Formation of Ring-Banded Spherulites of Poly (L-lactide) in its Miscible Mixture with an Ionic Liquid

ABSTRACT

Incorporation of an ionic liquid, nonvolatile and thermally stable, promoted formation of ring-banded spherulites in poly (l-lactide) (PLLA) during its sol–gel transition. Their formation is correlated with low viscosity and insignificant chain entanglements in the mixtures induced by the ionic liquid. In addition to a driving force for lamellar twisting that depended on the crystallization temperatures, it is believed that reduced lamellar twisting resistance caused by the ionic liquid plays a vital role in the formation of the ring-banded spherulites of PLLA from the mixtures. This study gives further insights into the structural formation of PLLA during a sol–gel transition, which could open new opportunities to tailor the properties of ion gels based on PLLA.

KEYWORDS:

• Banded spherulites
• Ionic liquid
• poly (l-lactide)
• Sol–gel transition

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21364001) and the Major Program of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi, China (No. 20133ACB21006).