Molecular Mobility in Amorphous Polylactic Acid Studied Using 1H–13C Cross Polarization NMR

Abstract

The ¹H–¹³C cross polarization nuclear magnetic resonance technique was used for the study of molecular mobility in amorphous polylactic acid. The cross polarization buildup curves for methine and methyl functional groups measured at magic angle spinning rates of 4 and 10 kHz, under Hartmann–Hahn conditions determined from corresponding Hartmann–Hahn matching profiles, confirmed the presence of ¹H–¹³C spin pairs isolated from lattice since transient oscillations were observed in the initial stages of buildup curves. The values of dipolar coupling constants derived from Fourier transforms of cross polarization buildup curves indicate the presence of rigid methine groups and two kinds of methyl functional groups which differ in mobility. This could be due to the presence of amorphous phase with chain aggregations and phase with less spatial restrictions in this material. Fitting of theoretical expressions to experimental data provided additional information on the cross polarization process in this material.