Triblock copolymers based on 1,3-trimethylene carbonate and lactide as biodegradable thermoplastic elastomers

Zheng Zhang, Dirk W. Grijpma, Jan Feijen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

132 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Biodegradable triblock copolymers based on 1,3-trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and different lactides (i.e. D,L-lactide(DLLA), L-lactide (LLA), D-lactide (DLA)) designated as poly(DLLA-TMC-DLLA), poly(LLA-TMC-LLA) and poly(DLA-TMC-DLA) were prepared and their mechanical and thermal properties were compared with those of high molecular weight poly(TMC) and poly(TMC-co-DLLA) statistical copolymers. Triblock copolymers containing crystallizable LLA or DLA segments perform as thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) when the poly(lactide) blocks are long enough to crystallize. In blends of poly(LLA-TMC-LLA) and poly(DLA-TMC-DLA) triblock copolymers, stereo-complex formation between the enantiomeric poly(lactide) segments occurs as demonstrated by differential scanning calorimetry and light microscopy. These blends have good tensile properties and excellent resistance to creep under static and dynamic loading conditions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)867-875
JournalMacromolecular chemistry and physics
Volume205
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Keywords

  • Block copolymers
  • Creep resistance
  • Degradable thermoplastic elastomers
  • Phase separation
  • Stereo-complexation

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