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Improving the marine biodegradability of poly(alkylene succinate)-based copolymers

Authors :
Kumagai, Sumito
Hayashi, Senri
Katsuragi, Atsushi
Imada, Motosuke
Sato, Kaoko
Abe, Hideki
Asakura, Noriyuki
Takenaka, Yasumasa
Source :
Polymer Journal; 20240101, Issue: Preprints p1-11, 11p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

We report the syntheses of novel marine biodegradable poly(ethylene succinate) (PES)- and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)-based copolymers containing different dicarboxylic acid (DCA) units with various carbon numbers and different feed ratios. Biochemical oxygen demand tests demonstrated that some of the obtained PES- and PBS-based copolymers were biodegradable in seawater. Specifically, polymers with longer-chain DCA units, even at low contents, exhibited marine biodegradability. The thermomechanical properties of the copolymers, such as their thermal stabilities, melting points, glass transition temperatures, tensile moduli, strains at break, and stresses at break, also varied with the DCA contents. These results indicated that the thermomechanical properties and the marine biodegradabilities of the PES- and PBS-based copolymers were regulated by controlling their structures and DCA contents. The polymers obtained in this study may replace general-purpose polymers. Our approach may also be applicable to other polymeric materials. Furthermore, our findings pave the way for the rational design and preparation of polymeric materials that are biodegradable in environments other than oceans and have good thermomechanical properties.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00323896 and 13490540
Issue :
Preprints
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Polymer Journal
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs65226079
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00871-9