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Hydrolysis properties of polyglycolide fiber mats mixed with a hyperbranched polymer as a degradation promoter

Polymer Journal volume 56, pages 55–60 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

In response to the problem of microplastics, polyesters are attracting great attention due to their degradability in underwater environments. We recently demonstrated that the hydrolysis of linear polyglycolide (PGA) in a fiber state strongly depends on segmental dynamics in aqueous phases. This finding implies that the degradation of PGA can be controlled by tuning the segmental dynamics in water. Our choice of fiber geometry was based on its relatively large surface area-to-volume ratio. Herein, we examined the effects of the addition of a hyperbranched polymer (HBP) with a polyester skeleton and with many terminal hydroxy groups on the degradability characteristics of fiber mats. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that HBP acted as a plasticizer, especially in underwater environments. The weight loss of the PGA fiber mats was accelerated with increasing HBP content. In addition, structural analyses confirmed that crystal degradation had occurred and that hydrolysis-cleaved chains had crystallized. Considering that the structural changes in the PGA crystals depended on the feed amount of HBP, we claimed that HBP promoted PGA degradation in both the amorphous and crystalline phases. We believe that our simple strategy for accelerating the degradation of polyesters can provide suggestions for solving issues with microplastics.

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Acknowledgements

The SAXS measurements were taken at BL03XU of SPring-8 with the approval of the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI; No. 2022A7218). We are grateful for the support from JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aids for Scientific Research (B) (JP20H02790) (KT) and the JST-Mirai Program (JPMJMI18A2) (KT). We are also thankful for support from a project (JPNP18016) (HM) commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Funding

NEDO MOONSHOT Research and Development Program (JPNP18016) (HM). JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aids for Scientific Research (B) (JP20H02790) (KT). JST-Mirai Program (JPMJMI18A2) (KT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan

    Reiki Eto, Hisao Matsuno & Keiji Tanaka

  2. New Business Development Department, KUREHA Corporation, Fukushima, 974-8686, Japan

    Haruki Mokudai & Takashi Masaki

  3. Center for Polymer Interface and Molecular Adhesion Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan

    Hisao Matsuno & Keiji Tanaka

Authors
  1. Reiki Eto
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  2. Haruki Mokudai
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  3. Takashi Masaki
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  4. Hisao Matsuno
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  5. Keiji Tanaka
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The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hisao Matsuno or Keiji Tanaka.

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Eto, R., Mokudai, H., Masaki, T. et al. Hydrolysis properties of polyglycolide fiber mats mixed with a hyperbranched polymer as a degradation promoter. Polym J 56, 55–60 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00828-y

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