Thermal and crystallization behaviour of gamma irradiated PLLA

Structure, crystallization behaviour and some thermal properties of poly-l-lactide (PLLA), gamma irradiated up to 300 kGy, have been studied. Through differential scanning calorimetry measurements, radiation-induced changes were evident in the enthalpy of melting and cold crystallization, as well as in the degree of crystallinity. Decay of the glass transition, cold crystallization and melting temperatures with irradiation dose was observed in all cases. The annealing treatment, which can substantially reduce the concentration of free radicals, also had a great impact on thermal/crystallization behaviour of irradiated PLLA. Extensive chain scission, as a dominant effect of gamma irradiation, confirmed by gel permeation chromatography, has as a consequence a growth of new thin crystal lamellae and occurrence of the second low-temperature melting peak. Thermogravimetric analyses have shown that irradiation lowered the thermal stability of PLLA.