An investigation of the thermal and (bio)degradability of PBS copolyesters based on isosorbide. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qi, Jiefei; Wu, Jing; Chen, Jingying; Wang, Huaping
• Is Part Of: Polymer degradation and stability. Volume 160(2019)
• Page Start: 229
• Page End: 241
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Carbohydrates -- Biodegradable polymers -- Poly(butylene succinate) -- Rigid building blocks -- Isosorbide; Polymers -- Deterioration -- Periodicals; Stabilizing agents -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Dégradation -- Périodiques; Stabilisants -- Périodiques; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2018.12.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-3910

Abstract

Abstract: As an essential biodegradable polyester species, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is restricted for wider applications due to its low thermal/mechanical properties and unsatisfactory (bio)degradability. Current practice of introducing either stiff or flexible building blocks into PBS main chains remains challenging to achieve a synergistic enhancement of the thermal and (bio)degradability of this material. We herewith report a series of PBS copolyesters based on the carbohydrate-derived isosorbide (1, 4:3, 6-dianhydro-D -glucidol, IS) (PBIS) by utilizing its unique intrinsic characters of being rigid and hydrophilic. The target copolyesters were constructed with a broad scope of IS content (0–100 mol%) and with random microstructures. The M n values and the intrinsic viscosities of these polyesters are in the scopes of 7300–38, 700 g mol −1 and 0.33–0.82 dL g −1, respectively. The results shown in this work clearly demonstrated that the presence of IS enhances the T g values almost linearly and simultaneously promotes (neutral, acidic) hydrolytic and enzymatic degradations (with porcine pancreas) of the copolyesters. PBIS copolyester containing 20 mol% IS displays comparable hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation rates with those of PBSA (20 mol% adipic acid), but a substantially 23 °C higher T g value. Detailed characterization of the molecular structures, micro-sequential structures, molecular weights and polydipersities, thermal properties, hydrophilicities and (bio)degradability are provided. The (bio)degradation and degradation mechanism study of these copolyesters are reported for the first time. Highlights: PBS copolyesters (PBIS) based on a broad scope of isosorbide content (0–100 mol%) was synthesized and fully characterized. The structure-thermal/(bio)degradability properties relation is systematically investigated. Presence of isosorbide can drastically enhance the Tg and hydrolytic/enzymatic degradations of the copolyesters. The (bio)degradation and degradation mechanism study of PBIS copolyesters are reported for the first time.