Crystallization and Phase Behavior of Poly(lactic Acid) Polymers
Summary
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) represents a class of biodegradable, bio-sourced polyesters that have attracted intensive research interest owing to their environmental credentials and versatility in applications ranging from packaging to medical devices. Central to the performance of PLA is its crystallization behaviour and phase transitions, which govern mechanical strength, thermal stability and barrier properties. PLA exhibits multiple crystalline polymorphs—principally the ordered α form and the less perfect α′ form—alongside an interfacial mesophase and rigid amorphous fraction. The balance between these phases is dictated by molecular weight, thermal history, processing conditions and the presence of nucleating agents or fillers. Control over nucleation kinetics and spherulitic growth enables tuning of crystallinity, morphology and orientation, thereby impacting stiffness, toughness and biodegradation rate. Advanced processing techniques, including microfluidic spinning, additive manufacturing and nanocomposite formation, have emerged to manipulate crystallisation pathways under mild or solvent-based conditions. The interplay of polymorphism, crystallisation kinetics and external fields (thermal, shear or magnetic) underpins the design of PLA materials with bespoke properties for biomedical scaffolds, flexible electronics and high-performance fibres.
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Crystallization and Phase Behavior of Poly(lactic Acid) Polymers publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in crystallization and phase behavior of poly(lactic acid) polymers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Crystallinity: The proportion of polymer chains arranged in ordered, lattice-like regions, influencing mechanical and thermal properties.
Nucleation: The initial formation of small, ordered domains (nuclei) from which larger crystalline structures grow.
Spherulite: A spherical, radially arranged aggregate of crystalline lamellae that develops during polymer crystallization.
Polymorphism: The ability of a polymer to crystallize into more than one distinct crystal structure, such as the α and α′ forms of PLA.
Rigid amorphous fraction (RAF): A disordered polymer phase constrained by adjacent crystallites, which affects relaxation dynamics and crystallization kinetics.
References
- Hydrogel-assisted microfluidic wet spinning of poly(lactic acid) fibers from a green and pro-crystallization spinning dope. Chemical Engineering Journal (2024).
- Three/Four-Dimensional Printed PLA Nano/Microstructures: Crystallization Principles and Practical Applications. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanosheets/Poly(l-lactide) Nanocomposites and Their Crystallization Behavior. Polymers (2019).
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