抄録
Monofilaments made from high-molecular-weight poly (butylene succinate-co-ethylene succinate) s (ethylene succinate content: 0 to 22 mole%) were prepared by melt spinning. Tests of enzymatic degradation by lipase and environmental degradation such as soil burial and sea water exposure were carried out in order to investigate the structural effects upon biodegradation. Microstructure of the fibers was examined by wide-angle X-ray diffraction before and after enzymatic degradation. The extent of biodegradation was evaluated by water-soluble total organic carbon formation after the enzymatic degradation, weight loss and tensile strength retention after the environmental degradation. The dominant factor determining the rate of biodegradation appeared to be closely related with content of highly-ordered structure such as crystallinity although the rate of degradation increased with increasing content of ethylene succinate unit. The crystalline regions appeared to be ultimately degraded, which was supported by an evidence that crystallinity and crystallite size, particularly along the fiber axis, decreased after the enzymatic degradation. The profile and order of biodegradability in the enzymatic degradation was basically consistent with that found in the soil burial and the sea water exposure.
