Synthesis, characterization, and hydrolytic degradation of biodegradable poly(ether ester)‐urethane copolymers based on ε‐caprolactone and poly(ethylene glycol)

In this article, a new kind of biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(e-caprolactone)-based polyurethane (PCEC-U) copolymers were successfully synthesized by melt-polycondensation method from e-caprolactone (e-CL), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), 1,4-butanediol (BD), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). The obtained copolymers were characterized by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), FTIR, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Thermal properties of PCEC-U copolymers were studied by DSC and TGA/DTG under nitrogen atmosphere. Water absorption and hydrolytic degradation behavior of these copolymers were also investigated. Hydrolytic degradation behavior was studied by weight loss method. 1H-NMR and GPC were also used to characterize the hydrolytic degradation behavior of PCEC-U copolymers. The molecular weight of PCL block and PEG block in soft segment and the content of hard segment strongly affected the water absorption and hydrolytic degradation behavior of PCEC-U copolymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009