Chain extension and branching of poly(L-lactic acid) produced by reaction with a DGEBA-based epoxy resin
Z. F. Zhou, G. Q. Huang, W. B. Xu, F. M. Ren
Vol. 1., No.11., Pages 734-739, 2007
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2007.101
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2007.101
Corresponding author: W. B. Xu 
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
Dicarboxylated poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) was synthesized by reacting succinic anhydride with L-lactic acid prepolymer prepared by melt polycondensation. PLLA and epoxy resin based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) copolymers were prepared by chain extension of dicarboxylated PLLA with DGEBA. Infrared spectra confirmed the formation of dicarboxylated PLLA and PLLA/DGEBA copolymer. Influences of reaction temperature, reaction time, and the amount of DGEBA on the molecular weight and gel content of PLLA/DGEBA copolymer were studied. The viscosity average molecular weight of PLLA/DGEBA copolymer reached 87 900 when reaction temperature, reaction time, and mol ratio of dicarboxylated PLLA to DGEBA is 150°C, 30 min, and 1:1 respectively, while gel content of PLLA/DGEBA copolymer is almost zero.
