E-Beam Effects on Poly(Xylitol Dicarboxylate-co-diol Dicarboxylate) Elastomers Tailored by Adjusting Monomer Chain Length

Poly(xylitol dicarboxylate-co-diol dicarboxylate) elastomers can by synthesized using wide variety of monomers with different chain lengths. Obtained materials are all biodegradable, thermally stable elastomers, but their specific properties like glass transition temperature, degradation susceptibility, and mechanical moduli can be tailored for a specific application. Therefore, we synthesized eight elastomers using a combination of two dicarboxylic acids, namely suberic and sebacic acid, and four different diols, namely ethanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-buanediol, and 1,5-pentanediol. Materials were further modified by e-beam treatment with a dose of 100 kGy. Materials both before and after radiation modification were tested using tensile tests, gel fraction determination, H-1 NMR, and C-13 NMR. Thermal properties were tested by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Thermomechanical Analysis (DMTA) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Degradation susceptibility to both enzymatic and hydrolytic degradation was also determined.

Automated summary

Poly(xylitol dicarboxylate-co-diol dicarboxylate) elastomers can be synthesized using a combination of different monomers, resulting in materials with tailored specific properties. E-beam treatment at 100 kGy can modify the materials further. Various tests, including tensile tests and thermal analysis, were conducted on the materials both before and after modification, showing changes in physical and thermal properties. Degradation susceptibility of the elastomers to enzymatic and hydrolytic degradation was also investigated.