Properties Enhancement of High Molecular Weight Polylactide Using Stereocomplex Polylactide as a Nucleating Agent

As one of the most attractive biopolymers nowadays in terms of their sustainability, degradability, and material tune-ability, the improvement of polylactide (PLA) homopolymer properties by studying the utilization of stereocomplex polylactide (s-PLA) effectively and efficiently is needed. In this sense, we have studied the utilization of s-PLA compared to poly D-lactide (PDLA) homopolymers as a nucleating agent for PLA homopolymers. The mechanical and thermal properties and crystallization behavior of PLA homopolymers in the presence of nucleating agents have been evaluated using a universal testing machine, differential scanning calorimeter, and X-ray diffractometer instruments, respectively. PDLA and s-PLA materials can be used to increase the thermal and mechanical properties of poly L-lactide (PLLA) homopolymers. The s-PLA materials increased the mechanical properties by increasing crystallinity of the PLLA homopolymers. PLLA/s-PLA enhanced mechanical properties to a certain level (5% s-PLA content), then decreased them due to higher s-PLA materials affecting the brittleness of the blends. PDLA homopolymers increased mechanical properties by forming stereocomplex PLA with PLLA homopolymers. Non-isothermal and isothermal evaluation showed that s-PLA materials were more effective at enhancing PLLA homopolymer properties through nucleating agent mechanism.