Nuplon: New synthetic polymers fully degradable in water.

Abstract

New crosslinked polyesters, which are fully degradable in the presence of water over several months in the environment, were synthesized by direct polyesterification of multi-hydroxylic alcohols (e.g., pentaerythritol or glycerol), multi-carboxylic acids (e.g., citric acid), and hydroxy acid compounds (e.g., lactic acid). The reaction produced a crosslinked matrix with mechanical properties of solid and useful degradability in the environment. This reaction can be performed with moderate heat (100-200 °C) and without requiring the aid of additional catalysts, inert gas, or vacuum. The crosslinked matrix can be thermoplastic or thermoset, depending on the extent of crosslinking, which is controlled by reaction time and temperature. The polyesters formed with various ratios of the monomers degrade in water in 12 h at 95 °C, 3 days at 70 °C, and about 3 months at 30 °C. These environmentally degradable alkyl polyesters include a range of mechanical strengths and elasticity, making them suitable for various applications. These environmentally degradable, synthetic polymers can replace current non-degradable polymers in various applications. These new polymers are named "Nuplons".