To improve the thermal and mechanical properties of home poly(L-lactic acid), DL-mandelic acid, one of the natural α-hydroxy acid with aromatic ring as the side-chain residue was used as the comonomer. Copolymers with different contents of mandelic acid were prepared and characterized. The resulting copolymers were mostly amorphous. As the amount of mandelic acid in the monomer feed increased, the molecular weight of the resulting polymers tended to decrease linearly. T_g and T_d of the copolymer, however, were found to shift toward higher temperature, suggesting the improved thermal stability by increasing content of mandelic acid moiety. Tensile measurements of cast films showed somewhat improved values in the copolymers with mandelic acid content of 5 and 10 wt%.

폴리락트산의 열적 안정성과 기계적 물성을 개선하고자 측쇄에 벤젠고리를 함유한 천연 α-히드록시산인 만델린산(mandelic acid)과 L-락트산을 직접 용액 축중합법으로 공중합체를 합성하고 그 열적, 물리적 성질 등을 조사하였다. 합성된 공중합체는 무정형이었으며, 만델린산의 함량이 증가할수록 유리전이온도와 분해개시온도가 상승함을 열분석을 통해 알 수 있었다. 또한 만델린산을 5, 10 wt% 함유한 공중합체의 필름의 경우 그 기계적 성질이 다소 향상된 결과를 얻었다.

Keywords: Poly(lactic acid); Copolymer; Mandelic acid; Biodegradable polymer