Accelerated crystallization of poly( L ‐lactide) by physical aging

The low‐temperature physical aging of amorphous poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) at 25–50°C below glass transition temperature (Tg) was carried out for 90 days. The physical aging significantly increased the Tg and glass transition enthalpy, but did not cause crystallization, regardless of aging temperature. The nonisothermal crystallization of PLLA during heating was accelerated only by physical aging at 50°C. These results indicate that the structure formed by physical aging only at 50°C induced the accelerated crystallization of PLLA during heating, whereas the structure formed by physical aging at 25 and 37°C had a negligible effect on the crystallization of PLLA during heating, except when the physical aging at 37°C was continued for the period as long as 90 days. The mechanism for the accelerated crystallization of PLLA by physical aging is discussed.