Synthesis and water sorption of standard and end-capped polylactides: the effect of morphology

This paper investigates the relationship between morphology and water sorption in polylactide (PLA) films. Standard PLAs and palmityl initiated end-capped PLAs were synthesized with various terminating end groups such as hydroxyl, acetoxy, and palmitoyl end groups. Results from wide angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy were correlated with different sorption phenomena, suggesting that crystallization and microphase separation between amorphous PLA and hydrophobic end-group-rich domains reduced water sorption in PLA. The morphological changes were affected by end-group composition, molecular weight and stereoisomerism.