Crystallization behavior and thermal properties of octa-phenyl-substituted silsesquioxane-modified polylactide (PLA)

Abstract This study aims to understand the effects of adding octa-phenyl-substituted silsesquioxane (phSQ) on the crystallization process and thermal stability of polylactide (PLA). Nowadays, PLA is the most industrially used compostable polymer, but its uses are limited by its low crystallization and thermal degradation during processing. The possibility of introducing functionalized silsesquioxanes (SQs) to improve thermal stability and increase its crystallinity and ductility in a controlled way is desirable. The nanometric size of the Si-O-Si cage, coupled with the influence of the functional groups attached to its structure, enables it to function as a heterogeneous nucleating agent. In this work, a specially synthesized octa-phenyl-substituted SQ (phSQ) was added to the PLA in 0.5–5 wt%. Crystallization in non-isothermal and isothermal conditions was conducted and monitored using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); the course of the spherulite formation under identical conditions to DSC was also assessed using optical microscopy in polarized light. The results showed that phSQ increases the degree of crystallinity of PLA by introducing additional sites of heterogeneous nucleation but does not increase the spherulite growth coefficient. Additionally, the analysis of thermal properties indicates that the presence of phSQ could not have a positive impact on thermal stability. The agglomeration of the nanometric particles and changes in the main structural features of the polymeric matrix could be present in the samples, affecting the obtained results. Graphical abstract