Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable poly(1,4‐butanediol succinate)

Biodegradable poly(1,4‐butanediol succinate) was synthesized from 1,4‐butanediol and succinic anhydride. The synthesized polymer was identified by 1 H‐NMR spectrometer and FT‐IR spectrophotometer. The weight average molecular weights were between 4,600 and 29,000, and molecular weight distributions were in the range of 1.7 and 1.9. The glass transition temperature of poly(1,4‐butanediol succinate) was revealed at 73°C. The crystallization and cold crystallization of the polymers were investigated as a function of heating rate, cooling rate, reheating rate, and molecular weight. The biodegradation behavior of poly(1,4‐butanediol succinate) in micro‐organisms such as fungi, actinomycetes, and bacteria was studied by using modified ASTM method. Based upon visual observation, the crystalline structure of films composed of larger molecular weight polymers retained their crystallinity longer than similar structures in low molecular weight samples.