Effect of E-Beam Irradiation on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Ester Elastomers Containing Multifunctional Alcohols

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of novel, electron beam-modified ester elastomers containing multifunctional alcohols. Polymers tested in this work consist of two blocks: sebacic acid–butylene glycol block and sebacic acid–sugar alcohol block. Different sugar alcohols were utilized in the polymer synthesis: glycerol, sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, and mannitol. The polymers have undergone an irradiation procedure. The materials were irradiated with doses of 50 kGy, 100 kGy, and 150 kGy. The expected effect of using ionizing radiation was crosslinking process and improvement of the mechanical properties. Additionally, a beneficial side effect of the irradiation process is sterilization of the affected materials. It is also worth noting that the materials described in this paper do not require either sensitizers or cross-linking agent in order to perform radiation modification. Radiation-modified poly(polyol sebacate-co-butylene sebacate) elastomers have been characterized in respect to the mechanical properties (quasi-static tensile tests), cross-link density, thermal properties (Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)), chemical properties: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and wettability (water contact angle). Poly(polyol sebacate-co-butylene sebacate) preopolymers were characterized with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR and 13C NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Thermal stability of cross-linked materials (directly after synthesis process) was tested with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Tailoring the Physico-Chemical Properties of Poly(xylitol-dicarboxylate-co-butylene dicarboxylate) Polyesters by Adjusting the Cross-Linking Time

“…Degradation times and mechanical properties can be tailored for specific applications by using different dicarboxylic acids. With respect to tailoring the properties, it is better to change the acid chain length than the hydroxyl group content [23], since a change in properties obtained by changing the acid chain length is much more predictable. Possible future research could include the synthesis of an even wider variety of alditol-based polyesters with either different glycols or odd-numbered dicarboxylic acids.…”

“…Poly(polyol sebacate-co-butylene sebacate) elastomers were also proven to be suitable for radiation modification. [23] The influence of the cross-linking time on the physiochemical properties of elastomers synthesized using succinic and sebacic acid was also tested [24] The novelty of this work is performing a successful synthesis of sugar alcohol-based polyesters without the use of a catalyst and using a much wider range of dicarboxylic acids (consisting of two, four, six, eight and 10 carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain) as monomers.…”

Influence of e-Beam Irradiation on the Physicochemical Properties of Poly(polyol Succinate-co-Butylene Succinate) Ester Elastomers

“…The succinic acid:alditol:butylene glycol monomer ratio used was 2:1:1. Synthesis was carried out according to the procedure described in previous papers [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Esterification of succinic acid, alditol, and butylene glycol for 13.5 h in 150 °C and N 2 atmosphere was the first step of the synthesis.…”

“…In our previous work, we have synthesized and tested various sugar alcohol-based polyesters [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. We have also used radiation to modify different poly(polyol succinate-co-butylene succinate) elastomers [ 32 ]. Based on our previous paper, we have deemed it scientifically valuable to radiation-modify a group of sugar alcohol-based polyester based on a dicarboxylic acid with a much shorter chain length—succinic acid.…”

Physical Effects of Radiation Modification of Biodegradable Xylitol-Based Materials Synthesized Using a Combination of Different Monomers

“…Elastomers based on sugar alcohols can be divided into two main groups: (1) poly (polyol dicarboxylates) [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], with the most notable examples being poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] and poly (xylitol sebacate) [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]; and (2) poly (polyol dicarboxylates-co-diol-dicarboxylates) [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”