3. Results and discussion
The molecular weight characteristics, thermal transition properties
and L enantiomer contents of the PLLA and PDLA are reported
in Table 1. They had similar properties, except for the optical purity.
The as-blended 50/50 (w/w) PLLA/PDLA blends or stereocomplex
polylactides (scPLAs) obtained from melt blending were in powder
form for the blending temperature of 170 C, while, blending
temperatures of 200 C and 230 C gave large pieces of scPLAs. The
scPLAs obtained from 200 C and 230 C blending temperatures
were then granulated before characterization. This was due to the
melting temperature of the scPLA being higher than both PLLA and
PLLA so that the scPLA was solidified at the low blending
temperature.