International journal of polymer analysis & characterization
Paginering:
Jaargang 5 (2000) nr. 4-6 pagina's 415-435
Jaar:
2000-05-01
Inhoud:
The changes in composition of an abiotically degraded polyester-amide, poly(butylene adipate-co-caproamide), in an aqueous environment at 37°C; 60°C and 80°C were investigated. The changes in polymer composition were studied using pyrolysis-GC-MS, 1H-NMR, FTIR, and size exclusion chromatography, and degradation products were analyzed by solid-phase extraction and subsequent GC-MS. During the degradation of PEA in an aqueous environment, the main degradation products were 6-aminohexanoic acid, 1-hydroxydodecanoic acid-6-one-5-oxo and dimers. After longer degradation times and at higher degradation temperatures, 1-hydroxydodecanoic acid-6-one-5-oxo was cleaved further into hexanedioic acid and 1,4-butanediol. At 80°C, the degradation was fastest with the largest weight loss due to dissolution of oligomer. At 80°C, the amide content in the copolymer increased with increasing degradation time. We suggest that there is a two-step degradation mechanism with the formation of linear degradation products, where the hydrolysis of ester bonds is favored over that of amide bonds.