Progress of Polymerization of D,L-Lactide Through Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Gel Permeation Chromatography

Melt polymerization conditions for D,L-lactide initiated with tetraphenyltin were studied with regard to polymer molecular weight. The present study was undertaken to investigate the progress of polymerization of D,L-lactide through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and also to explore the correlation between melt polymerization conditions and molecular weight. The physical characteristics, such as glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer and melting transition (Tm) of D,L-lactide are correlated with GPC data. DSC data shows that the Tm of D,L-lactide is 122.8 at 150°C polymerization time. ΔHf is 83.2 J g-1, and Tg of polymer is untraceable. At 180°C the Tm is 101.4°C, ΔHf is 34 J g-1, and Tg is around 29.5°C. The drop in Tm and ΔHf clearly shows the conversion of D,L-lactide to polymer. The maximum increment to molecular weight of polymer is achieved at 160°C and 8 h. After a short induction period, the slow polymerization of D,L-lactide resulted in maximal molecular weight followed by an almost constant value of molecular weight. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.