Bio-based and Biodegradable Electrospun Fibers Composed of Poly(L-lactide) and Polyamide 4

• Published in: Chinese journal of polymer science Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 53 - 62
• Main Authors: Chen, Tao, Zhong, Guo-Cheng, Zhang, Yuan-Ting, Zhao, Li-Ming, Qiu, Yong-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Chemistry, CAS 2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biodegradability; Block copolymers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Crystal structure; Crystallinity; Crystallization; Electrospinning; Fibers; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Mixtures; Phase separation; Polyamide resins; Polylactic acid; Polymer Sciences; Sheaths; Ultrafines; Electrospinning; Poly(L-lactide); “Click” reaction; Polyamide 4; Fiber
• ISSN: 0256-7679; 1439-6203
• DOI: 10.1007/s10118-019-2299-8

Novel bio-based and biodegradable block copolymers were synthesized by “click” reaction between poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and polyamide 4 (PA4). Upon tuning the molar mass of PLLA block, the properties of copolymers and electrospun ultrafine fibers were investigated and compared with those of PLLA and PA4 blends. PLLA and PA4 were found incompatible and formed individual crystalline regions, along with reciprocal inhibition in crystallization. Electrospun fibers were highly hydrophobic, even if hydrophilic PA4 was the rich component. The crystallinity of either PLLA or PA4 decreased after electrospinning and PLLA-rich as-spun fibers were almost amorphous. Immersion tests proved that fibers of block copolymers were relatively homogeneous with micro-phase separation between PLLA and PA4. The fibrous structures of copolymers were different from those of the fibers electrospun from blends, for which sheath-core structure induced by macro-phase separation between homopolymers of PLLA and PA4 was confirmed by TEM, EDS, and XPS.