Effects of humidity and temperature on hydrolytic degradation of polydioxanone

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science 2022-06, Vol.62 (6), p.2070-2078
• Main Authors: Kang, Ha Jeong, Song, Young Seok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Composition; Crystalline polymers; Degradation; Degree of crystallinity; disk; Environmental aspects; Humidity; Hydrolysis; Injection molding; Mechanical properties; Melt temperature; Methods; Moisture effects; polydioxanone; Properties; Rheological properties; rheology; Tensile strength; Thermodynamic properties; Weight loss
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.25989

The objective of this study is to understand how humidity and temperature affect the degradation behavior of polydioxanone (PDO). After changing the degradation environments, we examined the weight loss, pH value, thermal properties, mechanical properties, morphology, and rheological properties of the PDO samples. The specimens were kept in a wet or dry condition for 12 weeks. During degradation, weight retention, pH values, tensile strength, and viscosity decreased, whereas the melting temperature (Tm) and degree of crystallinity (Dc) increased. Compared with dry samples, wet PDO samples exhibited a higher hydrolysis rate. Also, higher temperatures led to more hydrolysis. Humidity was found to decrease the molecular weight of the samples and increase the degradation rate. Degradation characteristics of injection molded polydioxanone (PDO) samples were investigated in 37°C dry, 25°C dry, 37°C wet, and 25°C wet environments. Depending on the applied conditions, PDO samples exhibited very different degradation characteristics.