Properties of biodegradable copolyesters of succinic acid 1,4-butanediol succinic acid 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol

Although progress has been made in the study of biodegradable polyesters, l ittle attention was given to aliphatic/alicyclic copolyesters. For this rea son, we have undertaken systematic studies on the aliphatic/alicyclic copol yesters. As a first step in our research, we have presented the material ch aracteristics (e.g., thermal and mechanical properties) and the biodegradab ility in different biological environments for a series of the aliphatic/al icyclic copolyesters that were synthesized by polycondensation of succinic acid, 1,4-butanediol, and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol. The chemical compositi on of the aliphatic/alicyclic copolyesters plays an important role in contr olling the material characteristics and biodegradability. For the copolyest ers with a mole fraction of succinic acid-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol <0.3, a n adjustment of the optimum between physical properties and biodegradabilit y seems to be feasible. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.