Synthesis of polylactide‐based thermoset resin and its curing kinetics

A new class of biobased thermoset resins, methacrylated four‐armed star‐shaped polylactides (M4sPLAs), was prepared. The effect of star architecture, e.g. varying arm length, on the properties of the cured products was examined. Based on differential scanning calorimetry, the non‐isothermal and isothermal curing behaviors of these M4sPLAs were investigated. Various curing kinetic parameters were obtained and elucidated using autocatalytic reaction models. Experimental results indicate that the oligomers can be crosslinked into a rigid network within a curing time varying from several minutes to more than an hour upon thermal initiation. The curing processes of M4sPLAs with varying arm length are different and complex, as indicated by the change of various kinetic parameters, reaction orders and evolutions of activation energy under the test reaction conditions. High crosslinking density is especially effective for improving the thermal stability of polylactide, but also leads to slower degradation rate and deterioration of its impact properties.