and the Δ H of the copolymers increases with the feed ratio of lactide to chitosan in feeding.