The Preparation and Biodegradable Properties of Poly(L‐lactic acid)‐Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) Multiblock Copolymers

Multi‐block copolymers of PLLA and PCL were prepared by a coupling reaction between PLLA and PCL prepolymers with –NCO end groups. FTIR proved that the products were PLLA‐PCL copolymers. The weight‐average molecular weight of the copolymers was up to 180,000 at a composition of 60% PLLA and 40% PCL. The degradation properties of PLLA and PLLA‐PCL copolymers were studied by a soil burial test and a hydrolysis test in a phosphate‐buffer solution. The degradation rate was estimated by the mass loss, molecular weight reduction, pH value changes and swelling index; the degradation rates of the copolymers were a function of the composition of PLLA and PCL. Increasing PCL content in the copolymers resulted in lower degradation rate.

Keywords:

• poly(lactic acid)
• poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)
• multiblock copolymers
• degradation
• soil buried test
• hydrolysis test

Acknowledgement

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50573010 and No. 20504006).