Effects of <scp><i>L</i></scp>‐ and <scp><i>D</i>‐</scp> form oligo(lactic acid)s grafted cellulose reinforcement on the thermal properties of poly(<scp><i>L</i></scp>‐lactic acid) composites

Abstract L ‐ and D ‐ form oligo(lactic acid)s (OLLA and ODLA) grafted α‐cellulose (OLLA‐g‐cellulose and ODLA‐g‐cellulose) were prepared by the graft polycondensation reaction in C 6 H 5 CH 3 medium at 130°C and 380 mm of mercury pressure. Para‐toluene sulphonic acid (5 wt% of oligo(lactic acid)) was used as a catalyst whereas potassium persulfate (0.01 wt% of oligo(lactic acid)) was used as a co‐catalyst in the graft polycondensation reaction. OLLA and ODLA with a degree of polymerization (DP) 6–7 used in polycondensation reaction were also prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐ and D ‐lactides at 140°C for 10 h with stannous octoate (C 16 H 30 O 4 Sn) as a motivator, L , and D monomer…