Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate- co-butylene adipate)s

Abstract

A series of high molecular weight polyesters, poly(butylene succinate- co-butylene adipate)s was prepared from dimethyl succinate, dimethyl adipate and 1,4-butanediol by catalyzed transesterification in the melt. The structure, average molecular weights and physical properties of the resulting random aliphatic copolyesters were characterized by 1H NMR, solution viscosity, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray analysis. The effect of copolymer composition on the physical and thermal properties, as well as enzymatic degradation was investigated. The enzymatic degradation was performed in a buffer solution with Candida cylindracea lipase at 30 °C. The highest enzymatic degradation rate was observed for the copolyester containing 50 mol.% butylene succinate units (PBAS-50). This copolyester has the lowest crystallinity and these results suggest that degree of crystallinity has a strong influence on the enzymatic degradation rate.