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Biodegradable lactone copolymers. I. Characterization and mechanical behavior of ε‐caprolactone and lactide copolymers
Author(s) -
HiljanenVainio M.,
Karjalainen T.,
Seppälä J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19960222)59:8<1281::aid-app11>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - copolymer , caprolactone , lactide , materials science , characterization (materials science) , polymer chemistry , lactone , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , polymer , nanotechnology
Copolymers of ε‐caprolactone and L‐lactide (ε‐CL/L‐LA) and ε‐caprolactone and DL‐lactide (ε‐CL/DL‐LA) were synthesized with compositions 80/20, 60/40, and 40/60 (wt % in feed). The polymerization temperature was 140°C and Sn(II)octoate was used as a catalyst. The effect of the comonomer ratio on the thermal and mechanical properties of the copolymers was investigated by size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, and tensile testing. The copolymers differed widely in their physical characteristics, ranging from weak elastomers to tougher thermoplastics according to the ratio of ε‐CL and LA in the copolymerization. Poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA), poly(DL‐lactide) (PDLLA), and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) homopolymers were studied as references. The tensile modulus and tensile strength were much higher for PLLA, PDLLA, and PCL homopolymers than for the copolymers. The maximum strain was very low for PLLA and PDLLA, whereas the copolymers and PCL exhibited large elongation. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.