Raman spectroscopic study of conformational changes in the amorphous phase of poly(lactic acid) during deformation

The conformational distribution change of amorphous poly(lactic acid) (PLA) induced by deformation has been studied using Raman spectroscopy. Spectroscopic features associated with the rotational isomeric states (ttt, ttg′, tg′t, tg′g′) have been established experimentally and supported by normal coordinate analysis. Deformation induced a significant increase in the most favorable tg′t conformation. Based on the relative intensities of Raman-active skeletal modes, a quantitative method has been developed that can be used to elucidate structural changes in a variety of deformed polymer samples. For biaxially oriented PLA films, the overall tg′t conformation increased from the 76% in undeformed sample to a value as high as 92%. The change in conformational distribution in the amorphous phase follows a different trend (76–88%) as compared to the increase in sample crystallinity (0–43%). A large change in amorphous chain conformation occurred at relatively low draw ratios. In contrast, the large change in the degree of crystallinity occurred at higher draw ratios.