Effects of alcohol solvent-induced crystallization on biodegradable poly(Lactic acid) film

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is an environmentally-friendly biodegradable polymer substance. PLA is used as a material in packaging, automotive, and electronic applications. For such applications, polymer materials are exposed to organic solvents during use. However, there has been no systematic research on the interactions between the PLA polymer segments and organic solvents. In this current study, we discovered the phenomena of no change in chemical structure, but liquid alcohol (i.e., methanol and ethanol)-induced crystallization of PLA membranes at 35°C for 24 hours. The PLA films immersed into methanol and ethanol solvents had a crystalline structure. The effects of immersing solvent on the..