Role of crystallinity in retention of polymer particle morphology in the presence of compressed carbon dioxide

The effects of compressed carbon dioxide absorption into poly(L-lactide), p oly(DL-lactide), poly(glycolide), and their copolymers were observed using EPR and mechanical creep experiments to determine the correlation between t he glass transition pressure and material failure pressure. Results show po lymers can retain particle morphology above the carbon dioxide suppressed g lass transition pressure because da moderate crystalline volume fi action t hat reduces creep rates enough to limit particle agglomeration during preci pitation with a compressed antisolvent.