{"title":"Synthesis and characterization of block copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene succinate) and poly(amino acid)s","authors":"Sumito Kumagai , Motosuke Imada , Senri Hayashi , Atsushi Katsuragi , Kaoko Sato , Hideki Abe , Noriyuki Asakura , Yasumasa Takenaka","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111265","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, novel block copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene succinate) (PES) and poly(amino acid)s were synthesized, and their thermal and mechanical properties and biodegradability characteristics were investigated. Various types of poly(amino acid) units were successfully introduced using <em>N</em>-phenyloxycarbonyl amino acids (NPCs). The reactions between the terminally aminated PES and the NPCs were conducted by heating in <em>N,N</em>-dimethylacetamide at 65 °C. Structural analyses of the obtained polymers confirmed that the reaction with the NPCs proceeded from both ends of the terminally aminated PES. The results of material property measurements demonstrated that the melting point of the block copolymer containing poly(alanine) units increased beyond 200 °C while that of the original PES was ∼100 °C. Additionally, its strain at break increased ∼80-fold compared to that of PES with a similar molecular weight. The results of biodegradability tests using a soil suspension as an inoculum indicated that some of the block copolymers underwent biodegradation, and a correlation was observed between the biodegradability and the type and feed amount of NPC. Therefore, it was proposed that the degree, rate, and onset time of biodegradation could be controlled by altering the type and amount of incorporated poly(amino acid) units. This research may contribute to the optimal and facile synthesis of polyester-<em>b</em>-poly(amino acid) copolymers and to the expansion of the range of available biodegradable materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 111265"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141391025000953","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"POLYMER SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
In this study, novel block copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene succinate) (PES) and poly(amino acid)s were synthesized, and their thermal and mechanical properties and biodegradability characteristics were investigated. Various types of poly(amino acid) units were successfully introduced using N-phenyloxycarbonyl amino acids (NPCs). The reactions between the terminally aminated PES and the NPCs were conducted by heating in N,N-dimethylacetamide at 65 °C. Structural analyses of the obtained polymers confirmed that the reaction with the NPCs proceeded from both ends of the terminally aminated PES. The results of material property measurements demonstrated that the melting point of the block copolymer containing poly(alanine) units increased beyond 200 °C while that of the original PES was ∼100 °C. Additionally, its strain at break increased ∼80-fold compared to that of PES with a similar molecular weight. The results of biodegradability tests using a soil suspension as an inoculum indicated that some of the block copolymers underwent biodegradation, and a correlation was observed between the biodegradability and the type and feed amount of NPC. Therefore, it was proposed that the degree, rate, and onset time of biodegradation could be controlled by altering the type and amount of incorporated poly(amino acid) units. This research may contribute to the optimal and facile synthesis of polyester-b-poly(amino acid) copolymers and to the expansion of the range of available biodegradable materials.
期刊介绍：
Polymer Degradation and Stability deals with the degradation reactions and their control which are a major preoccupation of practitioners of the many and diverse aspects of modern polymer technology.
Deteriorative reactions occur during processing, when polymers are subjected to heat, oxygen and mechanical stress, and during the useful life of the materials when oxygen and sunlight are the most important degradative agencies. In more specialised applications, degradation may be induced by high energy radiation, ozone, atmospheric pollutants, mechanical stress, biological action, hydrolysis and many other influences. The mechanisms of these reactions and stabilisation processes must be understood if the technology and application of polymers are to continue to advance. The reporting of investigations of this kind is therefore a major function of this journal.
However there are also new developments in polymer technology in which degradation processes find positive applications. For example, photodegradable plastics are now available, the recycling of polymeric products will become increasingly important, degradation and combustion studies are involved in the definition of the fire hazards which are associated with polymeric materials and the microelectronics industry is vitally dependent upon polymer degradation in the manufacture of its circuitry. Polymer properties may also be improved by processes like curing and grafting, the chemistry of which can be closely related to that which causes physical deterioration in other circumstances.
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