Preparation and Biodegradation of Sugar-Containing Poly(vinyl acetate) Emulsions

To accelerate the biodegradability of poly(vinyl acetate)-based emulsions, emulsion copolymerizations of vinyl sugars, including triacetylated N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc)-substituted 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (GlcNAc(Ac) 3 -substituted HEMA), glucose-substituted HEMA (GEMA) and 6-0-vinyladipoyl-D-glucose (6-O-VAG) with vinyl acetate (VAc), were carried out using poly(vinyl alcohol) as an emulsifying agent in the presence of poly[(butylene succinate)-co-(butylene adipate)] [poly(BS-co-BA)]. Copolymerization with GEMA produced a stable emulsion and that with 6-O-NAG also produced a homogeneous emulsion. Their biodegradation tests indicated that PVAc main chain scission was accelerated by copolymerization with vinyl sugars.