Critical parameters controlling the properties of monolithic poly(lactic acid) foams prepared by thermally induced phase separation

Abstract

Monolithic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) foams were produced by thermally induced phase separation. PLA solutions with concentrations 8–22 wt % were prepared in tetrahydrofuran/methanol (THF/MeOH) solvent/nonsolvent mixtures at 55 °C. Homogenous solutions were quenched at −20 °C to induce phase separation and gelation. Resulting gels were mechanically stabilized by solvent exchange. Subsequent supercritical CO2 drying yielded monolithic PLA foams. Crystal structure and degree of crystallinity of the foams were obtained by x‐ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry. Morphologies were determined by scanning electron microscopy. Tuning the PLA concentration and THF/MeOH ratio enabled preparation of monolithic PLA foams. Depending on the experimental conditions various morphologies, such as: interconnected networks, thin platelets, lamellar stacks, axialites, and spherulites were formed. Monoliths obtained were highly crystalline. By changing the PLA concentration monoliths with controlled average pore sizes (170–1440 nm) and porosities (80–90%) were produced. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 98–108

Preparation of electrospun shape memory polyurethane fibers in optimized electrospinning conditions via response surface methodology

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Facile way of dynamically tailoring microporous structures in polyvinylidene fluoride films prepared by thermally induced phase separation

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Recent Progress on Biodegradable Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Prepared by Thermally-Induced Phase Separation (TIPS)

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