Electron beam irradiation effects on green biodegradable poly(ϵ-caprolactone) films

Abstract

To investigate the influence of electron beam irradiation on the properties of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL), PCL films prepared by solvent casting were irradiated with high-energy electron beams. The irradiated PCL films were investigated in terms of degree of cross-linking, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and biodegradability. The degree of cross-linking of the irradiated PCL films was found to be dependent on the absorption dose. The tensile strength of the irradiated PCL films increased with increasing absorption dose, while their elongation-at-break was reduced. The dynamic mechanical analysis results revealed that the irradiated PCL films had a higher glass transition temperature and a wider rubbery state plateau. The melting and thermal decomposition temperatures of the irradiated PCL films gradually decreased with increasing absorption dose. The results of the enzymatic degradation test revealed that the irradiated PCL films were more slowly degraded than the nonirradiated PCL film. These changes in the properties of the PCL film after irradiation could result from the occurrence of cross-linking and chain scission during electron beam irradiation.