• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2004

The kinetic parameters, including the activation energy E, the reaction order n, and the pre-exponential factor Z, of the degradation of the copolymers based on the poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) or poly(p-dioxanone-co-L-lactide) (PDO/PLLA) and diol-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments have been evaluated by the single heating methods of Friedman and Freeman-Carroll. The experimental results showed that copolymers exhibited two degradation steps under nitrogen that can be ascribed to PLLA or PDO/PLLA and PEG segments, respectively. However, copolymers exhibited almost single degradation step in air. Although the values of initial decomposition temperature were scattered, copolymers showed the lower maximum weight loss rate and degradation-activation energy in air than in nitrogen whereas the higher value of temperature at the maximum rate of weight loss was observed in air.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.36 no.5 s.108
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• pp.53-61
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• 2004

[ $Poly(_{D}-ldactide)\;(_{D}-PLA)$ ] was synthesized to have low molecular weight for miscible blends with a high molecular $poly(_{L}-lactide)\;(_{L} -PLA)$. The blends were prepared by dissolving the two components of $_{L}-PLA\;and\;_{D}-PLA\;(w/w)$ in chloroform (l00/0, 90/10, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70, 0/100). The miscibility of these miscible blends was characterized by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the selective degradability by enzymes (proteinase K, subtilisin and $\alpha$-chymotrypsin). The coating efficiency of PLA blends onto paper was determined and the degrading activity cellulases by on these blends. The miscibility, coating efficiency and enzymatic degradability of these blends were decreased according to increasing of $_{D}-PLA$ blending part. Such results were attributed to the extent of coating application of PLA, with better miscibility (compatibility), coating efficiency and degradability due to a higher $_{L}-PLA$ content.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.511-513
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• 2003

Hydroxyl groups were introduced onto the surface of a silicon wafer by O$_2$ plasma treatment. Poly(l-lactide) (1-PLA) was attached onto the surface-modified silicon wafer by the ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide using the hydroxyl group as an initiator. Lamellar single crystals of 1-PLA were grown directly on the 1-PLA-attached silicon wafer from a 0.025% solution in acetonitrile at 5$^{\circ}C$. A well-separated, lozenge-shaped, monolayered lamellar single crystal was prepared because the 1-PLA-attached silicon wafer acts as an initial nucleus.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.797-802
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• 2009

To control degradation rate of biodegradable poly(lactide)s (PLA), the stereochemical PLAs with different ratios of d-lactide and l-lactide units were synthesized by the ring open polymerization and the their degradation kinetics were measured by a Langmuir film balance. The alkaline (pH=11) degradation of poly(l-lactide) (l-PLA) monolayer showed the faster rate at a surface pressure of 4 mN/m in the ranges from to 0 to 7 mN/m. However, the enzymatic degradation of l-PLA with Proteinase K did not occur until 4 mN/m. Above a constant surface pressure of 4 mN/m, the degradation rate was increased with a constant surface pressure. These behaviors might be attributed to the difference in the contacted area with degradation medium: alkaline ions need small contact area with l-PLA while enzymes require much bigger one to be activated due to different medium sizes. The stereochmical PLA monolayers showed that the alkaline degradation was increased with their optical impurities while the enzymatic one was inversed. These results could be explained by the decrease of crystallinity with the optical impurity and the inactivity of enzyme to d-LA unit.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2014

In this work, glycolide, L-lactide and ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone monomers were polymerized into the triblock copolymers by two step polymerization method and their non-isothermal crystallization behaviors were studied by combination of modified Avrami and Ozawa formula for further analysis of their behaviors. The result showed that PGCLA21 gave the highest value for supercooling analysis and super cooling degree increased with L-lactide content. Crystallization velocity constant, however, showed no significant change. The result of cooling function in specific relative crystallization degree showed that the increase of L-lactide content made an effect on the more enhancement of crystallization velocity of the PGCLA than PGCL. The result of big logF(T) value with the L-lactide content above critical point for PGCLA41 and PGCLA21 showed that bigger cooling velocity needed to gain same crystal size compared with PGCL. This means that it gives negative effect in the increase of crystallization velocity.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.510-516
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• 2006

