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Biodegradation of thermoplastic and thermosetting polyesters from Z‐protected glutamic acid
Author(s) -
Tadros R. M.,
Noureddini H.,
Timm D. C.
Publication year - 1999
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(19991227)74:14<3513::aid-app27>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - polyester , diglycidyl ether , biodegradation , thermosetting polymer , polymer chemistry , monomer , ether , hydrolysis , bisphenol a , polymer , ethylene glycol , organic chemistry , chemistry , condensation polymer , materials science , epoxy
Abstract In a previous article, 1 the development and molecular characterization of three polyesters from N ‐carbobenzyloxy‐ L ‐glutamic acid (ZGluOH) were reported. The polymers were a linear, heterochain polyester (ZGluOH and ethylene glycol), a crosslinked heterochain polyester (ZGluOH and diglycidyl ether of 1,4‐butanediol), and a crosslinked, heterochain aromatic polyester (ZGluOH and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A). In this manuscript, results of biodegradation studies are reported. The three polymers hydrolyzed to low molecular weight oligomers similar to the monomers with lipase. When exposed to a mixed culture of micro‐organisms, the first two resins degraded to biomass and respiratory gases. The crosslinked heterochain aromatic polyester resisted microbial degradation. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 3513–3521, 1999