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Abstract: Copolyesteramides of 2-pyrrolidone with ε-caprolactone were synthesized by ring-opening copolymerization. The copolymers were random-like and their melting temperature and heat of fusion were dependent on the polymer composition. Biodegradation by a polyamide 4 (PA4) degrading microorganism showed rapid degradation in the region of amide-rich polymer composition. On the contrary, enzymatic hydrolysis using a lipase resulted in a different tendency, that is, ester-rich copolymers hydrolyzed rapidly. Activated sludge makes copolymers degrade to CO2 in wide polymer composition ratio. Copolyesteramides are expected to be applied as an environmentally-friendly plastics or bioabsorbable polymers in medical fields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Poly(ester amide)s are attracting attention because they potentially have excellent thermal and mechanical properties as well as biodegradability. In this study, we synthesized a series of novel poly(ester amide)s by introducing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) regularly into polyesters, and investigated their properties and biodegradabilities. GABA is the monomer unit of biodegradable polyamide 4 (PA4). The new poly(ester amide)s were synthesized from the reaction of ammonium tosylate derivatives of alkylene bis(γ-aminobutylate) and p-nitrophenyl esters of dicarboxylic acids. All the obtained polymers showed relatively high melting temperatures (Tm). Their thermal decomposition temperatures were improved in comparison with that of PA4 and higher enough than their Tm. The poly(ester amide)s exhibited higher biodegradability in seawater than the corresponding homopolyesters. Their biodegradabilities in activated sludge were also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]