Lactide was produced from oligomeric PLA by back-biting reaction of the OH end groups. For optimization of the reaction conditions, the effects of temperature, pressure, PLA molecular weight, and catalyst type on the lactide synthesis were examined. The fraction of D,L-lactide decreased with increasing temperature. Among the various Sn-based catalysts, the D,L-lactide fraction was maximized when SnO was used. A higher yield with lower racemization was observed at lower pressure. The conversion of PLA was maximized at an oligomeric PLA molecular weight of ca. 1380. The yield of lactide increased but the fraction of D,L-lactide decreased with increasing molecular weight. The highest conversion with the lowest racemization degree was obtained at a catalyst concentration of 0.1 wt%. The lactide was more sensitive to racemization because of the entropic effect.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2006

The hydrolytic kinetics of biodegradable poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) have been studied by using two model systems, solution-grown single crystal (SC) and Langmuir monolayer techniques, for elucidating the mechanism for both alkaline and enzymatic degradations. The present study investigated the parameters such as degradation medium and time. The Langmuir mono layers of PLLA showed faster rates of hydrolysis when they were exposed to a basic subphase rather than they did when exposed to neutral subphase. Both degradation mediums had moderate concentrations to show a maximized activity, depending on their sizes. An alkaline degradation of SCs of PLLA showed the decrease of molecular weight of the remained crystals due to the erosion of chain-folding surface. However, the enzymatic degradation of SCs of PLLA occurred in the crystal edges thus the molecular weight of remained crystals was not changed. This behavior might be attributed to the size of enzymes which is much larger than that of alkaline ions; that is, the enzymes need larger contact area with monolayers to be activated.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.28-33
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• 2023

The conventional FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) manufacturing process used thermoset resins for ease of molding but faced the issue of non-recyclability. To address these shortcomings, a new process utilizing thermal plastic resin was developed. However, due to the high viscosity of thermal plastic resin, problems such as fiber deformation and a reduced fiber volume fraction occurred during the high-temperature, high-pressure process. In this study, to overcome the limitations of the conventional process, fiber-reinforced composite materials were manufactured through in-situ polymerization using PLA (Poly L-Lactide) resin in the VA-RTM (Vacuum Assistance Resin Transfer Molding) process. The fiber volume of the produced specimens was calculated, and resin impregnation and porosity were confirmed through optical microscopy. Additionally, molecular weight analysis using GPC (Gel Permission Chromatography) demonstrated improvements over the conventional process and emphasized the essential requirement of temperature control.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2003

Interfacial properties and microfailure degradation mechanisms of the oxygen-plasma treated biodegradable poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO) fiber/poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)composites were investigated for the orthopedic applications as implant materials using micromechanical technique and surface wettability measurement. PPDO fiber reinforced PLLA composite can provide good mechanical performance for long hydrolysis time. The degree of degradation for PPDO fiber and PLLA matrix was measured by thermal analysis and optical observation. IFSS and work of adhesion, $W_a$ between PPDO fiber and PLLA matrix showed the maximum at the plasma treatment time, at 60 seconds. Work of adhesion was lineally proportional to the IFSS. PPDO fiber showed ductile microfailure modes at We initial state, whereas brittle microfailure modes appeared with elapsing hydrolysis time. Interfacial properties and microfailure degradation mechanisms can be important factors to control bioabsorbable composites performance because IFSS changes with hydrolytic degradation.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2004

Blends of poly(l-lactide) (PLA) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared by melt mixing in order to improve the brittleness of PLA. A reactive compatibilizer with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), PE-GMA, was required as a compatibilizer due to the immiscibility between PLA and LDPE. It contributes to reduce the domain size of dispersed phase and enhance the tensile properties of PLA/LDPE blends, especially for PLA matrix blends. A reaction product between PLA and PE-GMA, which was formed during melt-mixing and considered to act as a reactive compatibilizer, was characterized using $ ^1H-NMR$ spectroscopy.