Study on degradation behaviors of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(butylene terephthalate) copolymers in a simulated earth environment

Ai Ying Zhang*, Yong Zhang, Lian Cai Wang, Yu Chen, Zeng Guo Feng

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The degradable behaviors of a series of block copolymers, based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the soft segment and poly(butylene terephthalate)(PBT) as the hard segment, was studied by embedding the copolymer film in a simulating earth environment and immersing film into PBS(pH 7.4) at 37°C. The results show that the copolymer composition affects physical properties, including the swelling ratio, weight loss, inherent viscosity, as well as the micromorphology of copolymer film. The change of inherent viscosity of the copolymers decrease with increasing of PBT content, whereas a relatively lower weight loss occurs in a simulating earth environment, compared with the hydrolytic degradation. Therefore, water could enhance the weight loss of copolymers by facilitating degradation products to disperse into the media. Over a degradation period of 100 days, morphology of copolymer with 30% of PBT mass ratio shows a little change in a simulating earth environment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)141-143
Number of pages3
JournalXiandai Huagong/Modern Chemical Industry
Volume23
Issue numberSUPPL.
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2003

Keywords

  • Degradation
  • Inherent viscosity
  • Micromorphology
  • PEGT-b-PBT copolymer
  • Simulating earth environment

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Zhang, A. Y., Zhang, Y., Wang, L. C., Chen, Y., & Feng, Z. G. (2003). Study on degradation behaviors of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(butylene terephthalate) copolymers in a simulated earth environment. Xiandai Huagong/Modern Chemical Industry, 23(SUPPL.), 141-143.