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The effect of crystalline morphology on the degradation of polycaprolactone in a solution of phosphate buffer and lipase
Author(s) -
Jenkins M. J.,
Harrison K. L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.1227
Subject(s) - crystallinity , differential scanning calorimetry , polycaprolactone , materials science , degradation (telecommunications) , chemical engineering , polymer , scanning electron microscope , morphology (biology) , lipase , degree (music) , polymer chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , thermodynamics , computer science , telecommunications , physics , genetics , biology , acoustics , engineering , enzyme
The degradation of polycaprolactone (PCL) in a solution of lipase and phosphate buffer has been characterized using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron microscopy. The molecular weight of the polymer initially appeared to determine the degradation rate while the degree of crystallinity was found to increase with time. Samples of PCL were also conditioned using DSC to specify a known degree of crystallinity. This approach enabled the effects of molecular weight and degree of crystallinity on the degradation to be separated. It was observed that an increase in either molecular weight or degree of crystallinity reduced the rate of degradation. The work presented in this paper addresses a significant limitation associated with the characterization of “as received” samples and provides a more detailed understanding of the effect of polymer morphology on the degradation process. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.