Physical properties of high molecular weight 1,3-trimethylene carbonate and D,L-lactide copolymers

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2003

Authors

Pego, AP (Author) Other; Poot, AA (Author) Other; Grijpma, DW (Author) Other; Feijen, J (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine

Vol. 14

Pages: 767-773

ISSN: 0957-4530

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 64 Citations

Scopus - 69 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental biotechnology

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-NH3

DOI: 10.1023/A:1025084304766

Abstract (EN): High molecular weight statistical copolymers of 1,3-trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and D,L-lactide (DLLA) were synthesized and characterized with the aim of assessing their potential in the development of degradable and flexible materials for application in the biomedical field. Under the applied polymerization conditions (130 degreesC, 3 days using stannous octoate as a catalyst) monomer conversion was high or almost complete, and high molecular weight polymers ((M) over bar (n) above 170 <LF>000) were obtained. Significant improvement of the mechanical performance of these materials was observed in comparison to results previously reported for TMC and DLLA based copolymers of lower molecular weight. For the entire range of compositions the polymers are amorphous with a glass transition temperature ranging between -17 degreesC for poly(TMC) and 53 degreesC for poly(DLLA). The polymers vary from rubbers to stiff materials as the content of TMC decreases. All polymers are hydrophobic with very low equilibrium water absorption (< 1.5 wt%). All polymers are hydrophobic with very low equilibrium water absorption (< 1.5 wt%). Thermal analyses and tensile tests were performed on polymer samples after water uptake. Due to a plasticizing effect of the water, the thermal properties, and consequently the mechanical performance, of the copolymers with higher content of DLLA were the most affected. After water absorption, the polymer mechanical behavior can change from glassy to rubbery, as observed for the copolymer with 80 mol% of DLLA. The obtained results suggest that these copolymers are promising candidates as biomaterials in the preparation of degradable medical devices and systems. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academicn Publishers.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7