Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate‐<i>co</i>‐propylene succinate)s

Abstract

Abstract Biodegradable polyesters such as poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(propylene succinate) (PPS), and poly(butylene succinate‐ co ‐propylene succinate)s (PBSPSs) were synthesized respectively, from 1,4‐succinic acid with 1,4‐butanediol and 1,3‐propanediol through a two‐step process of esterification and polycondensation in this article. The composition and physical properties of both homopolyesters and copolyesters were investigated via 1 H NMR, DSC, TGA, POM, AFM, and WAXD. The copolymer composition was in good agreement with that expected from the feed composition of the reactants. The melting temperature ( T m ), crystallization temperature ( T c ), crystallinity ( X ), and thermal decomposition temperature ( T d ) of these polyesters decreased gradually as the content of propylene succinate unit increased. PBSPS copolyesters showed the same crystal structure as the PBS homopolyester. Besides the normal extinction crosses under the polarizing optical microscope, the double‐banded extinction patterns with periodic distance along the radial direction were also observed in the spherulites of PBS and PBSPS. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008