Synthesis and characterization of novel biodegradable epoxy‐modified polyurethane elastomers

Biodegradable polyurethane elastomers with the potential for applications in medical implants were synthesized from the reaction of epoxy‐terminated polyurethane prepolymers (EUPs) with 1,6‐hexamethylenediamine as a curing agent. EUPs were themselves prepared from the reaction of glycidol and isocyanate‐terminated polyurethanes made from different molecular weights of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (CAPA) and 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate. All materials were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The curing conditions were optimized by gel content measurements. The curing kinetic and kinetic parameters were determined from differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The effects of changing the crosslink density and crystallinity of elastomers via the alteration of the CAPA polyol molecular weight on the physical, mechanical, and degradation properties of the final elastomeric polymers were examined fully.