Effects of a special diluent as an agent of improving the crystallizability of poly(L-lactic acid)

It has been found that a special type of diluent can act as an agent to improve the crystallizability of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA). To present clear experimental results to support such an ability, we used time-resolved small and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) to follow the isothermal crystallization of PLLA. The WAXS results show the enhancing effects of the diluent on the crystallization of PLLA, such as the reduction of the induction period and the acceleration of crystallization. Furthermore, the transformation from the δ phase to the α phase was also detected in the presence of the diluent. The growth of the crystalline lamellae in their thickness direction was accelerated in the presence of the diluent. It was further found that the diluent can accelerate the space filling of the stacks of crystalline lamellae in the specimen.