SYNTHESIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION OF POLYESTERS BASED ON POLY(EPSILON-CAPROLACTONE)

Poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), poly (delta-valerolactone) (PVL), p oly (epsilon-caprolactone-co-delta-valerolactone) [P(CL-co-VL)], and p oly (epsilon-caprolactone-co-ethylene oxide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) ( PCL-PEO-PCL) were synthesized by ring-opening and diol-initiated polym erization of epsilon-caprolactone and delta-valerolactone. The degrada tion of the samples by chemical hydrolysis and in a soil burial test w as evaluated. It was found that PCL, PVL, and P(CL-co-VL) degrade main ly enzymatically. The rate of degradation depends on their molecular w eight, chemical structure, composition, and morphology. PCL-PEO-PCL bl ock copolymers exhibit a repelling effect to the microorganisms in the soil, which depends on the molecular weight and relative amount of PE O block in the copolymer.