High crystallization rate and thermomechanical stability make polylactide stereocomplexes effective nanosized physical netpoints. Here, we address the need for soft, form-stable degradable elastomers for medical applications by designing such blends from (co)polyesters, whose mechanical properties are ruled by their nanodimensional architecture and which are applied as single components in implants. By careful controlling of the copolymer composition and sequence structure of poly[(-lactide)--(-caprolactone)], it is possible to prepare hyperelastic polymer blends formed through stereocomplexation by adding poly(-lactide) (PDLA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWithin the field of shape-changing materials, synthetic chemical modification has been widely used to introduce key structural units and subsequently expand the mechanical functionality of actuator devices. The introduction of architectural elements that facilitate control over mechanical properties and complete geometric reconfiguration of a device is highly desirable to increase the morphological diversity of polymeric actuator materials. The subject of the present study is a multiblock copolymer with semicrystalline poly(l-lactide) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLLA-PCL) segments.
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