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Characterization of the mechanical properties, crystallization, and enzymatic degradation behavior of poly(butylene succinate‐co‐ethyleneoxide‐co‐ DL ‐lactide) copolyesters
Author(s) -
Tan Licheng,
Chen Yiwang,
Zhou Weihua,
Nie Huarong,
Ye Suwen
Publication year - 2011
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/app.34564
Subject(s) - copolyester , crystallization , materials science , differential scanning calorimetry , spherulite (polymer physics) , polybutylene succinate , lactide , polymer chemistry , ethylene glycol , polyester , succinic acid , ethylene , chemical engineering , polymer , copolymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , catalysis , composite material , physics , thermodynamics , engineering
Abstract A series of aliphatic biodegradable poly (butylene succinate‐co‐ethyleneoxide‐co‐ DL ‐lactide) copolyesters were synthesized by the polycondensation in the presence of dimethyl succinate, 1,4‐butanediol, poly(ethylene glycol), and DL ‐oligo(lactic acid) (OLA). The composition, as well as the sequential structure of the copolyesters, was carefully investigated by 1 H‐NMR. The crystallization behaviors, crystal structure, and spherulite morphology of the copolyesters were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X‐ray diffraction, and polarizing optical microscopy, respectively. The results indicate that the sequence length of butylene succinate (BS) decreased as the OLA feed molar ratio increasing. The crystallization behavior of the copolyesters was influenced by the composition and sequence length of BS, which further tuned the mechanical properties of the copolyesters. The copolyesters formed the crystal structures and spherulites similar to those of PBS. The incorporation of more content of ethylene oxide (EO) units into the copolyesters led to the enhanced hydrophilicity. The more content of lactide units in the copolyesters facilitated the degradation in the presence of enzymes. The morphology of the copolyester films after degradation was also studied by the scanning electron microscopy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012