Tailored crystallization behavior, thermal stability, and biodegradability of poly(ethylene adipate): Effects of a biocompatible diamide nucleating agent

Abstract An eco-friendly linear organic diamide derivative (EBH) acting as a nucleating agent (NA) was incorporated into the biodegradable poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA) polyester to prepare a kind of new biocompatible composite. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement of PEA showed that crystallization temperature (Tc) and crystallization rate increased significantly and crystallization time (t) reduced markedly upon incorporation of EBH. The hydrogen bond interaction existed between PEA and EBH, resulting in the uniform dispersion of EBH in the PEA matrix. In the in situ FTIR test, PEA showed a higher crystallization rate during isothermal crystallization in the presence of EBH. The adjustment rate of the PEA –C O group in the presence of EBH was lower than that of the –C-O-C and –CH2 groups, also caused by the hydrogen bond interaction between PEA and EBH. In the TG analysis, EBH enhanced the thermal degradation temperature of PEA. Enzymatic degradation of PEA slowed down upon incorporation of EBH. Mechanisms on the nucleation, increased thermal stability, and decreased enzymatic degradation rate of PEA in the presence of EBH have also been proposed and discussed.