Synthesis, properties and enzymatic hydrolysis of biodegradable alicyclic/aliphatic copolyesters based on 1,3/1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol

This study synthesizes a series of cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM)-based alicyclic/aliphatic copolyesters (PBSCs) using succinic acid, 1,4-butanediol and 1,3/1,4-CHDM at various molar ratios to investigate the effects of these compositions on crystallinity, biodegradability and the mechanical properties of PBSCs. The PBSCs were characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis. Biodegradability was evaluated by enzymatic hydrolysis with a lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia. The mechanical properties of PBSCs were determined using a tensile testing machine.Experimental results reveal that the PBSCs containing 1,3/1,4-CHDM in total diol with less than 50 mol% are crystallizable, while those containing 1,3/1,4-CHDM with more than 50 mol% are amorphous. The biodegradability test results suggest that PBSCs can be classified as surface-eroding polymers with a random endo-type scission. Surface hydrophilicity of PBSCs was the predominant effect on enzymatic hydrolysis, not crystallinity.