SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURAL STUDY OF A NEW BIODEGRADABLE COPOLYMER OF NYLON-11 AND L-ALANINE

The alternating copolyamide, poly(L-alanyl-11-aminoundecanoic acid), h as been synthesized by the active ester method, and subsequently chara cterized. The structure and morphology of lamellar crystals have been investigated by using transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction. Additional data have been obtained from uniaxially oriented fibres. The deduced unit cell parame ters (a = 4.79, b = 10.35, c = 29.8 Angstrom, and alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees) and the C222(1) space group symmetry indicate a layered structure which is related to that found in poly(L-alanine). A folded conformation is also deduced for the polymethylene segment. Results o btained from enzymatic degradation are also reported. Copyright (C) 19 96 Elsevier Science Ltd.