Toward "Green" Hybrid Materials: Core-Shell Particles with Enhanced Impact Energy Absorbing Ability.

Restrained properties of "green" degradable products drive the creation of materials with innovative structures and retained eco-attributes. Herein, we introduce the creation of impact modifiers in the form of core-shell (CS) particles toward the creation of "green" composite materials. Particles with CS structure constituted of PLA stereocomplex (PLASC) and a rubbery phase of poly(ε-caprolactone--d,l-lactide) (P[CL--LA]) were successfully achieved by spray droplet atomization.

Homocomposites of Polylactide (PLA) with Induced Interfacial Stereocomplex Crystallites.

The demand for "green" degradable composite materials increases with growing environmental awareness. The key challenge is achieving the preferred physical properties and maintaining their eco-attributes in terms of the degradability of the matrix and the filler. Herein, we have designed a series of "green" homocomposites materials based purely on polylactide (PLA) polymers with different structures.

Nano-stereocomplexation of polylactide (PLA) spheres by spray droplet atomization.

A direct, efficient, and scalable method to prepare stereocomplexed polylactide (PLA)-based nanoparticles (NPs) is achieved. By an appropriate combination of fabrication parameters, NPs with controlled shape and crystalline morphology are obtained and even pure PLA stereocomplexes (PLASC) are successfully prepared using the spray-drying technology. The formed particles of varying D- and L-LA content have an average size of ≈400 nm, where the smallest size is obtained for PLA50, which has an equimolar composition of PLLA and PDLA in solution.

Tuning the degradation profiles of poly(L-lactide)-based materials through miscibility.

The effective use of biodegradable polymers relies on the ability to control the onset of and time needed for degradation. Preferably, the material properties should be retained throughout the intended time frame, and the material should degrade in a rapid and controlled manner afterward. The degradation profiles of polyester materials were controlled through their miscibility.