Biodegradation of cellulose derivative/polycaprolactone blends

Biodegradation of cellulose derivative/polycaprolactone blends was studied. It was found that the biodegradation ability of cellulose derivatives, suc h as cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose acetate is improved by blending with polycaprolactone. Cellulose derivative/polycap rolactone blends' biodegradation is closely related to their composition an d enhanced by the existence of a biphase morphology in the blends. Polymer chain's rupture is mainly of an internally tangent type. The rate of degrad ation is controlled by the part with higher molecular weight and the polyme r chains with lower molecular weight are the first to biodegrade, at a high er degradation rate.