Synthesis and characterization of thermoset biodegradable elastomers based on star-poly(epsilon-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide).
Biodegradable elastomers represent a useful class of biomaterials. In this paper, we synthesize thermoset elastomers by utilizing the living nature of ring-opening polymerization of a star copolymer of D,L-lactide and epsilon-caprolactone initiated with glycerol and catalyzed by stannous 2-ethylhexanoate. The star copolymers were synthesized of varying molecular weight and monomer composition and cross-linked by compression molding using a dilactone, bis(epsilon-caprolactone-4-yl)propane dissolved in epsilon-caprolactone monomer. The elastomers were then characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and uniaxial tensile testing and their physical properties related to the nature of the star copolymer prepolymers. The results demonstrate a means of predictably altering the elastomer physical properties by adjusting the star copolymer prepolymer initial molecular weight and monomer ratio.
Amsden
B
B
Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6. amsden@chee.queensu.ca
Wang
S
S
Wyss
U
U
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D020724:Elastomers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020724:Elastomers; D011091:Polyesters; C062968:lactide-caprolactone copolymer