Biodegradable long chain aliphatic polyesters containing ether-linkages: synthesis, solid-state and barrier properties

Poly(hexane dodecanoate) (PHD) based random copolyesters containing ether-linkages (P(HDxTEDy)) have been synthesized and characterized from the molecular and thermomechanical point of view. Gas permeability and biodegradability in compost have been also evaluated. The polymers showed good thermal stability and appeared as semicrystalline materials at room temperature. The main effect of copolymerization was a lowering in the crystallinity degree and a decrease of Tm with respect to homopolymers. Different surface hydrophilicity has been also displayed: water contact angle decreased with TED increasing mol %. Moreover, all the copolymers showed very high elongation at break, while the elastic modulus (E) and the stress at break (σb) were found strictly dependent on the composition: E and σb decreased with the increase of the TED content. Both permeability to CO2 and O2 and biodegradation rate evidenced a relationship with the chemical composition: the higher the TED mol %, the higher the permeability and the biodegradation extent.