Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable Tercopolymers and Their Nano-Structured Fibers via Electrospinning

摘要

Biodegradable random tercopolymers were synthesized by bulk ring-opening copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate, L-lactide, and e-caprolactone, using stannous octoate as catalyst. This was confirmed by gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and Fourier transfer intrared spectroscopy. The electrospinning (e-spinning) behavior of the tercopolymers dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide and methylene chloride was studied. The effects of e-spinning parameters, including blended solvent molar ratios and polymer solution concentrations, on e-spun fiber morphology were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. E-spun fiber diameter decreased with a decreasing molar ratio of methlyene chloride to N,N-dimethylformamide, but beads formed gradually. As solution concentration increased, fiber diameter increased. Compared with the corresponding films, glass transition temperature, crystallinity, and melting point of e-spun fibers increased.