Abstract
ABSTRACTWell‐defined multiarmed star random and block copolymers of ε‐caprolactone with l‐lactide with controlled molecular weights, low polydispersities, and precise numbers of arms were synthesized by the ring‐opening polymerization of respective cyclic ester monomers. The polymers were characterized by 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR to determine their chemical composition, molecular structure, degree of randomness, and proof of block copolymer formation. Gel permeation chromatography was used to establish the degree of branching. Star‐branched random copolymers exhibited lower glass‐transition temperatures (Tg's) compared to a linear random copolymer. When the star random copolymers were melt‐blended with poly(l‐lactic acid) (PLA), we observed that the elongation of the blend increased with the number of arms of the copolymer. Six‐armed block copolymers, which exhibited higher Tg's, caused the maximum improvement in elongation. In all cases, improvements in the elongation were achieved with no loss of stiffness in the PLA blends. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43267.
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