Properties and enzymatic degradability of melt-spun fibers of poly(butylene succinate) and its various derivatives

Abstract

Chain-extended poly(butylene succinate) (PBS-e) and poly(butylene succinate/adipate) (PBSA-e) as well as high polymers of poly(butylene succinate-co-carbonate) (PBSC) and poly(butylene succinate-co-ε-hydroxycaproate) (PBSCL) were melt-spun into mono-filament fibers by the on-line spinning and drawing technique. The mechanical properties and degradability of these fibers were totally compared in reference to those of the poly(butylene succinate) homopolymer (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate-co-L-lactate) (PBSL). It was found that the tensile strength of the drawn fibers decreases in the order of PBSA-e≫ PBS-h> PBSL> PBS-e> PBSC> PBSCL corresponding with the decreasing order of their molecular weight. Their enzymatic degradability was studied with a lipase originated from Pseudomonas cepacia. It was found that the rate of enzymatic degradation is in the order of PBSA-e> PBSC> PBSL> PBSCL≫ PBS-e ≅ PBS-h. This rate difference can be explained by the difference in crystal size and the polarity effect of the comonomer units that may affect the accessibility of the enzyme to the polymer chains.