Effect of P(lLA-co-?CL) on the compatibility and crystallization behavior of PCL/PLLA blends

Abstract

This article describes the compatibility of two semicrystalline polymers, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA). The compatibility of the PCL/PLLA blends was enhanced by the compatibilizing effect of the poly(l,l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) [P(lLA-co-εCL)]. A discussion details the effect of the concentration of the compatibilizing agent, the copolymer of l,l-lactide and ε-caprolactone of a 50/50 mol ratio [P(lLA-co-εCL)], on the compatibility and the crystallization behavior of the blends of PCL and PLLA. It was found that the addition of P(lLA-co-εCL) could suppress the crystallization of PLLA at its Tc and induced the concurrent crystallization of PLLA and PCL. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 226–231, 2000