SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE COPOLYESTERAMIDES - NYLON 6,6-EPSILON-CAPROLACTONE COPOLYMERS .1.

A series of copolyesteramides based on adipic acid/1,6-hexane diamine/ epsilon-caprolactone and Nylon 6,6 salt/epsilon-caprolactone were synt hesized. Their molecular weights, determined by gel permeation chromat ography and NMR spectroscopy, were found to lie within the range from 1000 up to 7000. Their thermal properties (glass transitions, melting points and heats of melting, and decomposition temperatures) were reco rded with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry, resp ectively, and correlated to the comonomer feed composition. The FT-IR and NMR spectra were also recorded in order to confirm the composition of the copolyesteramides and to compare them with that of the comonom er feed. The biodegradability of the synthesized copolymers was tested by enzymatic hydrolysis.