Matrix-bondable lactide monomors for polylactide synthesis

1. A process of forming a matrix-bondable polylactide, the process comprising:

forming a methylidene lactide molecule from an L-lactide molecule;

forming a functionalized lactide monomer from the methylidene lactide molecule, the functionalized lactide monomer including a functional group selected from the group consisting of: an epoxy functional group, a siloxane functional group, an allyl functional group, and a methacryloyl functional group;

forming a lactide feedstock that includes at least the functionalized lactide monomer; and

polymerizing the lactide feedstock to form a matrix-bondable polylactide.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the lactide feedstock includes a blend of a first amount of an L-lactide monomer and a second amount of the functionalized lactide monomer, and wherein the matrix-bondable polylactide includes a matrix-bondable polylactide copolymer.

3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising forming a hydroxyl-functionalized lactide intermediate molecule from the methylidene lactide molecule, and wherein the functionalized lactide monomer is formed from the hydroxyl-functionalized lactide intermediate molecule.

4. A matrix-bondable polylactide formed by a process comprising:

forming a lactide feedstock that includes at least a functionalized lactide monomer that is derived from a methylidene lactide molecule, the methylidene lactide molecule formed from an L-lactide molecule, the functionalized lactide monomer including a functional group selected from the group consisting of: an epoxy functional group, a siloxane functional group, an allyl functional group, and a methacryloyl functional group; and

polymerizing the lactide feedstock to form a matrix-bondable polylactide.

5. The matrix-bondable polylactide of claim 4 , wherein the lactide feedstock includes a blend of a first amount of an L-lactide monomer and a second amount of the functionalized lactide monomer, and wherein the matrix-bondable polylactide includes a matrix-bondable polylactide copolymer.

6. The matrix-bondable polylactide of claim 4 , wherein the process further comprises forming the functionalized lactide monomer from the methylidene lactide molecule.

7. An article of manufacture formed by a process comprising:

forming a lactide feedstock that includes at least a functionalized lactide monomer that is derived from a methylidene lactide molecule, the methylidene lactide molecule formed from an L-lactide molecule, the functionalized lactide monomer including a functional group selected from the group consisting of: an epoxy functional group, a siloxane functional group, an allyl functional group, and a methacryloyl functional group;

polymerizing the lactide feedstock to form a matrix-bondable polylactide;

forming a mixture that includes the matrix-bondable polylactide and a polymeric matrix material;

initiating a chemical reaction to form a cross-linked polymeric material from the mixture; and

forming an article of manufacture from the cross-linked polymeric material.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 7 , wherein the lactide feedstock includes a blend of a first amount of an L-lactide monomer and a second amount of the functionalized lactide monomer, and wherein the matrix-bondable polylactide includes a matrix-bondable polylactide copolymer.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 7 , wherein the functional group includes the epoxy functional group, and wherein the polymeric matrix material includes an epoxy-reactive polymer.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 7 , wherein the functional group includes the siloxane functional group, and wherein the polymeric matrix material includes a siloxane-reactive polymer.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 7 , wherein the functional group includes the allyl functional group, and wherein the polymeric matrix material includes an alkene-reactive polymer.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 7 , wherein the functional group includes the methacryloyl functional group, and wherein the polymeric matrix material includes an acrylate-reactive polymer.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized lactide monomer has the following chemical structure:

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized lactide monomer has the following chemical structure:

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized lactide monomer has the following chemical structure:

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized lactide monomer has the following chemical structure:

17. The process of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized lactide monomer has the following chemical structure:

18. The process of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized lactide monomer has the following chemical structure:

19. The process of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized lactide monomer has the following chemical structure: